Texas Teacher Survey Provides Feedback

TEA has posted the results of the TELL Texas teacher survey, which was issued earlier this year. TELL Texas is an anonymous statewide survey of all school-based teachers, administrators, counselors, and other professional employees to assess teaching conditions at the school and district level.

A total of 83,103 respondents completed the survey. In order to protect anonymity at the campus level, only campuses with at least 50% of educators (and at least 5 individuals) responding to the survey have web reports.

At the district level, only districts with at least 50% of educators (and at least 20 individuals) responding to the survey have web reports. View the web reports and response rates.

First Time Campus Administrator Academy

Click to enlarge. Serving as a campus leader, in the role of principal or assistant, is a challenging job, filled with great responsibility.  Before you panic, sign up for support with Region 7ESC Leadership Development.  We will help make the first year easier by assisting you with an induction program that includes support from a mentor, materials and learning sessions.  View / Print a Flier  The First Time Campus Administrator Academy provides a year long experience to first time campus administrators.  To join the academy, visit with your Superintendent, who will need to complete the following forms: Form: 1st Year Administrator Form: Mentor for the Administrator Mark Your Calendar: October 21, 2014,  December 11, 2014,  February 17, 2015,  April 15, 2015  Program Design Serves as a training ground moving participants beyond manager to instructional leader  Incorporates a mentoring component that supports reflective practice and continuing professional education.  Provides interactive job-embedded courses with information that can be implemented in day-to-day operations  Aligns with the principles of effective leadership  Provides continuing professional education for the year-long period  Includes full time support of an ESC-7 Leadership Development specialist  Meets the requirements of Texas Admin. Code 241.25* Academy Expectations Participate in at four learning academy sessions Identify a mentor Develop a mentor agreement Maintain a reflective journal Prepare a professional plan for growth Submit a leadership style assessment PRINT A FLIER Register Today. The Academy is specifically designed to assist administrators in developing effective leadership skills as they transition to the practice of campus administrator.  This induction year program complies with Texas Admin. Code 241.25 and includes a mentoring component, support materials and four training sessions.  Mentors Mentors will need to contact their first time administrator to make sure they register for the same session. Sessions are offered on FOUR different days over the course of the school year.  There is no charge for the mentor's participation, and completion may serve as continuing professional education toward the required certification renewal process for principals and superintendents, (200 clock hours every five years).  Read more about certification renewal. Completion of Program  Upon completion, participants will have: participated in the required induction and professional development,  developed a professional plan for growth, and  connected with a network of colleagues for future support.

Discipline, Social Media, Sexual Harassment, Student Privacy, and the Law

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On Wednesday,  September 17, 2014, Joey Moore, attorney from Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos and Green will present vital information regarding the mandatory training for school administrators outlined in House Bill 1952, which requires administrators to be trained on Disciplinary Laws (Chapter 37) every three years.

REGISTER

Wednesday,

Sept. 17, 2014

9:00 - 3:30

Region 7 ESC

No Cost.  Free of charge. 

Click here to register.

Contact Susan Cox for more information:  scox@esc7.net, 903-988-6857

Topics include:

• Review the discipline provisions including expulsion, DAEP Placement, removal of students from the classroom.
• Address and respond to student off-campus use of social media. When and what are the potential legal risks of discipline?  How do administrators balance First Amendment rights with the need to maintain appropriate school environments?
• Study student sexual harassment and Title IX issues.
• Remember what to do and not to do regarding discipline documentation.
• Hear updates on regulations related to student privacy, with a particular emphasis on FERPA issues that derive from discipline and litigation arising for student misconduct.

REGISTER

Palestine ISD School Board Named 2014 Regional Board of the Year

Great News About Education Leadership in East Texas

Article by Ashley Patterson, Region 7 ESC Communication Specialist

In its quest to molding its district into a “world class academic organization,” the Palestine ISD Board of Trustees has been named as the Region 7 Education Service Center’s 2014 School Board of the Year and will serve as the regional representative in this year’s Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA) School Board Awards Program.

