Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson - Lynda Fuller
10/19/15 3:44 PM
Weekly Message + State Superintendent June Atkinson
North Carolina Public Schools <NCPublicSchools@public.govdelivery.com>
Mon 10/19/2015 3:43 PM
Inbox
To: Lynda
Fuller <Lynda.Fuller@dpi.nc.gov>;
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
Oct. 19, 2015
Sometimes, feedback from your staff gives us a better perspective.
Recently, local public information officers from some school
districts asked us why we had originally planned to do a “rolling”
School Report Card release rather than just waiting until December
when all the data are expected to be ready.
With that feedback, we decided to hold the School Report Card for
one release in December. This should save your staff time and will
make this a more streamlined process. We do not have a final
specific date yet, but we will let you know as soon as that is
finalized.
On a different note, I announced last week that I am running for a
fourth term as State Superintendent. Many of you have asked me
what my plans are, and I wanted to let you know in case you had
not seen news accounts.
I am pleased with the progress we have made together over the past few years, but there are still a
number of projects such as digital learning and improving the teaching profession that I want to
continue to work on with your colleagues and you.
https://outlook.office.com/owa/#viewmodel=ReadMessageItem&ItemI…wLATFQbVDaoQShvuEAAHrdcCBAAA%3D&IsPrintView=1&wid=39&ispopout=1
Page 1 of 6
Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson - Lynda Fuller
10/19/15 3:44 PM
Recapping Low-Performing Districts’ and Schools’ Plans
Thank you for participating in recent webinars hosted by District and School Transformation staff
regarding low-performing districts and schools. As a recap to the timeline regarding the district or
school plans, please see the information below. Also, go online for additional resources, including the
portal to submit your preliminary and final plans.
Timeline for Submitting Plans for Low-Performing Schools
- Within 30 days of being identified (by Oct. 31) as a low-performing school, the superintendent submits
to the local board of education preliminary school plan(s) for improvement.
- Within 30 days of receiving the preliminary plan(s), the local board of education votes to approve,
modify or reject the plan(s). Before the local board votes on the preliminary plan(s), the plan(s) is/are
made available to the public, including the personnel assigned to the school(s) and the parents and
guardians of the students who are assigned to the school(s), allowing for written comments.
- Within five days of the local board's vote, the plan(s) is/are submitted online to the State Board.
- The plans is/are reviewed by a District and School Transformation staff member and returned
expeditiously (the goal is five business days) with specific feedback.
- The local board considers the feedback and, if necessary, amends the plan(s) and votes on approval
of any changes to the final plan(s) then submits the final plan(s).
- The local board provides access to the final plan(s) on the LEA’s website.
- The State Board provides access to each low-performing school plan on the Department of Public
Instruction's website.
Timeline for Submitting Plans for Low-Performing Districts
- Within 30 days of being identified (by Oct. 31) as a low-performing district, the superintendent submits
to the local board of education a preliminary district plan for improvement.
- Within 30 days of receiving the preliminary plan, the local board of education votes to approve, modify
or reject the plan. Before the local board votes on the preliminary plan, the plan is made available to the
public, including the personnel assigned to each low-performing school and the parents and guardians
of all students attending any school in the LEA.
- Within five days of the local board's vote, the plan is submitted to the State Board.
- The plan is reviewed by a District and School Transformation staff member and returned expeditiously
(the goal is five business days) with specific feedback.
- The local board considers the feedback and, if necessary, amends the plan and votes on approval of
any changes to the final plan then submits the final plan.
- The local board provides access to the final plan on the LEA’s website.
- The State Board provides access to each low-performing district plan on the Department of Public
Instruction's website.
If you have any questions, please contact District and School Transformation Director Nancy Barbour.
Driver Education Survey
https://outlook.office.com/owa/#viewmodel=ReadMessageItem&ItemI…wLATFQbVDaoQShvuEAAHrdcCBAAA%3D&IsPrintView=1&wid=39&ispopout=1
Page 2 of 6
Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson - Lynda Fuller
10/19/15 3:44 PM
The General Assembly required NCDPI staff to survey LEAs on driver education. The survey was sent to
all driver education coordinators this past Friday. Please note that this report is due to NCDPI by Dec.
15. It is imperative that we receive data from all LEAs. Questions regarding the survey may be sent to
Ben Matthews.
Multi-Tiered System of Support Update
Over 200 educators from across the state attended one of the
“Leadership that Supports an MTSS Framework” sessions over the
past two weeks. Leaders worked with building a common
understanding that MTSS is a school improvement framework, not
a process. During the full-day workshop, district and school teams
considered:
- teaming structures
- master schedule
- resource alignment in the building
- creating and communicating the vision for MTSS
After talking about aligning resources and examining implementation data, one principal summarized in
this way, “We need to do less, better.”
Thank you to Haywood County Schools, Piedmont Triad Education Center, South Central High School,
Robeson Community College and Southeast Education Alliance for hosting the first sessions.
This topic will be offered one additional time at High Point University on Nov. 16. Registration
information for this event is available online.
State Board Amends Global Educator
Digital Badge Policy
The State Board of Education recently amended the Global
Educator Badge Policy as it relates to the criteria and process for
educators to earn the Global Educator Digital Badge.
The recommendation builds upon the previous policy criteria for teachers and expands the opportunity
for other educators in alignment with their annual evaluation process. Educators may choose to
voluntarily complete the criteria for the Global Educator Digital Badge as part of their personal growth
goals or as a part of a school or district initiative.
