Big Thoughts for 2020!

by Kirk Miller, SAM Executive Director

The start of a new year allows for reflection and the opportunity to think big for what lies ahead!  At SAM we are here to support you and your work for children in 2020.  Two big thoughts for the new year came from reflection and focus on how SAM, your professional association, can support you. 

Big Thought #1 – Recruitment and Retention of Quality Educators Progress

The number one issue affecting our power to provide excellent educational services to children in our communities statewide is our ability to recruit and retain quality educators.  Our work at SAM has been to create opportunities for increased access to quality educators who can serve in our schools in the hardest to fill areas.  Significant progress is being made through a) administrative rule changes allowing more flexibility and access, b) legislation targeting resources, and c) collaboration to work on projects and obtain grants to meet the needs of our rural state.  The efforts of RISE4MT (Recruiting Incredible School Educators for MT) and the Montana University System Rural Recruitment and Retention Task Force have produced some results in all three progress areas mentioned.  RISE4MT DRAFT Update 1-2-20 provides you with a relatively deep look at administrative rule changes giving educators more flexibility in licensure.  A review of the Educator Recruitment and Retention webpage established on the OPI website provides good information about legislation resulting in the Quality Educator Loan Assistance Program and National Board Teacher Stipend Program both giving our rural schools access to funds to recruit and retain quality educators.  Recently, three educator recruitment and retention projects coordinated by our partners at the Montana University System show great promise.  The Montana Rural Teacher Project is a 5 year, $6.2 million grant addressing rural recruitment and retention in Montana by placing teachers in hard to fill teaching positions in rural schools across the state.  The Montana Rural School Counselor Project is a 5 year, $2.3 million grant designed to train high-quality school and mental health counselors to work in rural areas of Montana.  The development of Grow Your Own educator shortage strategies is gaining momentum with  2+2 partnership programs to train teachers by helping them complete their college education to gain a teacher license and then work in the schools where they are currently providing other services like paraprofessional, aide or classified staff.  Finally, SAM is partnering with MREA and MCASE to hold the first ever Virtual Career Fair for educators and employers on March 13, 2020.  Expect to see more details of this in coming months.  Check out the RISE4MT DRAFT Update 1-2-20 for a review of progress.  This collective effort to help our schools have access to highly qualified candidates for education positions will continue in 2020!

Big Thought #2 – Importance of Strategically Telling the Story About the Great Work of Your Schools

The importance for our schools and school leaders to tell the story about the great work accomplished for each child, every day in our schools is very important in 2020.  The whole attitude about public education and making sure our own communities understand the outstanding work for children in your schools, is a matter that, as school leaders, requires our attention.  Being strategic in letting your community, and quite frankly your school team, know and understand the progress and opportunities provided to students locally is a must for the to do list in 2020.  If we collectively work together to tell this local story of rich and diverse opportunities provided to our children we will make a difference in capturing back a positive, supportive attitude about our schools all across the state.  SAM has developed learning opportunities for being strategic in telling the story and gaining the support of your community (See Jamie Vollmer’s Great Conversation as described at MCEL and further through a SAM business partnership).  Please review the GREAT VII 2019 publication developed by MT-PEC, and use this for reference to advocate in your school community.  Another recently developed tool to impact your community is the MT-PEC Flexibility PD Series.  This access to deep professional learning about the many efficiencies and flexibility provided in legislation, law and administrative rules is intended to help you advocate for programming necessary in your schools to meet the needs of the children served.  You can expect to see more resources for enhancing your ability to tell your rich story at upcoming conferences and meetings in 2020!

I hope you will consider these couple of big thoughts in your planning for 2020.  Happy New Year to you from your team at SAM!

SAM Youth Endowment Now Open for Nominations

Nominations are open until March 3rd for the 2019-20 SAM Youth Endowment. The purpose of the School Administrators of Montana Youth Endowment is to make a positive impact on the youth of Montana by providing financial assistance to benefit children’s health, welfare, and/or education.

Awards to nominated recipients are given in April of each year and announced in the May SAM Bulletin. Emergency requests will be accepted and presented to the board on an as-requested basis made throughout the year.  Recognition of the award will also be given annually at the SAM Administrators Institute.

Nomination guidelines are listed in the SAM Youth Endowment brochure. Please note that only SAM members can make the actual nomination.

Click HERE to access the 2019-20 SAM Youth Endowment Nomination Form! The application deadline is March 3, 2020.

MAEMSP and MASSP Award Deadline Extended

The deadline has been extended for the following 2020 MAEMSP and MASSP awards.  Nomination forms must be completed by January 10, 2020.  

• MAEMSP Friends of Education Award - given to a private citizen outside of the professional educational organization who is always there to support education and goes the extra mile to further the education of Montana's youth.

• NASSP Conference Incentive Award - provides an opportunity for an MASSP member to attend the NASSP National Principals Conference for professional development

MCASE Award Nominations Closing Soon

Please consider nominating an outstanding educator for one of the following 2020 MCASE awards.  Nomination forms must be completed by January 10, 2020.  Find out more about each award and nominate/apply by clicking 2020 MCASE Awards.

• Special Education Director
• Special Education Teacher

• Regular Education Teacher

The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and its state affiliate chapter, Montana Educational Technologists Association (META) are pleased to continue to support the work of current and aspiring superintendents and district leadership teams in leading all aspects of digital learning transformations.  

Last month we focused on effective professional learning and the need for a coordinated leadership strategy when planning and delivering professional learning experiences within a school district. CoSN’s one-page guide for school leaders on effective professional development offers school leaders three critical guidelines for professional learning that improve classroom practice and also presents an overview of the essential factors school leaders must consider when planning for and evaluating professional learning.

This month we examine the strategies necessary for leading digital learning with an emphasis on succeeding with 1:1 implementations. CoSN’s Leadership for Digital Learning Critical Issues Guide provides – in a concise, single-page format - an itemized check list for each of the four main systems (human and technological) that need to be properly established when implementing 1:1 technology for learning initiatives.

CoSN, in partnership with edWeb.net, hosts The EmpowerED Superintendent monthly webinar series on topics that are essential for all educators engaged in leading digital transformations. The focus of the January 13, 2020 webinar (3:00 pm MT) is on “Leading Digital Learning: Successful Strategies for 1:1 Implementations”. Four superintendents who are recognized as technology leaders in their field will share what it takes to successfully deploy, implement and sustain a commitment to digital learning. Each will share the “why” behind their successful technology initiatives. Learn more and register for this free webinar as well as access recordings of previously broadcast CoSN/edWeb webinars at https://home.edweb.net/supers/.

If your school or district would like more information about joining CoSN or getting more involved with CoSN, please contact Brian Calvary, CAE, CoSN Director of Membership and Chapters, at  [email protected].  

SAM Needs Assessment Survey Deadline - January 10, 2020

Please click HERE to complete the survey.