IMPORTANT DATES TO CALENDAR

May 14, 2009 HSTW “End of Year” Telephone Conference
May 19, 2009 HSTW “End of Year” Telephone Conference
June 3, 2009 Teachers as Advisors Workshop - Stillwater
July 8-11, 2009 SREB 23rd Annual Summer Staff Development Conference - Atlanta, GA
September 9, 2009 Literacy Training Team Orientation - Oklahoma City
September 10, 2009 HSTW Site Team Workshop - Oklahoma City


CLASSROOM RESOURCES

Dropout Prevention
The National Dropout Prevention Center/Network has a great article: Twelve Suggestions on Counseling in an Educational Setting. Download and/or read the article at http://www.dropoutprevention.org/resource/featured_articles/pay_attention.htm.

About.com: Presentation Software
Integrate technology into the classroom. Look at this site for tips on making classroom presentations and lesson plans. Teachers and students can be impressive in the classroom with these tips, tricks and free tutorials for using PowerPoint, Windows Movie Maker and Open Office. http://presentationsoft.about.com/od/classrooms.

E-transcript Exchange through OKcollegestart.org
E-transcript exchange allows students to log on and fill out applications to Oklahoma colleges and universities. The site will notify their counselor to send an accompanying official transcript. What a time saver for counselors!! The advantages in e-transcripts are they will not be lost, no additional equipment is needed, and you can track when transcripts are received! Better yet -- it’s FREE!! Check it out by logging on to http://www.okcollegestart.org/

In addition, local technology centers now have the opportunity to take part in this program to receive e-transcripts. High school counselors will be able to directly send transcripts electronically to the tech center for students attending! Technology center superintendents have until June 1, 2009, to decide if they want to participate. Contact your tech center superintendent’s office and let them know if you want them to participate and be able to send transcripts to the technology center electronically. Contact Tommi Leach with e-transcript questions at tleac@okcareertech.org or 405-743-5524.

Contact Sandy Decker, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, at sdecker@OSRHE.edu or 405-225-9190 if you are interested in signing up to receive the training for OKcollegestart.org.

National Network of Partnership Schools!
Working Together for Student Success was established at Johns Hopkins University in 1996. NNPS invites others to join together and use research-based approaches to organize and sustain excellent programs of family and community involvement that will increase student success in school.

“Based on more than two decades of research on parental involvement, family engagement, and community partnerships, NNPS’s tools, guidelines, and action team approach may be used by all elementary, middle, and high schools to increase involvement and improve student learning and development,” explains Dr. Joyce L. Epstein, Founder and Director of NNPS. Researchers and facilitators at the Center on School, Family, and Community Partnerships at Johns Hopkins University work with the members of NNPS to study the nature and results of involvement. The NNPS website provides updated information, research results, and ideas for action from the NNPS staff and members across the country.
http://www.csos.jhu.edu/p2000/index.htm

Eye on Education
Eye On Education publishes practical reference books for teachers, principals, administrators, and other educators that are peer-reviewed. Their books provide practical information on professional development, educational leadership, school improvement, student assessment, data analysis, teaching skills, and other related topics. Check out their resources at http://www.eyeoneducation.com/

Tales from a Teachers Heart
This website shows a series of movies that tell heartwarming stories about students, schools, and teachers like you. From the lives of our authors, these true stories celebrate and explore all the ways you can meet student needs and enhance their educational lives. Check out some of the stories at http://www.talesfromateachersheart.com/include/index2.asp


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Register for the SREB 23rd Annual Summer Conference!
Registration closes June 12, 2009

Teachers as Advisors Workshop June 3, 2009
Teachers as Advisors is a classroom guidance delivery system where middle school and high school students are divided into small groups. Each group is facilitated by a local educator to receive support services that includes personal/social development, academic development and career development. The Teachers as Advisors Program –
• Organizes career development into a manageable time frame and with team effort.
• Ensures consistent curriculum exposure to all students.
• Provides an opportunity for shared responsibility for career education by including parents, students, teachers and counselors.
• Enables students to gain skills and background necessary to make good educational and career decisions.
• Increases students’ choices and access to jobs and postsecondary education through adequate knowledge.
• Encourages students to set career/educational goals and construct a plan to meet those goals.
• Improves relations between school, parents, business, industry, and other community members.

Registration closes May 20th, 2009. Register for the TAA Workshop to be held at the Oklahoma Department of CareerTech, Stillwater by accessing this registration form: http://www.okcareertech.org/cac/Pages/bulletin_board/bulletin_board2.htm

LEAP TRAINING
June 10, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Lunch on your own)
Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education
Class Description: The Leadership, Education and Achievement Program (LEAP) is an exceptional program targeted toward those middle/junior high school students who exhibit the potential for both academic and leadership success. The objective of this program is to help prepare students to strive for achievement in these areas. The LEAP curriculum is a powerful and compelling resource for students. It is instrumental in allowing them to develop leadership potential, prepare for further academic success, build positive relationships, serve in their communities, conduct research and observation, and improve their problem solving skills.For further information, please go to http://www.okhighered.org/MTRC/leap.shtml. To register go to:

https://icat.okcareertech.org/cgi-bin/WebObjects/OKCT.woa/wo/8.37.7.3.15.3.2.0.1.0.3.5.3.

