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

December 2008

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Wishes for a relaxing break from school and that you have a joyful and fun filled time of visiting friends and family and time to pamper yourself by doing activities that are renewing!


UPDATE:

Reading and Writing Skills Emphasized in Latest Newsletter
Gene Bottoms has announced the availability of another online Best Practices newsletter. This third newsletter in the series focuses on the importance of reading and writing skills in all educational and career pathways. The newsletter includes a variety of strategies for integrating reading and writing skills across the curriculum - in academic, career/ technical and fine arts courses - in ways that improve student achievement in reading and writing and in the content area.

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 http://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."

As you examine practices other schools are implementing, I hope you will work with your staff to identify a practice your school has implemented to successfully integrate reading and writing into all subject areas. Please think about having your school share that activity at the 2009 HSTW Staff Development Conference
If you would like to add anyone to our announcement list about the newsletters, please send names, titles, schools, locations and e-mail addresses to Leonard Gatungo at leonard.gatungo@sreb.org. If you do not want to receive further announcements, please notify Leonard.
Coming Soon—Online Newsletter #4: Middle Grades Schools Take Their Role Seriously in Preparing Students for Rigorous High School Studies


RESOURCE

Emphasis on Reviewing Subject Area Skills or Feeding the Hungry
Check out http://www.freerice.com/ . Here's a fantastic website that all teachers can use. All you have to decide is how to use it! Over the holidays you can even have your children or grandchildren experiment with it.

Are you wanting students to review information in math, geography, chemistry or English or even art or foreign languages? Do you want them to increase their skills? The level of difficulty of the questions can be changed. Or are you interested in having students contribute to a charity that feeds the hungry?

All these goals can be met by assigning students to go to this website. English vocabulary automatically comes up. (The subject can be changed.) For every vocabulary definition you get correct, FreeRice donates 20 grains of rice to starving people in other parts of the world. It is in conjunction with the World Hunger Association. FreeRice has already provided rice for hundreds of thousands of hungry people. Just check out the website and the video and then start playing.

FreeRice has two goals: Provide education to everyone for free. Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free. This is made possible by the generosity of the sponsors who advertise on this site. Whether you are CEO of a large corporation or a street child in a poor country, improving your education can improve your life. It is a great investment in yourself. Perhaps even greater is the investment your donated rice makes in hungry human beings, enabling them to function and be productive. Somewhere in the world, a person is eating rice that you helped provide.


CONGRATULATIONS

To Jorja Jacobs, Innovation Support Service Liaison, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, who is retiring from her career in education after 37 years of service – 17 of them at ODCTE. Her last day will be January 9, 2009.

Here’s a note from her:

Dear Fellow Educators:

I will miss the friends I made in education and helping schools in Oklahoma improve experiences they provide for students. I have been privileged to have a career filled with ever expanding learning experiences and opportunities to assist school districts.

I feel lucky to have worked with such dedicated school staff. I believe we have greatly contributed to students’ lives and enabled them to become happy and productive individuals who are contributing members of society. I enjoyed being part of your team as we improved the schools in Oklahoma.

While I will miss all of you and working with your schools, I look forward to being able to spend more time gardening, taking photographs, traveling, visiting with friends and relatives, and volunteering. I will enjoy hearing from you. Please stay in touch! Best wishes to you all, as you continue your adventures in learning and helping students!

Jorja Jacobs 918/836-9191 JorjaJacobs@gmail.com

Oklahoma HSTW Updates

UPDATE

SECOND 2008 BEST PRACTICES NEWSLETTER ANNOUNCED
Integration is the theme of the Second 2008 BEST PRACTICES NEWSLETTER announced by Gene Bottoms. The second of a series of eight Best Practices newsletters is now available online. These newsletters describe best practices presented at the 2008 HSTW Staff Development Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.

The focus of the second newsletter is revealed in its title: Integrated Academic and Career/Technical Learning Shows Real-Life Applications of Education. The newsletter includes vignettes about schools that are effectively integrating academic and career/technical (CT) studies to help more students find meaning in their learning and to motivate students to make great effort to achieve.

