School Administrators of Iowa

Mentoring and Induction Program Required for all Districts

Tracy Harms — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:48:23 +0000

SAI's mentoring and induction program can help your district meet the requirements of § chapter 284A.5. Each district is required to have a mentoring and induction plan for beginning principals and persons new to the superintendency regardless of whether you have a beginning administrator in any given year. A beginning administrator is defined by law as “an individual … who is assuming a position as a school district principal or superintendent for the first time.”

If your district intends to use the SAI program in 2012-13 to meet chapter 284A requirements, more information and participation forms are available here.

Administrators of the Year Recognized at the Capitol

Tracy Harms — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:17:03 +0000

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Department of Education Director Jason Glass yesterday honored Iowa's 2011-12 Administrators of the Year in a ceremony at the Capitol.

During his remarks Glass commented, "The outstanding leaders recognized by the School Administrators of Iowa are critical in moving Iowa's education system forward."

SAI is pleased to celebrate these individuals as representatives of the important work that administrators throughout the state engage in every day:

Superintendent - Katie Mulholland, Linn-Mar
Assistant Secondary Principal - Bev Kuehn, Ankeny
Secondary Principal - Jimmy Casas, Bettendorf
Middle Level Principal - David Welter, Cedar Falls
Elementary Principal - Mike Swartzendruber, Iowa Falls
Central Office - Mark Crady, Norwalk

Additional award information is available here.

SAI Appoints New Professional Learning Director

Tracy Harms — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:30:25 +0000

SAI Executive Director Dan Smith has announced Dana Schon will begin July 1 as the Association's Professional Learning Director.

Schon, who is currently Executive Director of Elementary Education in the Ankeny Community School District, will lead SAI's administrator mentoring and induction program and will be responsible for designing the organization's professional learning opportunities, including the Annual Conference.

“I am excited that Dana Schon has agreed to serve Iowa's school administrators in the role of Professional Learning Director. Dr. Schon was selected for the position from an exceptional field of applicants. She is an outstanding educator, and a 'developer' who loves engaging in the creative process, planning and supporting the most up-to-date practices,” Smith said.

Prior to serving as Ankeny's Executive Director of Elementary Education, Schon was K-12 School Improvement Coordinator for the Denison Community School District. She began her education career as a secondary Spanish instructor and secondary language arts teacher.

Smith added, "Her school improvement and leadership time in Denison and Ankeny provide her with practical experience. That background, combined with her intellect and desire to serve Iowa's administrators, will establish Dana as a valuable SAI leader for years to come."

Schon holds a bachelor's degree in English/Spanish/secondary education from Buena Vista University, a master's in education with secondary counselor certification from Wayne State College (Neb.), a master's in education with PK-12 principal certification from Drake University and a doctorate in education from Drake University.

SAI Annual Conference, Aug. 8 & 9, 2012, Veterans Memorial Convention Center, Des Moines

Tracy Harms — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:31 +0000

Find information about the Annual Conference program, presenters, schedule, venue, lodging and more on the dedicated conference site! Use the "Plan Your Learning" tab with your colleagues to determine how best to use the numerous outstanding sessions to meet your team learning goals. Updates and new information will be added to the site as planning continues this spring; check back periodically for the latest developments.

It's not too early to register and make your hotel reservations! (Note the separate registration for the Aug. 7 Pre-conference Institute; bring a team of administrators and/or teachers to this event.)

With an impressive roster of international, national and local presenters; a new schedule offering sessions of varying lengths; the potential for more exhibitors sharing their products and services; and a beautiful new venue, this promises to be one of the best-ever SAI conferences. Join your fellow school administrators as we explore why and how "Learning is the Work!"

Exhibitors

Interested in meeting the more than 1,200 event participants representing superintendents, central office staff, principals and Area Education Agencies? Find information here.

Iowa Central Office Administrator of the Year for 2012 Announced

Tracy Harms — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 20:28:44 +0000

Mark Crady, curriculum director at Norwalk Community School District, has been named the 2011-12 Iowa Central Office Administrator of the Year by SAI.