ACE TRAINING
June 11, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Lunch on your own)
Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education
Class Description: The Academic Commitment to Education Program (ACE) is an exemplary program targeted to those students who possess high academic and leadership standards. These students are chosen to participate in this program that encourages them to consider teaching as a viable career. However, those who do not become educators evolve into strong advocates for teachers and proponents for education.The ACE curriculum is a powerful educational tool that is designed to take academically successful students and propel them into a rigorous journey filled with exciting, new opportunities for development and growth. The course focuses upon aspects of the teaching profession from learning styles and diversity issues, to lesson planning and presentation skills. There are also activities for college preparation planning. For further information, please go to http://www.okhighered.org.

Register at

https://icat.okcareertech.org/cgi-bin/WebObjects/OKCT.woa/wo/8.37.7.3.15.3.2.0.1.0.3.5.3.

STEM Equity Pipeline Training
It is not too late to enroll in the STEM Equity Pipeline offered in May even if you missed the April's webinar. The webinar has been archived for your convenience. All you will need to do is click on the following link to register for one of the two sites where the training will be provided and review the archived webinar before you attend (May 15 deadline for registering): http://www.stemequitypipeline.org/StateTeams/OKwebinar.aspx

The STEM Equity Pipeline 5-Step Workshop is designed to help schools eliminate gender disparities and help all student succeed. The Oklahoma Department of CareerTech and the National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity (NAPE) will host the workshop that will utilize strategically planned activities to improve nontraditional enrollment while assisting the state and local sites in meeting their Carl Perkins Performance Equity Standard.

Is your school producing a diverse workforce? If not, join in for the 5 Step Process in creating a more diverse workforce. The workshop will be conducted in two sessions. The first session, for all participants, attended or can view the archived webinar. The webinar is designed to assist in utilizing current data. Part two will include a face to face workshop on May 27 (in Tulsa) or May 28th (in Norman). Participants will receive stipends to assist with travel, which will be determined based on your school location. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to call Lou Hargrave at (405) 743-5128 or Debbie McElroy at (405) 743-6817 or mailto:dmcel@okcareertech.org

UPDATES

DATES TO SCHEDULE

END OF YEAR TELECONFERENCE MEETING
Mark your calendar for Thursday, May 14, 2009 to participate in our end of the year meeting. An agenda and dial in details will be emailed next week.



REMEMBER TO REGISTER
The 2009 HSTW STAFF DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE in Atlanta online registration is open at http://www.sreb.org/SummerConference/index.asp. You can also download and print a copy of the registration form at this Web site and send it to:
Southern Regional Education Board
Attention: Leslie Noles
592 10th St. N.W.
Atlanta, GA 30318-5776
Fax: (404) 872-1477

FY 10 LITERACY TRAINING
Be sure to complete the Literacy Training Survey before May 6, 2009 at http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB22943LMRF33
Mark your calendar for the September 9, 2009 Literacy Training Orientation if your team plans to attend. Further details on cost per site will be forthcoming.

FALL EPAS TEST WINDOW
The EPAS testing window for fall 2009 is August 24 through October 9. ACT will be sending ordering information before June 1.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PAY ATTENTION
Most of today's students can be labeled as "Digital Learners." They love to use technology whether it be texting, YouTube, My Space, Face Book, Tweeter, and who knows the other technological means I am not even aware of at this point. So, why do so many teachers refuse to enter the digital age and allow these to be used in their teaching practices? This YouTube video will cause us to think about the need for “Digital Learning” for students - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEFKfXiCbLw. (You may have to copy and paste the link into your URL)

REGIONAL SAFE SCHOOL SUMMITS
The Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services have scheduled Sis (6) regional safe school summits. These 3 hour sessions, led by professionals, will address the prevention of substance abuse and violence prevention in our communities.
Sessions for youth and adults will meet in the evening (5:00 to 8:00 pm) so no school classroom time is missed. A light dinner and some freebie items will be provided!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Kiamichi Technology Center
301 Kiamichi Drive
McAlester, OK 74501
(918) 426-0940 -Main
(888) 567-6630 -Toll Free
For Information Contact: Kibois -The Oaks APRC at (918) 421-3560

Monday, May 4, 2009
Tulsa Technology Center Riverside Campus
801 E. 91st
Tulsa, OK 74132
(918) 828-4000
For Information Contact: ROCMND - Tulsa APRC at (918) 493-6322

Thursday, May 14, 2009
Moore Norman Technology Center - South Penn Campus
13301 S. Penn
Oklahoma City, OK 73170
(405) 809-3500
For Information Contact: Norman Addiction Info. Center – APRC at (405) 321-0022