Educator categories included in this policy amendment are: Teacher, Teacher Leadership Specialist,
Library Media Coordinator, Instructional Technology Facilitator, School Counselor, Career Development
Coordinator, School Social Worker, School Psychologist, Speech Language Pathologist, Instructional
Central Office Staff, Principal/Assistant Principal and Superintendent. The Memorandum of Agreement
Form to notify NCDPI staff of an educator’s intent to complete this process also is available on this
page.
https://outlook.office.com/owa/#viewmodel=ReadMessageItem&ItemI…wLATFQbVDaoQShvuEAAHrdcCBAAA%3D&IsPrintView=1&wid=39&ispopout=1
Page 3 of 6
Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson - Lynda Fuller
10/19/15 3:44 PM
For more information please visit the NC Global Education website or contact Special Assistant for
Global Education Helga Fasciano.
It’s Time to Speak Up North Carolina!
More than 500,000 students, parents and teachers will share their views on technology and learning to
inform policy at the local, state and national levels as part of the 13th annual Speak Up National
Research Project.
Between now and Dec. 18, all K-12 students, parents, teachers, administrators and community
members in North Carolina have the opportunity to participate in the online surveys. North Carolina had
two districts listed in the Top 5 Districts across the nation for total participation last year. Our goal is to
have more North Carolina districts recognized as Leading School Districts for 2015.
Speak Up data is a data source to inform district technology planning and budgets, assess professional
development needs, plan school reform efforts, measure the effectiveness of Digital Teaching &
Learning initiatives or substantiate grant applications. Visit the Speak Up - North Carolina site for more
information and follow Speak Up on Twitter @SpeakUpEd.
Be a Connected Educator
Year-Round
As you engage in professional learning activities during Connected Educator Month it is important to
remember that this is a year-round, lifelong process.
Reflect on how you can do this as you review the following resources during the week of Oct. 19:
- Visit Edutopia to examine ways to “stay connected.” Topics include Five Ways to Connect and Do-ItYourself Professional Development.
- Have you reviewed this year’s Connected Educator’s themes? Tweet about your activities during this
week by using the hashtags #CE15 and #nctechat. While you are at it, be sure to follow the Digital
Teaching and Learning team @ncdpiDTL.
- Visit the “Connected Educator’s” week ahead page on Monday to find out other exciting things are
taking place during the week of Oct. 19.
- Follow along with the suggested activities in the Connected Educator Starter Kit.
Chatham Teacher Receives Milken Award
Congratulations to Chatham Central High (Chatham County
Schools) science teacher Eric Patin who today was named North
Carolina’s 2015 Milken Educator Award recipient. Patin received an
unrestricted check in the amount of $25,000.
State Superintendent June Atkinson, who made the announcement,
said, “One of the highest compliments any teacher could receive is knowing that students request you
for their teacher and this is true for Eric. He is well respected by students and fellow teachers. Chatham
https://outlook.office.com/owa/#viewmodel=ReadMessageItem&ItemI…wLATFQbVDaoQShvuEAAHrdcCBAAA%3D&IsPrintView=1&wid=39&ispopout=1
Page 4 of 6
Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson - Lynda Fuller
10/19/15 3:44 PM
Central High is fortunate to have him on staff; and North Carolina is fortunate to have him in its teaching
ranks.”
State Advisory Council on Indian
Education Offers Culturally
Responsive Resources
The State Advisory Council on Indian Education encourages
educators to teach about American Indians to all populations of
students, including American Indian students.
To help students feel comfortable and to give accurate, respectful
information to all students, the Council offers a number of culturally
responsive resources. Culturally responsive instruction is a
philosophy and accompanying implementation of instruction that purposefully acknowledges, embraces
and uses what each student brings culturally to the classroom is important for all students to have
equitable access to the learning content. It is built on a foundation of relationships and respect.
On this website, educators will find a wealth of information both to teach accurately about Indian tribes
in a historical context and also to bring the thriving contemporary Indian world to students, enabling
educators to present a balanced view - both historical and contemporary. It is crucial for students’ wellbeing and future education that teachers educate themselves about contemporary American Indians in
order to teach about American Indians accurately.
Council members hope educators will take advantage of these helpful resources to expand your
knowledge base, plan your instruction, and pass along to colleagues. Throughout these resources,
these collective terms may be used interchangeably to refer to the indigenous populations of the United
States: American Indian, Indian, Native American, First Nations, First People and indigenous.
Nov. 18 is Deadline to Enroll in State Health Plan/NCFlex
Superintendents are encouraged to remind their principals and teachers that open enrollment for the
State Health Plan and NCFlex ends Nov. 18.
To help answer enrollment questions, educators may want to spend time with Alex, their personal online
benefits counselor. Alex will explain all options in plain language and help guide educators through the
benefits selection process.
Contact your district’s Human Resources department if you have any questions regarding enrollment
and/or your benefits. Educators having trouble logging in or enrolling may contact the Eligibility and
Enrollment Support Center at 1.855.859.0966.
Latest Messages Online
Oct. 15, 2015 Principals’ Biweekly Message
https://outlook.office.com/owa/#viewmodel=ReadMessageItem&ItemI…wLATFQbVDaoQShvuEAAHrdcCBAAA%3D&IsPrintView=1&wid=39&ispopout=1
Page 5 of 6
Weekly Message - State Superintendent June Atkinson - Lynda Fuller
10/19/15 3:44 PM
Oct. 15, 2015 Home Base Biweekly Message
Oct. 16, 2015 Finance Officers’ Newsletter
Stay Connected with North Carolina Public Schools:
SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:
Manage Subscriptions | Help
This email was sent to lynda.fuller@dpi.nc.gov using GovDelivery, on behalf of: North Carolina Public Schools · 301 N. Wilmington
St. · Raleigh, NC 27601
https://outlook.office.com/owa/#viewmodel=ReadMessageItem&ItemI…wLATFQbVDaoQShvuEAAHrdcCBAAA%3D&IsPrintView=1&wid=39&ispopout=1
Page 6 of 6