“One of Mark Crady’s greatest contributions to the district is in the implementation of the Iowa Core, which provides academic expectations for K-12 students. His use of teacher leadership teams has helped Norwalk educators explore new ideas and provide quality programs to students. Moreover, he has shared his knowledge of the Iowa Core with a variety of educator groups from throughout the state,” said Dan Smith, SAI executive director.

The May issue of the SAI Report will contain additional information about Crady and several of this year's award winners.

SAI Names Three Principals of the Year for 2012

Tracy Harms — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 19:22:24 +0000

Mike Swartzendruber, principal of Rock Run Elementary in Iowa Falls, is the 2012 Iowa Elementary Principal of the Year;

David Welter, principal of Holmes Junior High in Cedar Falls, is the 2012 Iowa Middle Level Principal of the Year; and

Jimmy Casas, principal of Bettendorf High School in Bettendorf, is the 2012 Iowa Secondary Principal of the Year.

All three were selected for the honor after being interviewed by a panel of their peers. They, and the additional 2012 Administrators of the Year, will be honored at a Governor's Awards Reception May 9 at the State Capitol. Each will go on to represent Iowa in his respective National Principal of the Year program sponsored by the National Association of Elementary School Principals or the National Association of Secondary School Principals.

Read more about the recipients in the upcoming issue of the May SAI Report.

General information about the Administrator of the Year program is available here.

School Leadership in Iowa: Past, Present and Future

Tracy Harms — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:27:09 +0000

View the Leadership Partnership's March 29 presentation to the State Board of Education about what's been accomplished in Iowa and what remains to be done to create a cohesive leadership system. Troyce Fisher presented on behalf of the group at the invitation of the State Board.

State Board presentation on Prezi

New School Safety Guide Available

Tracy Harms — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 19:44:13 +0000

Materials have recently been updated for Iowa schools to use as a template to enhance current school safety programs. Each of the links below will provide school districts and individual schools with resources to use when working with their plans.

The materials were created in partnership by the following organizations:

Des Moines Police, School Resource Officers
Heartland Area Education Agency
Iowa Association of School Boards
Iowa Department of Education
Iowa Department of Public Safety – Intelligence Fusion Center
Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management
Iowa State Education Association
School Administrators of Iowa
State of Iowa Fire Marshal’s Office

If you have questions regarding the materials, you're enouraged to contact SAI Legal Services Director Matt Carver, who served on the committee, or Matthew Parrino from Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

Grants Awarded to School Districts for Diesel Emissions Reduction

Tracy Harms — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 15:10:50 +0000

Six school districts have been selected to receive up to $38,000 in reimbursement as a match for a new school bus to replace the oldest school buses still in regular use. These districts will also receive full reimbursement for retrofits to reduce diesel emissions on bus engines older than 2004 models in their fleets. One additional school district has been selected to receive full reimbursement for retrofits only. A total of $280,359 will be awarded.

The school districts receiving the bus and retrofit funding are: Albert City-Truesdale, East Union, North Iowa, Rock Valley, West Harrison and Westwood. The district receiving retrofits-only funding is Sibley-Ocheyedan.

Funding is provided by the Iowa DNR through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Diesel Campaign. SAI is handling administration of the grant on behalf of the DNR. The Bus Emissions Education Program has assisted with grant publicity and other roles.

BEEP is a collaborative effort to reduce childhood exposure to harmful diesel exhaust. Its objective is to reduce emissions in school bus fleets. The partners include the School Administrators of Iowa, the Iowa Association of School Boards, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa Department of Education, and the Iowa Pupil Transportation Association. Learn more ...

SAI Provides Testimony on HF 2380

Tracy Harms — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:40:20 +0000

Dr. Troyce Fisher, director of cohesive leadership systems for SAI, and Tracey Adamowski with the Iowa Parent Information Resource Center spoke March 5 at the House Education Subcommittee hearing on the education reform bill, HF 2380. Fisher shared pertinent research and comments regarding evaluation, and Adamowski addressed the importance of involving parents in school reform. (Read the full text of Fisher's comments and those from Adamowski.)