SCHOOLS ATTUNED PROGRAM
FOR TEACHERS, ADMINISTRATORS, COUNSELORS, AND SPECIAL EDUCATION PERSONNEL

The Schools Attuned Program prepares educators to understand a student’s unique learning profile of strengths and weaknesses. It gives them the knowledge, tools, and skills needed to manage specific learning breakdowns and help frustrated students experience success.
The Schools Attuned program includes interactive face-to-face coursework, optional post-course learning opportunities, ongoing online implementation and sustainability support. Several Course Options are available to meet the unique needs of elementary, secondary, guidance, and administrative educators:
GENERALIST PATH – Focuses on elementary to early adolescent developmental challenges. It is recommended for K – 8 classroom teachers who teach multiple content areas, school psychologists, social workers, and counselor, special education teachers supporting students across content areas, and administrators.
SUBJECT SPECIALIST PATH (SSP) – Focuses on early to late-adolescent developmental challenges and draws upon teacher experiences in their subject areas. It is recommended for middle or high school teachers who teach in one or two focused content areas, department chairs, guidance counselors, administrators, and special education teachers supporting students in one or two content areas.
Teaching All Kinds of Minds, 3 day – open to all educators
Understanding Learning and Learners, 1-day – open to all educators
Cost: Course fee subsidized by the OK State Department of Education and the OK State Legislature.

Contact: State Coordinator – Dr. Sheryl Flowers: 918.760.4435
Regional Implementation Coordinator – Laurie Morris: 405.365.0962
Register at www.allkindsofminds.org/sa/traininglocations.aspx

RESOURCES

OKCIS – OKLAHOMA CAREER INFORMATION SYSTEM
Do you have some money that needs to be spent before the school year is over? No matter what your expiration date, purchase your OKCIS site license and get 1 year added on to your current site license. Give your students an advantage by adding the ACT/SAT/GED or the AP test prep package on to your OKCIS site license. Click this link for an order form and to see prices: http://okcis.intocareers.org/materials/orderform.htm.

ANNOUNCING SREB’s EIGHTH ONLINE NEWSLETTER

High Schools That Work (HSTW) is pleased to present the final newsletter in a series highlighting best practices presented at the 2008 HSTW Staff Development Conference in Nashville. The eight newsletters contain information about successful actions schools across the nation are taking to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st-century workplace and further studies.
The theme of the eighth newsletter is SCHOOLS WITH HIGHER GRADUATION RATES WORK HARD TO ENGAGE STUDENTS IN LEARNING. The newsletter contains 12 stories of high-graduation-rate schools that are improving school and classroom practices and engaging more students in learning.
To access this newsletter, click on this link: http://www.sreb.org/publications/2008/newsletters/08SummerConferenceNewsletter.asp .
You can also find the newsletter by going to the SREB Web site at www.sreb.org. Click on the High Schools That Work tab at the top of the page and then click on Publications and Materials in the side panel. When that page appears, click on the heading, "Newsletters of Best Practices from the 2008 HSTW Staff Development Conference."

UPDATES

2009 SUMMER CONFERENCE – CALL FOR PROPOSALS
An excellent conference requires some great “best practice” presentations. SREB is looking forward to an excellent Summer Conference this year in Atlanta. Many promising sessions are scheduled and, with your help, they hope to have many more scheduled soon. Nearly 250 presentation proposals have been submitted. You have important stories to tell, and we want Oklahoma represented for its best practices.

The deadline for submitting a proposal to present at the 2009 Summer Conference is April 17, 2009. Proposals can be submitted online at http://www.sreb.org, by fax at (404) 872-1477 or mailed to SREB, 592 Tenth St., NW, Atlanta, GA 30318-5776.

REMINDER: FOLLOW UP SURVEY OF 2008 GRADUATES
It is critical that you provide graduates encouragement to complete the online survey. Remember to provide them with their Assessment ID number and their school's HSTW Site Code so the school will receive the results that SREB can also use in their research. The survey will be available for graduates to complete until May 29. Administration materials can be found at:
http://www.sreb.org/programs/hstw/Assessment/assessindex.asp#Follow-up

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

TRANSITION INSTITUTE – CATCH-UP FOR HIGH SCHOOL SUCCESS
The HSTW Summer Staff Development Conference will offer a pre-conference designed for school teams seeking to help more students be successful at critical transition points. This will offer rising or entering freshmen a chance to quickly “catch-up” and be successful in high school and seniors a last chance to enter college or the world of work more fully prepared.

All institute strands will begin at 9:00 a.m. Monday, July 6 and end at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 8 to permit participants to attend the Opening General Session at 3:00 p.m.


