Volume XLVI                                July/August 2024

No. 341

Recharge and Connect!
by Joel Graves, MASS President 

Dear SAM Members,

As the summer months approach, I want to emphasize the importance of taking time to recharge your personal batteries. The role of a school administrator is incredibly demanding, requiring long hours, difficult decisions, and a continuous outpouring of energy to support your students, staff, and community. It's essential to prioritize your own well-being during the summer break to ensure you return in the fall refreshed and ready to lead your school team with renewed vigor and success.

Summer offers a precious opportunity to engage in activities that nourish your mind, body, and spirit. Whether it's spending quality time with loved ones, pursuing a cherished hobby, or simply disconnecting from the relentless demands of work, make self-care a top priority. This rejuvenation will enable you to approach the new school year with clarity, enthusiasm, and the resilience necessary to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.

Additionally, I encourage you to connect with your peers within the SAM community. School administration can be an isolating profession, but you are not alone. Within our organization, you'll find a network of dedicated professionals who understand the unique challenges you face. Don't hesitate to reach out, share your experiences, and seek advice from those who have navigated similar situations. Together, we can support and learn from one another, fostering a collective strength that will benefit us all.

SAM is here to provide a supportive and collaborative environment, where you can find camaraderie, guidance, and a shared commitment to excellence in education. Embrace the opportunities for professional growth and personal renewal that our organization offers.

As the summer unfolds, I wish you a season of rest, rejuvenation, and meaningful connections. Return in the fall with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to inspire and lead your school community to new heights of success.

Joel Graves
MASS President

The Road to Educational Vouchers in Montana has begun - stay informed

As you may have noticed, the opposition of educational vouchers made the short list of the SAM priorities as we head into the 2025 Legislative Session.  The priority list was established by the SAM delegates during the 2024 Delegate Assembly.

Educational vouchers are a mechanism designed to give families the ability to choose an educational path for their child, by using public dollars and redirecting those resources towards non-public education. Sometimes vouchers are used to pay for private school tuition and other times they are used to pay for homeschool programs or opportunities.

While universal vouchers have not yet made it to Montana, we are on the pathway to their full introduction. A simple check of other states, like Arizona, show that the pathway to universal vouchers is paved with legislation such as open enrollment, tax credits, and education savings accounts. All of these markers have passed in Montana. HB393, the education savings account for special education students, is still in litigation as MQEC has challenged the constitutionality of this bill.

We are predicting that a push towards universal vouchers will start with the 2025 legislative session. To that end, we believe it is important that all SAM members have some background information and context.

Types of Educational Vouchers

1. Traditional Vouchers: These provide families with public funding to pay for private school tuition. These vouchers are typically targeted at low-income families to enable their children to attend private schools that they otherwise could not afford.

2. Tax Credit Scholarships: These are slightly different from traditional vouchers. Instead of directly providing funds to families, tax credit scholarships offer tax credits to individuals and corporations that donate to scholarship-granting organizations. These organizations then provide scholarships to eligible students to attend private schools.

3. Vouchers for Disabled Students: Also known as special needs scholarships, these vouchers are designed specifically for students with disabilities. The funding can be used to attend schools that better accommodate their specific educational needs, whether these are private or homeschool programs.

4. Universal Vouchers: Unlike targeted vouchers, universal vouchers are available to all students regardless of their family's income or specific educational needs. The idea is to give every family the freedom to choose the best educational environment for their children.

Potential Harms: While the concept of educational vouchers aims to provide families with more choice and improve educational outcomes, it also comes with several potential drawbacks.

1. Redirection of Public Funds: One of the most significant concerns is that educational vouchers divert public funds from traditional public schools to private institutions. This can lead to reduced budgets for public schools, which may already be struggling with limited resources. As public schools serve the majority of students, a decrease in funding can negatively impact educational quality.

2. Lack of Accountability: Private or homeschool programs that receive voucher funds are often not held to the same accountability standards as public schools. This lack of oversight can result in varied educational quality and potentially misuse of public funds.

3. Equity and Access Issues: While vouchers are intended to provide more educational opportunities, they can sometimes exacerbate inequalities. Families with more resources and better knowledge of the system may be more able to take advantage of vouchers, leaving behind those who are less informed or lack the means to supplement voucher amounts for more expensive private school tuition.

Educational vouchers present a complex and multifaceted issue within the K-12 public education system. Understanding how they have been used and misused in other states is important. Engaging in informed discussions can help mitigate potential harms and ensure that all students have access to high-quality education.