You are encouraged to share this newsletter with school staff (including academic and career/technical teachers), community and business members, parents and students. You can use these newsletters as focal points for conversation at faculty and teacher team meetings. To access this newsletter, click on this link: http://www.sreb.org/programs/hstw/publications/2008/08SummerConferenceNewsletter.asp

You will also find the newsletter by going to the SREB Web site at http://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."

As you examine practices other schools are implementing, you are encouraged to work with your staff to identify a practice to effectively integrates academic and CT studies that your school can share at the 2009 HSTW Staff Development Conference. Programs are particularly being looked for that have evidence that integrating academic and CT studies results in greater student motivation and improved achievement ­ in both academic areas and in technical content and procedures.

Between now and December, watch for e-mail announcements of more Online Newsletters of Best Practices. If you would like to add anyone to our announcement list about the newsletters, please send names, titles, schools, locations and e-mail addresses to Leonard Gatungo at leonard.gatungo@sreb.org. If you do not want to receive further announcements, please notify Leonard.

COMING SOON Online 2008 Best Practices Newsletter #3:
"Reading and Writing Are Essential Skills for All Educational and Career Pathways"


GRANTS

Music Matters Grants – Feb 04, 2009 deadline

Source: The Muzak Heart and Soul Foundation
The Muzak Heart & Soul Foundation’s mission is to support and redefine music education. Through music education, a child can better achieve his/her full potential and stimulate personal and educational growth.

Music Matters Grants for 2009 will focus on educational reform in school music programs and independent music programs. Grants will be awarded in April 2009 (money will be distributed by October 2009), to schools and music programs throughout the United States. Grant amounts for this cycle are between $1,000-$12,000 each and are made on an annual one-time basis.


Education, Community, and Medicine/Health Grants - March 06, 2009 deadline

Source: RGK Foundation
RGK Foundation awards grants in the broad areas of Education, Community, and Medicine/Health. The Foundation's primary interests within Education include programs that focus on formal K-12 education (particularly mathematics, science and reading), teacher development, literacy, and higher education.

Within Community, the Foundation supports a broad range of human services, community improvement, abuse prevention, and youth development programs. Human service programs of particular interest to the Foundation include children and family services, early childhood development, and parenting education. The Foundation supports a variety of Community Improvement programs including those that enhance non-profit management and promote philanthropy and voluntarism. Youth development programs supported by the Foundation typically include after-school educational enrichment programs that supplement and enhance formal education systems to increase the chances for successful outcomes in school and life. The Foundation is also interested in programs that attract female and minority students into the fields of mathematics, science, and technology.

The Foundation's current interests in the area of Medicine/Health include programs that promote the health and well-being of children, programs that promote access to health services, and Foundation-initiated programs focusing on ALS.

Although there are no geographic restrictions to the Foundation's grantmaking program, the Foundation no longer accepts unsolicited requests for international agencies or programs. While the Foundation occasionally awards grants for operating expenses, capital campaigns, endowments, and international projects, such grants are infrequent and usually initiated by the Foundation. Multiyear grants are rare; most grants are awarded for a one-year period. Click here to view listing of recent grants awarded by the Foundation.



FOR TEACHERS

Scholarships

College Scholarships – due March 12, 2009
Source: Horace Mann Educators Corporation
Horace Mann is dedicated to serving the needs of the educational community. The Horace Mann Companies is offering $30,000 in scholarships for public and private school K-12 educators to take college courses.

In May 2009, The Horace Mann Companies will announce the recipients. One recipient will receive $5,000 in scholarship funds payable over four years, and fifteen other recipients will receive $1,000 each in scholarship funds payable over two years. Twenty additional recipients will each receive one-time $500 awards. Scholarship money will be paid directly to each recipient's college or university for tuition, fees and other educational expenses.