RESOURCES

STIMULUS FUNDS
How will your school spend the Stimulus Funds? Secretary Duncan said, “This is really a chance to avert an educational catastrophe and to save a generation of kids.” The amounts available to Oklahoma school sites can be viewed at:
http://www.leadered.com/stimulusFunding.html
http://www.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/ok.html

It is important to develop a plan that can be strategic in how to invest stimulus funds in programs and goals that will produce sustainable results after the funding ends. Use this opportunity to build sustained programs, such as:
• Long-term distributive leadership teams with appropriate training/development to sustain school improvement efforts (Target SREB Leadership Module Training:
http://www.sreb.org/main/Leadership/Modules/login.asp

• Strategic planning for long-term success through the analysis of effective and efficient use of resources (Effective leadership teams in place to drive and make school improvement decisions such as implementing the HSTW Framework/Model:
http://www.sreb.org/programs/hstw/publications/pubindex.asp

• Using data to make decisions (Compiling and sharing available data such as EOI, ACT, HSTW, attendance, discipline, tardies, etc.:
http://www.sreb.org/programs/hstw/TechAssist/TAindex.asp)

• District-wide professional development for general education, career-technical, and special education teachers (Decision on PD based on data, has an on-going focus that includes follow-up and cascading of information/knowledge:
http://www.sreb.org/programs/hstw/publications/profdev/00V02_ProfDevGuide.pdf and http://www.sreb.org/programs/hstw/professionalDev/profdevindex.asp

LEADERS MAKE THE DIFFERENCE IN ACHIEVING GOALS
The Competent Leaders Make the Difference in Achieving School and Student Goals newsletter contains nine stories of school, district and teacher leaders in who are leading changes in school and classroom practices to improve student achievement and engagement in learning. To access this newsletter, click on this link:
http://www.sreb.org/publications/2008/newsletters/08SummerConferenceNewsletter.asp.

Share this newsletter with school staff and ask them to consider the following points for your school:
• Are there any ideas in the newsletter that you would like to see us try in this school?
• Did you discover something another school is doing about which you would like to learn more and about which you would be willing to contact that school and share the information with others?
• Are there exemplary or outstanding leadership we would like to share at the 2009 HSTW Summer Staff Development Conference?

Oklahoma High Schools That Work

UPDATES

HSTW Third Quarter Reimbursements - Due by April 15
This should also remind you of something else that is to be filed by April 15!

Only a few HSTW sites have filed for reimbursement. Please consult with your business manager to file reimbursement claims through March 2009. OCAS code 600 items require the HSTW state coordinator pre-approval. Also, have your leadership team meet to review the implementation of your school improvement goals/strategies and how remaining funds can be encumbered before the end of April. Remember, HSTW funds do not carry-over and are only good for this fiscal year. Reimbursement forms may be downloaded at http://www.okcareertech.org/hstw/resources.htm.

2008 HSTW Assessment Follow-Up Survey
As of March 9th the postcards should be in the mail to provide the graduates with the link to complete the follow-up survey. Additional information can be located at:
http://www.sreb.org/programs/hstw/Assessment/assessindex.asp#Follow-up

Stimulus Package Information
The white paper Maximizing Education Reform in the Stimulus Bill: Building State Innovation Funds (http://www.ecs.org/clearinghouse/79/91/7991.pdf) released by the Education Commission of the States (ECS) and Teach for America (TFA) offers states advice on how they can best compete for and use education funds in the stimulus bill's stabilization fund (SBSF). Of the $53.6 billion that is appropriated for state fiscal stabilization (SFSF); there is a $5 billion "Race to the Top" fund that will be used to improve school reform efforts. In addition, there are $40 billion of the SFSF that is designated for education and another $8 billion for "high priority needs," that include education. ECS and TFA suggest that states can put themselves in a prime position to gain access to these funds through the creation of state innovation funds.


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

“Assistive Technology Software for Students with Disabilities” Webinar
March 30th from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education and Oklahoma ABLE Tech join to bring you a one hour webinar presentation to discuss the features and benefits of innovative literacy software tools designed to enhance the reading, writing, and educational process for individuals with unique reading and writing difficulties. Assistive technology (AT) products are available to borrow from the CareerTech AT Center in Information Commons to allow individuals an opportunity to compare features and to determine which products meet their individual needs. Software products reviewed will be: TextHelp Read Write Gold, WYNN Wizard, Test Talker, Kurzeil 3000, and Key to Access.
Registration is available at this link -
https://icat.okcareertech.org/cgi-bin/WebObjects/OKCT.woa/wa/room?id=Lw989&bid=15310

Advanced Placement Summer Institutes
Applications for the Oklahoma Advanced Placement (AP) Summer Institutes for 2009 are available at http://www.sde.state.ok.us in the site index under “Advanced Placement.” Oklahoma public school teachers attending will have their registration paid by the state. A limited amount of lodging, on a first come basis, is also provided for teachers who live more than 65 miles from the institute site. Register with the AP director at the location for which you would plan to attend. Additional information is available from Cathy Douglas, AP and Gifted Education, SDE at 405.521.4287.