2024 SAM Administrators Institute Registration

ARE YOU REGISTERED for the SAM Administrators Institute, Leading Transformation:  Innovation, Inclusion, and Inspiration at the Best Western Great Northern in Helena July 22 - 24?  SAM AI is an essential summer professional learning opportunity you won't want to miss! Register now for this exciting event featuring 5 keynote presenters and 24 breakout sessions along with opportunities to connect with your colleagues.   2024 SAM AI features an exciting lineup of keynote speakers:  Ron Clark:  Get ready for an inspiring start to the 2024 SAM Administrators Institute.  The Ron Clark Academy is not only providing a pre-conference on Monday, July 22 from 8:00 - 11:30 but Ron Clark will also be kicking off the full conference at noon!  Ron Clark has been called “America’s Educator.” In 2000, he was named Disney’s American Teacher of the Year. He is a New York Times bestselling author whose book, The Essential 55, has sold over 1 million copies and has been published in 25 different countries. He has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, and Oprah. Ms. Winfrey even named him as her first “Phenomenal Man.” His classes have been honored at the White House on three separate occasions. Ron’s teaching experiences in New York City are the subject of the uplifting film, The Ron Clark Story, starring Matthew Perry. The Ron Clark Academy serves as a training site for educators, and each year thousands of teachers and administrators from around the world visit the school to be trained in their methods for helping all students achieve success.  Consider registering your educator team to attend the first day of SAM AI (which includes the pre-conference) for a deep dive into Ron Clark's transformative educational strategies, notably PBIS strategies designed to foster a supportive and successful learning environment. Don't miss this unique opportunity to bring fresh inspiration and proven techniques back to your district.  You will save $100 on your conference registration if you register a team of 5 or more non-SAM member educators.   Tuesday, July 23 features Beth Houf  as the opening keynote presenter.  Beth Houf is the proud principal of Capital City High School in Jefferson City, Missouri. She is the Co-Author of Lead Like a PIRATE: Make School Amazing for Your Students and Staff. Beth serves as a facilitator for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Leadership Academy, providing monthly training to state educational leaders. Beth co-facilitates the NASSP Women in School Leadership Network and is a member of the NASSP Board of Directors.  Beth was named a Missouri Exemplary New Principal in 2011, the Missouri National Distinguished Principal for 2016, the 2019 National Association of Secondary School Principals Digital Principal of the Year, the EducationDive 2019 Principal of the Year, the 2021-2022 Missouri Secondary School Principal of the Year and the 2022 NASSP Principal of the Year.  Wednesday, July 24 kicks off with Danielle Thompson presenting, Becoming a Literacy Leader.  Dr. Thompson is an experienced national consultant and trainer with a demonstrated impact in PreK-school age populations. She is a dynamic, fun, engaging human with tried and true experience in early childhood and school age language and literacy education, language development and disorders, reading acquisition and disorders, staff wellness and mindfulness, positive thinking and building positive change and momentum in schools.

Follow the links for conference registration, draft agenda, and hotel information:  SAM AI Registration Form DRAFT  Schedule at a Glance Hotel Room Blocks Best Western Premier Helena Great Northern Hotel: 406-457-5500, $179 per night Double Tree by Hilton Helena Downtown: 406-443-2200, $159 per night Delta Colonial:  Book your group rate for SAM AI, $195 per night Be sure to join your colleagues who have already registered for this outstanding professional learning opportunity and time to connect!

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2024-25 SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program Registration is Open

SAM is continuing the long standing tradition of providing a low cost 1-1 coaching/mentoring model with the SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program (LPLP).  If you are new to your position OR if you would benefit from a mentor, this is the right program for you. LPLP provides each person with an experienced mentor that will provide support through 1-1 conversations and check-ins throughout the school year. Remember that leadership can be a lonely job. The LPLP mentor can be a great resource for quick guidance or a confidential ear to provide a sounding board in difficult situations.

Register here:  2024-25 SAM LPLP 1-1 Leadership Coaching & Mentoring Registration Form

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SAM and Affiliate Award Nominations are Open!

Nominations are now being accepted for the following awards and scholarship.  Who will you nominate to be recognized for their outstanding dedication to the education of the children in their school/district?  Please encourage aspiring administrators in your district to apply.

• G.V. Erickson Award -  Nominations are open until Friday, September 27, 2024: The G.V. Erickson Award is given to a member of the School Administrators of Montana who has made the greatest contribution to the betterment of education in Montana; something that G.V. did throughout his career. This is the most honored award a school administrator of Montana can receive.
• Erdie Memorial Scholarship - Applications will be accepted until Friday, September 27, 2024:  A Dr. Jay Erdie Memorial Mentor Scholarship in the amount of $1000 will be awarded annually to a deserving educator. The purpose of the scholarship is to “train and mentor” new Montana school administrators. The scholarship will be awarded to a school administration candidate who plans to begin and/or complete his/her administrative credentials and intends to work in a Montana school district. Once the candidate has secured a position and notified the SAM office, a trained mentor will be provided through the SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program to assist during his/her first year on the job.
• MASS Outstanding School Board of the Year Award - Applications will be accepted until Friday, September 27, 2024: The purpose of the award is to recognize and focus attention on the dedicated and ethical service rendered by school boards to the children of Montana.  Nominations for the MASS School Board Awards may be submitted by any Montana Superintendent of Schools. The MASS Executive Board recommends that each of the nine regions submit a nomination. Two Outstanding School Boards in Montana will be chosen. The winners will be announced at the annual MCEL meeting in October.
• AASA Conference Incentive Award - Applications will be accepted until Friday, September 27, 2024:  The Montana Association of School Superintendents Incentive Award Program is intended to provide a special opportunity for MASS members to attend the AASA National Conference on Education (NCE) that will be held in New Orleans, March 6 - 8, 2025.
• MASSP Assistant Principal of the Year - Applications will be accepted until Friday, October 11, 2024:  This award recognizes outstanding school leaders who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students.  The program honors high school assistant principals who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of personal excellence; collaborative leadership; curriculum, instruction and assessment; and personalization.  To be eligible, the nominee must be an active assistant principal and have been an active assistant principal for at least three consecutive years.

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