“Anytime you’re honored it’s a humbling experience, but a honor like this means more than just having a great school board,” said Palestine ISD’s school board president, Stanley Sokolowski. “It also means having a great superintendent, administrative team, and school district that are all working together to make the school board special.”

The TASA School Board Awards Program recognizes school boards whose dedication and ethical service have made a positive impact on Texas students. Of the regional nominations submitted, the state awards committee will select five school boards to serve as this year’s Texas Honor Boards. One of those five school boards will then be named as the Texas Outstanding Board at the TASA/TASB convention in Dallas Sept. 26-28.

“The Palestine ISD school board has certainly proven to be a tight-knit group that puts the needs of its students, staff and community first,” said Region 7 ESC Executive Director Elizabeth Abernethy. “The board members and their superintendent deserve to be commended for their efforts in bettering the learning environment and educational opportunities for their district. We are proud to have this group represent the Region 7 area.”

Palestine ISD Superintendent Jason Marshall

Palestine ISD Superintendent Jason Marshall nominated the board for the award stating that they “are as good as any school board in the country.”

“Three things jumped out at me quickly about the Palestine ISD Board of Trustees including their commitment to student success, their responsiveness to the needs of Palestine, Texas, and their desire to adhere to their five-year strategic plan,” Marshall said of the board in regard to first signing on as superintendent in 2011. “I can honestly say that when confronted with a difficult decision, they resoundingly respond, ‘If it’s best for students, we will support it.’”

All of which Marshall agrees is needed in order for Palestine ISD to continue on its path to becoming a “world class academic organization.”

Growing Lead Learners and Leadership Teams: A PLC Cohort Seminar

Join John Wink for 4 days over the course of the entire year, building your team through interactive learning sessions.  This investment of time is sure to strengthen your team through engagement and focused discussion on what works. Register to bring a team from your campus who will lead the way in developing a Collaborative Community of Learners.  

Watch on YouTube Channel

Student Assessment 2014–2015 Accommodations Training and STAAR A Overview

TEA has posted the dates for the fall Student Assessment Video Conference: TETNs for students with disabilities.

Title: Student Assessment 2014–2015 Accommodations Training and STAAR A Overview

Event Number: 045385

Registration Link - Click here to register.
Date: 09/24/2014
Time: 9:00 am–12:30 pm

Leaders who attend this session will be trained in testing accommodations, procedures, and policies for the 2015 assessment program. Additionally, attendees will receive the most current information concerning the newly designed accommodated version of STAAR, known as STAAR A. 

Topics will include 

• embedded accommodations 
• functionality and 
• eligibility requirements for this new online version of STAAR.

Deadline for registration is September 24, 2014. 

If you plan to attend at a distance learning site, please notify the district video conference contact, Region 7 ESC to verify room availability. The videoconference contact logs into the program, "Renovo" and schedules the event for the district one working day prior to the event. Connection fees may apply for districts that are not members of Video Conference Bridging Service or ESC7.net.  If you require special accommodations to participate in this training, please click here.

For more information:

Ms. Sonya Burnett	Ms. Mandi Longmire
Region 7 ESC	Region 7 ESC
sburnett@esc7.net	mlongmire@esc7.net
(903)988-6894	(903)988-6717

Curriculum Leadership Academy

SAVE THE DATES: 

Region 7 ESC with Texas ASCD, has scheduled a high quality 6-day academy for East Texas leaders. 

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• Connecting, Leading, Influencing
• Curriculum Design Models
• Assessment For Learning
• Curriculum Delivery-Instruction 
• Employing Technology Solutions
• Connecting to the Work of Learning
• Transformative Process

Plan to attend all 6 sessions!

WHEN: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
September 23rd- 24th, 2014
October 16th -17th, 2014
January 12th-13th, 2015

WHERE: Region 7 ESC
1909 N. Longview, Kilgore, TX 75662

COST: $1,500 per person for the 6-day academy.

REGISTER:  at the Texas ASCD website.

Click here to download an informational flyer.

For more information, visit the TASCD website.

Also, contact 

Vickie Echols,  903-988-6790
Region 7 Education Service Center
Leadership Development Specialist

vechols@esc7.net