Teachers as Advisor Workshop
When: June 3, 2009
Where: Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education - Tuttle Seminar Center
What: Schools and/or districts are encouraged to bring teams (i.e., administrator, secondary counselor, career and technology teacher, academic teacher). Pre-registration is required with NO ON-SITE REGISTRATION, due to meal function guarantees and space limitations. Contact Janet Hawkins, Career Information Specialist, ODCTE for additional information at 405.743.5123. Team registration is available at this link -
http://www.okcareertech.org/cac/Pages/bulletin_board/bulletin_board2.htm

RESOURCES

18 Ways for Faculty to Promote Equity in the Classroom
Helping students explore career options in an ever changing global marketplace can provide challenges if we get stuck in our traditional mindset. Techniques, March 2009, provides 18 suggestions for any classroom teacher in how to encourage and empower all students equitably.
http://www.acteonline.org/uploadedFiles/Publications_and_E-Media/files/files-techniques-2009/theme3(1).pdf

Curriculum and Instructional Materials Catalog (CIMC) Newsletter and Updates
Check out the new CIMC) Spring 2009 Update newsletter at: http://www.okcimc.com/about/index.htm

• View featured products and download samples at http://www.okcimc.com/sample
• The CIMC staff promote teacher helps such as:

1. Jami Church – help students who struggle with reading by processing class notes, save as a PDF file and allow students to listen to them using Adobe Acrobat “Read Out Loud” Feature listed under the View menu.
2. Ann Wolfe – suggests an easy way to create your own videos is using animot – http://animoto.com.
3. Tracy Boyington – recommends Teacher Tube at http://teachertube.com/.
   

GRANTS

ITEST - Innovation Technology Experiences for Students (k-12) and Teachers
Grant Resource - National Science Foundation
Description - The ITEST program responds to current concerns and projections about the growing demand for professionals and information technology workers in the U.S. and seeks solutions to help ensure the breadth and depth of the STEM workforce. ITEST supports research studies to address questions about how to find solutions. It also supports the development, implementation, testing, and scale-up of implementation models. ITEST projects may include students or teachers, kindergarten through high school age, and any area of the STEM workforce. Projects that explore cyberlearning, specifically learning with cyberinfrastructure tools such as networked computing and communications technologies in K-12 settings, are of special interest. Four types of projects are invited: (1) Research projects enrich the understanding of issues related to enlarging the STEM workforce; (2) Research projects may conduct efficacy and effectiveness studies of intervention models; (3) conduct longitudinal studies of efforts to engage students in the STEM areas, develop instruments to assess engagement, persistence, and other relevant constructs of student motivation; or (4) conduct studies to identify predictors of student inclination to pursue STEM career trajectories. The program is especially interested in projects that target students from groups that are underserved and underrepresented in STEM and ICT-intensive careers, including those residing in rural and economically disadvantaged communities.
Web - http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf09506
Deadline Date - August 25, 2009
III Innovation through Institutional Integration
ITEST Letter of Intent - January 19, 2010
ITEST Full Proposal - February 12, 2010

Teacher Incentive Program - ARRA - CFDA 84.385
Grant Resource - US Department of Education
Description - These supplemental funds, appropriated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), are intended to help stimulate the American economy. The purpose of the Teacher Incentive Fund is to support programs that develop and implement performance-based teacher and principal compensation systems, based primarily on increases in student achievement, in high-need schools. The goals of the Teacher Incentive Fund program include:

1. Improving student achievement by increasing teacher and principal effectiveness;
2. Reforming teacher and principal compensation systems so that teachers and principals are rewarded for increases in student achievement;
3. Increasing the number of effective teachers teaching poor, minority, and disadvantaged students in hard-to-staff subjects; and
4. Creating sustainable performance-based compensation systems.
   

The purpose of ARRA is (1) To preserve and create jobs and promote economic recovery; (2) To assist those most impacted by the recession; (3) To provide investments needed to increase economic efficiency by spurring technological advances in science and health; (4) To invest in transportation, environmental protection, and other infrastructure that will provide long-term economic benefits; and (5) To stabilize State and local government budgets, in order to minimize and avoid reductions in essential services and counterproductive state and local tax increases. Agencies with differentiated compensation systems already in place may apply for a TIF program grant to expand their programs so that they reach additional high-need school sites or to include teachers or administrators in high-need schools who are not participating in the current system.
Award Amount - 15 awards totaling $200 million
Web - http://www07.grants.gov/search/search.do?mode=VIEW&flag2006=false&oppId=45890
Deadline Date - TBA

HP Innovations in Education
Grant Resource - Hewlett Packard (HP)
Description - The HP Innovations in Education grants for secondary school districts in the US fund school districts to launch innovative pilot initiatives that support the administrators and teachers responsible for student success in math and science in middle schools and/or high schools. In the US, HP plans to award approximately 25 grants to public or qualified private school districts.
Size of Grant - 25 grants of $270,000 in HP technology, cash, and professional development
Web - http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/grants/us/2009-HPIIE-Secondary-US.pdf
Deadline Date - March 30, 2009