Scholarship applicants will be judged on a written essay and school and community activities. Financial need is not a consideration, but applicants who have all educational expenses paid through other scholarships and/or grants are ineligible


Awards

Astronauts Memorial Foundation - January 16, 2009 deadline
Source: Astronauts Memorial Foundation (AMF) in partnership with the Space Foundation and NASA: Alan Shepard Technology In Education Award
There is a continuing effort to recognize outstanding contributions by K-12 educators and District level personnel in the field of Educational Technology. The Astronauts Memorial Foundation (AMF) in partnership with the Space Foundation and NASA is pleased to present the Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award. The Award recognizes outstanding contributions made by technology personnel or classroom teachers to technology education.

The Alan Shepard Technology in Education Award rewards excellence in the development and delivery of technology programs. Programs which focus on aerospace and/or aeronautics will be given priority to other programs. Applicants must demonstrate how their programs ultimately benefit the students in a school or district.


RESOURCES

Did you notice these articles in previous blog postings? Scroll down on the Blog to the June 17, 2008 entry in the “Professional Development” and “Student Opportunities” sections for all the information about these topics.

Involve The Community To Change College-Going Cultures
Community involvement is an important factor to sustain a college-going message and change the behaviors of students.

Are Wired Kids Well Served By Schools?
Many teens are hyper-motivated with special skills to create podcasts, directing YouTube videos, or publishing a website.

Encourage Teen Writing Through Blogging
Research shows that teen bloggers write more frequently both online and offline. Use this interest to enrich classrooms.

Environmentally Green Schools
Is Your School Clean? Ok, But Is It Green Clean? What a great science project for students.


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

2 Million Minutes
This You Tube video about the 2 million minutes our students have during high school is only 3 minutes long. It compares attitudes and activities of 6 students in the United States, India and China. View it with your staff to start a discussion about the global competion our students face.

Oklahoma HSTW Updates

UPDATES

First 2008 BEST PRACTICES NEWSLETTER was announced by Dr. Gene Bottoms. ­Learn what school leaders, teachers and national experts say about improving school and classroom practices to prepare more students for college and careers. A series of on-line newsletters describe best practices about successful actions schools are taking to implement the Key Practices.

The first newsletter, Quality Career/Technical Programs Prepare Students to Succeed in a New, More Challenging Economy, is now available online. This newsletter covers assessing the quality and effectiveness of CT programs, preparing students to succeed in an increasingly demanding workplace, building effective career academies, and engaging students in CT studies through real-world applications.

Access the newsletter at: http://www.sreb.org/publications/2008/newsletters/08SummerConferenceNewsletter.asp. You can also find the newsletter at http://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."

As you and your staff review the newsletter, consider the following points for discussion:
- Are there any ideas in the newsletter that you would like to try in our school?
- Did you discover a best practice at another school that you would like to learn more about?
- Are you willing to contact that school and share the information with others?
- Are there outstanding practices in one or more of our career/technical programs that we can
share at the 2009 HSTW Summer Staff Development Conference?


CONGRATULATIONS

To Karen Dawson
The Oklahoma School Counselor Association (OSCA) announced the 2008-2009 Counselors of the Year at the Encyclo-Media Conference in September. Congratulations to Karen Dawson, East Central High School, Tulsa for being named The Counselor of the Year. A picture of each Counselor of the Year is available on the OSCA’s Web site, <http://www.okschoolcounselor.org%3e/. On the home page, scroll down and click on their names. Margaret Durham, President of OSCA, is shown congratulating each Counselor of the Year. Congratulations to all the Counselors of the Year!

STUDENT LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Arlington Cemetery - Jeopardy Question
Use the following website and YouTube video as an inquiry based research for students in U.S. History. These type questions create an interest for student learning. For example, how many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why? Additional questions and information can be located at:
http://www.hwva.org/HWVA%20Website%20Info/Arlington%20National%20Cemetary.pdf YouTube video located at:
http://inchesawayfromsanity.blogspot.com/2008/08/arlington-cemetery-jeopardy-question.html


