Florida Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Electronic Editon #1
April, 2011
Welcome To the new Electronic Edition of
Dimensions Due to the high cost of printing and mailing We have not been able to bring you this publication throughout the year. Using our new electronic publisher We can produce and mail Dimensions with an emphasis on FASCD Strategic Goals
This issue is devoted to one of our goals: Influence and Policy 1. Meet with national and state legislators 2. Inform members on legislative issues. 3. Notes from the recent board meeting are also included 4. Finally, read how you can create a new name for this publication
Education in the Capitol
H
ave you ever been to Washington D.C.? It is a majestic place, full of the hustle and bustle of the individuals who make critical decisions for our country. Have you ever been involved in the legislative process, seeing a law pass or advocating for a bill that you support? I had the incredible opportunity to be a voice in our Nation’s capital. At the end of January educators from all over the country participated in ASCD’s LILA conference to advocate for education reform. LILA, Leadership Institute for Legislative Advocacy, is an annual event where members are educated on the legislative process, hear from key political leaders in education, and meet with lawmakers to share our legislative agenda. Presentations were made by the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, E.J.Dionne (political journalist for the Washington Post), Senator Jack Reed, Dane Linn (National Governor’s Association Education Director) Alyson Klein (reporter for Education Week), David Johns (senior education policy advisor to the Senate HELP committee) and several others. While their ideals and personal agendas may or may not have matched those of the attendees, they all shared one commonality, reforming our educational system to do what is best for children. After soaking up as much information as we could on policy and advocacy, we were released to Capitol Hill to speak to our state Senators members of Congress. I was fortunate enough to meet with staffers and aides from the following offices: Senator Bill Nelson, Congressman Steve Southerland (district 2), Congresswoman Corrine Brown (district 3) and Congressman Daniel Webster (district 8). Although these members are not currently on an education committee, they were interested in hearing how educators feel about the reauthorization of ESEA as well as how these laws are impacting us on the ground floor. If you are interested in hearing where Secretary Duncan stands on reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, you can access the video through this link . Additionally read the blog post on bipartisanship in education.
Next steps
O
ne thing I learned is that it is not an easy process to create a law. Ongoing discussions occur, versions of the bill are revised, and more dialogue continues. We as educators, tax payers, and voters need to be included in these conversations. We know what is happening in the world of education, and these lawmakers need us to guide them to making the right choices. Here is what I am going to do, and I hope you will join me: 1.
Write letters to your leaders. Tell them what works and what needs to be changed.
2.
Become an Educator Advocate and receive updates on National policy involving Education.
3.
Visit our facebook page or follow us on Twitter (@FASCD)
4.
Serve on the Florida ASCD Policy and Advocacy Committee (contact me at alinad@bellsouth.net) Tell us how we can help you share your voice.
5.
Soon to come: Florida ASCD Educator Advocates
Thanks for being a voice for our students. Please make sure you ring loud and clear. Alina Davis President alinad@bellsouth.net
Mr. Jason Goes to Washington -To Get Schooled and Bridge the Gap
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s a relative beginner in legislative advocacy, I had a lot to learn about the role of the citizen advocate on a federal level, as well as about the myriad issues affecting schools today. Attending ASCD's legislative conference (LILA -- Leadership Initiative for Legislative Advocacy) as a Florida delegate provided the perfect opportunity to learn and apply. ASCD possesses the capacity, initiative and ambition to not only educate and empower educators, but to lay the foundation for bridging the gap between Capitol Hill and classrooms. The divide between policymakers and students could not be more pronounced, as anyone whose has suffered under the punitive measures of NCLB can attest. The problem: what passes as effective legislative lingo rarely translates into effective instructional practices once implemented. What sounds good on the floor of the House does not always work where the rubber meets the road -- at the intersection of students and teachers. Perhaps Yogi Berra said it best: "In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is." Because there is such a long road between the ideal classrooms and the policies enacted by legislators, simply showing up once isn't going to improve the glacial pace of congressional action, change policy or inform the debate. In short, it will not influence students by itself. As with teaching, advocacy is built on relationships. This trip to Washington D.C. and the hallowed halls of Capitol Hill is a beginning, not a culmination. For me it was setting the cornerstone for the bridge that connects educators and education leaders with lawmakers and their staff. It was the beginning of the relationship building process. Most profoundly, it was a revelation that it is up to us to ensure our efforts in the classroom are known and heard by those who represent us. Over and over again. Not for our sake, but for the sake of kids within our sphere of our influence.
The struggle to create and cultivate the environments that lead to transformative learning experiences for students in our communities require that we first and foremost engage in the process. Finding common ground will lead to common strengths, but staying on the sidelines will only lead to disappointments and complaints. If I learned anything at LILA it is this: Either we have a hand in what is being cooked or we are eating what is served, like it or not. I hope everyone takes the time to call their local, state and national policy makers. They must know our names, our concerns and represent the knowledge we've gained from years in the classroom. The onus is on us to educate not only the students, but also the legislators.
Jason Flom was named as an “Emerging Leader� by ASCD recently. He is a member Florida ASCD and recently attended the LILA conference in Washington, D.C. along with our president-elect Alina Davis. Jason has his own website and can be reached at: jason.flom@comcast.net
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Board Meeting - March 16
resident Johnny Nash called the meeting to order with eight board members present and making a quorum. He reported results of the January 29 meeting where they reviewed budget and expenditure transactions. Line item changes were suggested and approved to keep the budget tighter due to falling revenue. This prompted a discussion of ways that revenue could be generated to move us closer to a stable budget enabling us to provide more for our members. The president stated that he would have to relinquish the remainder of his term due to pressing personal issues that would interfere with his ability to do a good job. He recommended that Alina Davis, President-Elect, move into the position for the final three months of the term. While the constitution declares that it should devolve to the past president, who already had filled two terms due to a previous resignation, the board reasoned that the few months would give Alina time to fashion a plan to get the organization moving forward by June. All board members voted aye to naming Alina president.
Treasurer David Magee reported a total balance of $14,121.54 in the treasury as of March 16. The new president Alina Davis, reported on a meeting she recently attended at the ASCD headquarters that included a report of an ASCD task force on affiliates. Part of their task was to send a survey to a large sample of ASCD members to determine their understanding of affiliates. An important finding was that most ASCD members were either unaware of affiliates in their states or assumed that they were members of the affiliate by virtue of their ASCD membership. This demonstrates that we must work harder to recruit the many ASCD members living in Florida to become members of FASCD as well. Two of the requirements for improving the relationship of affiliates to ASCD included a legal contract between them and a required position of executive director. In addition, each affiliate must produce and accomplish a biannual plan with specific goals. These and other changes recommended by the report will be considered by the ASCD board meeting at the annual conference March 26 - 28 in San Francisco. Executive Director Kim Pearson presented the resumes of two FASCD members who wished to join the board. Since both were from region 3, where we have full representation, it was decided to ask them to participate in various committees until such time as openings become available in the region. The next meeting of the board will be on April 23 via phone conference.
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ou’ll notice that the name of this publication is Dimensions. Previously it had been printed and mailed to members quarterly. But, with budget constraints and the cost of printing and mailing we will go to electronic publishing. However, this conflicts with the monthly issue of Dimensions on Line—Electronic Edition. We have been trying to come up with a new name for this electronic issue of Dimensions which will not confuse the issue of Dimensions on Line . We have thought of names like, FASCD Insider? FASCD Board Briefs? FASCD Update? What do you think would be a good name for this publication? Please send your suggested new name (and comments if you wish) to dornseif@tampabay.rr.com You could be the person who names this publication!