National Council on Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award
Grant Resource - National Council on Social Studies
Description - The NCSS Teacher of the Year Awards recognize exceptional classroom social studies teachers for grades K-6, 5-8, and 7-12 who teach social studies regularly and systematically in elementary school settings, and at least half-time in middle or junior high and high school settings. Award winners receive $2,500, complimentary one-year membership in NCSS, and present a session on their work at the NCSS Annual Conference, and up to $500 in transportation/lodging reimbursement to attend the Annual Conference.
Size of Grant - $2,500, NCSS membership, transportation to NCSS Annual Conference
Web - http://www.socialstudies.org/awards/teaching
Deadline Date - April 1, 2009

Summer Research Experiences for Students and Science Teachers
Grant Resource - US Department of Education
Description - The National Institutes of Health (NIH) announces the opportunity for investigators and United States institutions/organizations with active NIH Research Grants to request administrative supplements for the purpose of promoting job creation, economic development, and accelerating the pace and achievement of scientific research. These supplements will also encourage students to seriously pursue research careers in the health related sciences, as well as provide elementary, middle school, and high school teachers, community college faculty, and faculty from non-research intensive institutions with short term research experiences in NIH-funded laboratories. Support for these supplements will come from funds provided to NIH through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 ("Recovery Act" or "ARRA"), Public Law 111-5. In addition, Recovery Act funds allocated to NIH specifically for comparative effectiveness research (CER) may be available to support supplements.
Web - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-09-060.html
Deadline Date - Multiple dates

Oklahoma HSTW March Updates

RESOURCES

FOLLOW UP SURVEY OF 2008 GRADUATES OPERATIONAL
SREB indicates the HSTW Follow-Up Survey of 2008 Graduates is up and running. Your patience and assistance with the new web-based format is appreciated. All schools can now use the postcards to contact graduates to inform them of the survey if you have not already done so.

As of Friday, March 6, 300 graduates had responded to the survey. However, it is critical that you provide graduates with their Assessment ID number and their school's HSTW Site Code. If you do not, the graduates' surveys will be unusable (the school will not receive the results nor will SREB be able to use them). Please be sure to provide these two numbers. You can quickly find these numbers by referring to the roster form that was included in your mailing from SREB. The survey will be available for graduates to complete until May 29.

Additional copies of the administration materials can be found on our website:
http://www.sreb.org/programs/hstw/Assessment/assessindex.asp#Follow-up

SREB PUBLICATIONS
High Schools That Work (HSTW) presents the sixth in a series of eight newsletters highlighting best practices presented at the 2008 HSTW Staff Development Conference in Nashville. These newsletters provide successful actions to prepare students for the challenges of the 21st-century workplace and further studies.

The sixth newsletter, Guidance and Advisement Programs Are Proof That Schools Want Their Students to Succeed, contains nine stories of high schools, technology centers and school districts that are helping more students recognize their interests and achieve their goals through effective guidance and advisement programs.

Access this newsletter and others by clicking on this link:
http://www.sreb.org/publications/2008/newsletters/08SummerConferenceNewsletter.asp.

SURVEY MONKEY
Piedmont High School realized after last years technical assistance (TA) visit their communication with parents needed improvement to allow them a voice in improving the school. Teacher 'focus groups' were formed, with a teacher on each focus group. One group developed a parent survey and incorporated some interview questions asked during the TA visit parent interview using survey monkey. They couldn't believe how easy it was to design and set up the questions, email the survey to parents for feedback and compile the results. Their cost was only $20.00 for a month worth of time to get results.
To learn more about this amazing tool go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/ or contact Clay McDonald, Piedmont HSTW site coordinator at 405.373.5011 or clay.mcdonald@piedmontschools.org.

EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS FRAMEWORK (E/E FRAMEWORK)
The International Center for Leadership in Education states that while educators anticipate an infusion of federal economic stimulus dollars, these one-time funds will not completely eliminate the fiscal challenges they face as they seek to improve the performance of all students. The E/E Framework guide school and districts in allocating their limited resources to those tools, strategies, and procedures that will result in the most efficient and effective use of dollars. The E/E Framework compares the efficiency (cost) and effectiveness (student performance) of a wide variety of tools, strategies, professional development programs, organizational configurations, and procedural decisions that schools make. Learn more about the E/E Framework as well as other practices, tools and strategies at http://www.leadered.com/MaximizingResources.html.

If you are aware of other best practices and resources that conserve time and money please pass it along for us to share with everyone.

http://www.okcollegestart.org/home.aspx
Check out the website. It's the transcript exchange powered by XAP and is free to all high schools. The site also allows students to set up an account to plan for college, explore colleges, access a career center, learn about college costs, get test prep help and develop personal portfolio with their search information.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

REGISTER NOW—23rd Annual HSTW Staff Development Conference
http://www.sreb.org/summerconference/index.asp

DIGITAL PRAIRIE WORKSHOP
If you are a Digital Prairie novice and your school is not using these valuable online resources, register for the workshop that will demonstrate EBSCO, a general periodicals database, SIRSDiscoverer, a children's product, and R.R. Bowker's Books In Print. In a time of financial crisis schools can access these online full-text magazines, atlases, encyclopedias, dictionaries, and more at no charge.