RESOURCES

Career And Academic Connections Website:
Check out Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education’s Career Clusters link. http://www.okcareertech.org/cac/Pages/Career_cluster/careerclusters.htm A few examples of what you will find there:
1) Powerpoint to introduce clusters(PowerPoint version)- a powerpoint you can download and adapt to use to introduce clusters. The slides also have notes on them so you have a script from which to work.
2) Career Cluster Pathway Sample Plans of Study Each pathway plan of study (71 plans) is now online in a Word format so you can take and adapt to your school offerings.
3) Revised Career Cluster Plans of Study will take you to the state's career cluster website and you will find the new and revised plans of study for the 16 clusters.
4) Archived Original Career Cluster Plans of Study these are the "original" format for the plans of study for the 16 clusters.
5) Career Cluster Crosswalk -chart that crosswalks the World of Work map (that Explore, Plan and ACT use) to the 16 career clusters.
6) Career Cluster Interest Inventory in both English and Spanish.


Free Spanish Language Publications
As you begin to see a change in your student demographics and need Spanish language publications, the following publications may be of value from ED Pubs (edpubs.ed.gov.)

Tips For Reading Tutors Tips For Reading Tutors/Consejos Para Los Tutores En Lectura
No Child Left Behind: Character Education No Child Left Behind: Character Education...Our Shared Responsibility/La educación moral ... Nuestra responsabilidad compartida
Helping Your Child Through Early Adolescence Helping Your Child Through Early Adolescence/Cómo ayudar a su hijodurante los primeros años de la adolescencia


Middle-Schoolers Design Web Site with Career Resources

Three hundred middle school students from all over the country worked closely with developers to design a Web site called Funworks that links the interests and hobbies of young people, ages 11 to 15, to future careers. The site, created by the Gender, Diversity, and Technology Institute at Education Development Center, features information about careers in science, technology, engineering, and math, as well as games, quizzes, and more. In addition, Funworks provides educational resources for guidance counselors, teachers, media specialists, and parents.http://www.thefunworks.org/

Other Websites:
The U.S. Department of Education recently unveiled http://www.college.gov/ a new web site that aims to motivate students with inspirational stories and information about planning, preparing and paying for college. It includes an interactive tool for students to create an "I'm going" personalized roadmap that details the steps to take to get to college. Content is also organized and presented in a way for students to easily find the answers to their higher education questions: Why Go? What to Do? and How to Pay?


PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Gangs Workshop:
The Oklahoma Gang Investigators Association (OGIA) will be hosting a Gangs 101 presentation open to teachers, counselors and administrators. Date is Dec. 12, 9:00 - 5:00 at the Mid-Del Technology Center, registration is $25.00. If you are interested in attending this presentation you can log onto the website listed below for more information.
http://www.ogia.us/101_okc_2008.htm


CONTESTS FOR STUDENTS

Being an American: 2008-2009 Essay Contest – Dec 1, 2008 deadline
Source: The Bill of Rights Institute
The Question: What civic value do you believe is most essential to being an American? Trace the enduring importance of this value throughout the American story by discussing: a Founding document that reflects this value; a figure from American history who embodies this value; and ways you can personally put this value into practice.
Both teachers and students can win cash and other prizes for submitting an essay. Listed below are the prizes that will be given out in each region during the 2008-2009 competition. To see which region you are in, click here.

Cash prizes for Students in the 2008-2009 Competition
First place - $5,000
Second place - $2,500
Third place - $1,250
Honorable Mentions (7 prizes awarded in each region) - $250

Cash prizes for Teachers in the 2008-2009 Competition
If you are the teacher-submitter of the essay, you will win an amount equal to what the student wins for First, Second, or Third place.
First place - $5,000
Second place - $2,500
Third place - $1,250

Win a trip to Washington, D.C. for an Awards Weekend!

The top three essays' writers and their teachers will win an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for the 2008-2009 Essay Contest Awards Weekend and Gala! To see what last year's winners did on their weekend in Washington, D.C., please click here


Career Poster/Poetry Contest – December 5, 2008 deadline
Source: National Career Development Association/OK Dept. of Career and Technology Education
Students celebrate their favorite career by entering the K- Adult Career Poster and Poetry Contest. This year's theme is "Inspire Your Career, Develop Your Dreams." The contest is designed to bring attention to the importance of life-long career development and the personal empowerment of all people.