The “free” Digital Prairie workshop is conducted by The Library Media/ITV section of SDE. Seating is limited so register early. The workshop will be held on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at the Oklahoma State Department of Education, 2500 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 215 computer lab from 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Register online at http://www.sde.state.ok.us/Teacher/LibraryMedia/prairie.html, or contact Vickie Hale at vickie_hale@sde.state.ok.us or (405) 521-2956.

TEACHERS AS ADVISORS WORKSHOP
Pre-registration is required for the June 3, 2009 Oklahoma Department of CareerTech (ODCTE) Teachers As Advisors Workshop. Team attendance (i.e., administrator, secondary counselor, career and technology teacher, academic teacher) is encouraged. A $20 registration fee per person provides a continental breakfast, breaks, lunch, and materials. To help offset travel costs up-to-four stipends will be paid per district/school when participants complete stipend forms at the end of the workshop.Registration will not be available until April 22 and close on May 20, 2009, by following the link:
http://www.okcareertech.org/cac/Pages/bulletin_board/bulletin_board2.htm


GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

HP Innovations in Education Seeks Proposals From Secondary School Districts
Grants valued at more than $270,000 in HP technology, cash, and professional development will be awarded to U.S. school districts or school systems working to enhance learning in pre-engineering, mathematics, science, and computer science.
Learn more at:
http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/rfp_item.jhtml?id=242000026.
Deadline: March 30, 2009
Posted: January 26, 2009

Oklahoma HSTW Updates

ASSESSMENT

2008 HSTW GRADUATE FOLLOW-UP SURVEY

The follow-up survey will be administered on-line and will take approximately five minutes for graduates to complete. All you will have to do is complete the postcards SREB sends (with students' names, address, your school's site code and students' assessment ID number) and mail them to graduates who participated in the 2008 HSTW Assessment. SREB will send a roster of students who participated in the assessment, including their assessment ID number, making it easier for schools to identify those graduates to contact.

Who: Schools that participated in the 2008 HSTW Assessment
What: Administration materials will be mailed in February. School reports will be mailed to schools in fall 2009 as PDF files on CD-ROMs
When: Complete between March 2 - May 29, 2009
Why: To validate SREB's predictive validity study of the new assessment as well as compare the HSTW assessment to the SAT, ACT and high school GPA to determine the relationship between the HSTW assessment and post-high school pursuits.

Additional information is forthcoming.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

COUNSELOR CONFERENCE
March 3rd – Moore-Norman Technology Center - South Penn Campus
Registration is online at: http://sde.state.ok.us/Services/Conference/default.html


THE 2009 OKLAHOMA KEYTRAIN USERS MEETING!
February 25th – Tulsa Technology Center - Riverside Campus, Jenks
February 26th – Metro Tech - South Bryant Campus (Automotive Center Auditorium), OKC
9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Lunch provided)
(Optional KeyTrain 101 training update session: 3:05pm-3:55pm)

What We Do – Sessions:
- What We Do In Oklahoma (panel) - KeyTrain use in various agencies
- What's 'Doing' at the KeyTrain National Office - update on what's new and what's coming from KeyTrain
- Meeting Employer Expectations - What role can KeyTrain play in better preparing future employees?
- What's Being Done About Soft Skills A how-to on the effective use of KeyTrain's Career Skills
- What we do in Oklahoma High Schools - High School representatives share their successful KeyTrain programs.
- Does What We Do Make a Difference? Identifying research models for WorkKeys and KeyTrain studies

Don't miss the opportunity to gain ideas and learn the many ways to implement and expand the KeyTrain program at your school. Register at: http://www.keytrainnews.com/Emails/OK/OK2009Announcement.html

Contact Jack Reese at 918-369-9710, mobile 847-507-1015 or e-mail reesej@keytrain.com with any questions.


GANG AWARENESS TRAINING
Oklahoma Gang Investigators Association hosts different trainings throughout the year. Go to http://ogia.us/ to find additional information.

February 5th – Gangs 101 Training, Tulsa
April 28th – May 1st State Conference, Tulsa

Why Students Struggle with Algebra and How Schools Are Helping
Free Live Webinar: Why Students Struggle with Algebra and How Schools Are Helping
When: Tuesday, February 10th at 1pm Eastern time.
Free registration is now open at: http://edweek.org/go/algebra

23RD ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOLS THAT WORK STAFF DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
This year's summer conference theme is Heads-On, Hands-On Learning: Key to Student Motivation and Achievement. The purpose of the conference is to inform state, district, school and teacher leaders about practices in the middle grades, high schools and technology centers that will increase student motivation and learning, students' readiness for high school studies, high school completion rates, and students' success in postsecondary studies and careers.

The online announcement brochure is available at http://www.sreb.org/SummerConference/index.asp

The Announcement Brochure describes the eight conference objectives, registration information, a proposal to present form and further conference information. Check out the pre-conferences to deeper implement the High Schools That Work framework. Submit proposals for presentations demonstrating how implementation of the HSTW, Making Middle Grades Work and Technology Centers That Work designs is improving student achievement at your school.

Please read over the brochure and make plans to join us in Atlanta this July!

GOVERNOR'S GLOBAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE
J.C. Smith, Oklahoma State Department of Education, encourages Oklahoma high school counselors to attend the Governor's Global Education Conference at the University of Central Oklahoma on Feb. 13, 2009. This conference will provide invaluable exposure as to why and how young Oklahomans must become more internationally engaged and our campuses that consistently provide these opportunities. For more information contact Erin Taylor, PhD, Coordinator, Academic Affairs Projects with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. Phone (405) 225-9163 if you have questions.

Registration is online at www.okglobaled.org.

THE SKILLS IMPERATIVE: SOLVE THE U.S. TALENT SHORTAGE
This interesting publication may prove useful to enhancing the quality of career and technical courses and building a partnership with your local chamber of commerce.
http://www.uschamber.com/NR/rdonlyres/eciaj45n6o5jxdngkikp6zgphwy4gqbkt3vyv7q4eu5xlcpms7escmdu5koxwfyvrgdpxukqamx35ljclqfydbuob2g/CTEPaperFINAL.pdf

Oklahoma HSTW Updates

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

GANG AWARENESS VIDEOCONFERENCE
Dr. Michael Wilds, Northeastern State University and the Oklahoma Gang Investigation Association and other law enforcement officials will present the live, interactive VIDEOCONFERENCE on THURSDAY, January 29th from 1:30 to 3:30 at your closest videoconference site. Please call and reserve your space NOW. (Site locations are listed at http://www.sde.state.ok.us/Services/Videoconference/locations.html)

The presenters were at the Safe and Healthy Schools conference and shared their expert knowledge on gang awareness, signs, activities, prevention strategies and intervention.

If you have questions please contact Gayle Jones, SDE at 405-521-2106.

23RD ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOLS THAT WORK STAFF DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE
This year's summer conference theme is Heads-On, Hands-On Learning: Key to Student Motivation and Achievement. The purpose of the conference is to inform state, district, school and teacher leaders about practices in the middle grades, high schools and technology centers that will increase student motivation and learning, students' readiness for high school studies, high school completion rates, and students' success in postsecondary studies and careers.

The announcement brochure is now available online at http://www.sreb.org/SummerConference/index.asp

The Announcement Brochure describes the eight conference objectives, registration information, a proposal to present form and further conference information. Check out the pre-conferences to deeper implement the High Schools That Work framework. Submit proposals for presentations demonstrating how implementation of the HSTW, Making Middle Grades Work and Technology Centers That Work designs is improving student achievement at your school.

Please read over the brochure and make plans to join us in Atlanta this July!

GOVERNOR'S GLOBAL EDUCATION CONFERENCE
J.C. Smith, Oklahoma State Department of Education, encourages Oklahoma high school counselors to attend the Governor's Global Education Conference at the University of Central Oklahoma on Feb. 13, 2009.

Registration is online at http://www.okglobaled.org/ This conference will provide invaluable exposure as to why and how young Oklahomans must become more internationally engaged and our campuses that consistently provide these opportunities. For more information contact Erin Taylor, PhD, Coordinator, Academic Affairs Projects with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Phone (405) 225-9163 if you have questions.

RESOURCES

THE SKILLS IMPERATIVE: SOLVE THE U.S. TALENT SHORTAGE
This interesting publication may prove useful to enhancing the quality of career and technical courses and building a partnership with your local chamber of commerce.

http://www.uschamber.com/NR/rdonlyres/eciaj45n6o5jxdngkikp6zgphwy4gqbkt3vyv7q4eu5xlcpms7escmdu5koxwfyvrgdpxukqamx35ljclqfydbuob2g/CTEPaperFINAL.pdf

UNDERSTANDING ISSUES FACING MILITARY KIDS
Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction has a website dedicated to assist educators in better understanding and being responsive to the unique issues facing military kids whose parents or loved ones have been or are currently deployed. It provides practical, hands-on information to help those in school settings deal with the tough to talk about topics students experience in the schools
http://www.k12.wa.us/OperationMilitaryKids/Resources.aspx

AIDtoCHILDREN.com
Bluesky emailed another great charity site resource AIDtoCHILDREN.com. It donates money to children in need through World Vision. Check it out at http://www.aidtochildren.com

STUDENT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

DESIGNING QUALITY REAL-WORLD PROJECTS
All projects should engage students in authentic learning and require them to use their technical and academic skills and knowledge. To help teachers design real world projects that meet high standards review the following publication on how to design good projects:
http://www.sreb.org/programs/hstw/publications/site-guides/00V03_UsingRealWorldProjects.pdf

STEM CAREER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
See how Oklahoma Department Career Technical Education is focusing on the need for more employees in the S.T.E.M. related fields (science, technology, engineering, and math).
http://www.okhorizon.com/2000/Show0903/STEMOverview.htm

This website focuses on getting more females interested in those same fields.
http://http://okhorizon.com/2009/Show0903/VA_IntvWMimiLufkinRickLarkey.htm