State winners win a monetary amount of $5, third place, $10, second place, and $15, first place. Send your school's top three winning entries for each category no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, December 5th, 2008. The top three state winners for each category will be mailed to the national competition. Entry forms will are available at: http://www.okcareertech.org/cac/Pages/resources_products/Classroom/Career_Poster_Contest_2008.pdf
http://www.okcareertech.org/cac/Pages/resources_products/Classroom/Career_Poetry_Contest_2008.pdf

GRANTS FOR SCHOOL DISTRICTS

Teaching of Writing Grant – November 21, 2008 deadline
Source: College Board
Bob Costas Grants for the Teaching of Writing
Each year the College Board recognizes exceptional teachers of grades 6 through 12 for the innovative methods they use to develop their students' writing skills. Grants of $3,000 each will be awarded to teachers who are doing an inspiring job of teaching their students to write and who will benefit most from a grant to enhance a successful project.


Grants for Manufacturing Camps – Dec 12, 2008 deadline
Source: FMA FOUNDATION and the Nuts, Bolts, & Thingamajigs Foundation
A demographic shift in the U.S. work force caused by retiring baby boomers is taking place, and the manufacturing sector is already feeling the impact. While improvements in technology have increased efficiency rates and reduced the amount of unskilled labor needed, there is an ever-increasing demand for highly skilled professionals such as engineers who can design, program, and operate technology being employed.

The purpose of manufacturing camp grants is to provide a positive, hands-on experience so young people will consider manufacturing as a future career option.

Suggested curriculum for a week of manufacturing camp might include a day or two of introduction to CAD software, a day or two in a fabrication shop or training facility, and a day of touring regional fabricating or tube & pipe facilities. If assistance is needed, the FMA Foundation is a resource for locating local manufacturers in the metal forming industry. Please see the application procedures before applying.

Grant funds may be used for the expenses related to curriculum development and instruction, as well as direct expenses such as housing, meals, transportation, and supplies. Expenses related to the purchase of software or other capital expenditures do not qualify.


Arts for Students with Disabilities – December 12, 2008 deadline
Source: VSA arts and MetLife Foundation
The goals of Arts Connect All are to:
- Enable more students with disabilities to experience social, cognitive, and cultural
development through arts learning alongside their peers without disabilities;
- Create educational access and inclusion in the arts for students with disabilities; and
- Document the contributions that arts organizations make to inclusive education in public
schools.


Advanced Placement (AP) Test Fee Program – Dec 15, 2008 deadline
Source: U.S Dept. of Education
The AP Test Fee program awards grants to eligible State educational agencies (SEAs) to enable them to pay all or a portion of advanced placement test fees on behalf of eligible low-income students who (1) are enrolled in an advanced placement course and (2) plan to take an advanced placement exam. The program is designed to increase the number of low-income students who take advanced placement tests and receive scores for which college academic credit is awarded.

http://www.ed.gov/programs/apfee/index.html


GRANTS FOR TEACHERS

Teachers in Space Program - December 4, 2008 deadline
Every journey begins with a single step. The Pathfinder program is the first step in the journey toward our goal of putting a thousand astronaut teachers into American classrooms. Pathfinders will be the first astronaut teachers to fly in space and return to the classroom. These Pathfinders will not only fly in space, they will also help us design the three-week training course for the large number of teachers who follow. We hope that Pathfinders will also return each summer to help us teach the course. (Can you think of a more exciting summer job?)

We are currently accepting applications for the first two Pathfinders. (We aren't sure how many Pathfinders there will eventually be. This is the first time we've run a program such as this—in fact, the first time anyone has—so we're learning as we go.)

We're looking for one Pathfinder who is knowledgeable in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) subjects. Applicants for the STEM Pathfinder slot are asked to submit a proposal for an experiment that could be performed on a suborbital flight.

We're looking for another Pathfinder who has strong skills in lesson plan development. Applications are asked to submit a lesson plan or curriculum module based on any aspect of human spaceflight. Teachers from all subject areas, STEM and non-STEM, are encouraged to apply.