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Ready, Willing and Abell

In schools, self-esteem boosting is losing favor to rigor, finer-tuned praiseMichael Alison ChandlerThe Washington PostJanuary 15, 2012 For decades, the prevailing wisdom in education was that high self-esteem would lead to high achievement. The theory led to an avalanche of daily affirmations, awards ceremonies and attendance certificates — but few, if any, academic gains. Now, an increasing number of teachers are weaning themselves from what some call empty praise. Drawing on psychology and brain research, these educators aim to articulate a more precise, and scientific, vocabulary for praise that will push children to work through mistakes and take on more challenging assignments. Consider teacher Shar Hellie’s new approach in Montgomery County.To get students through the shaky first steps of Spanish grammar, Hellie spent many years trying to boost their confidence. If someone couldn’t answer a question easily, she would coach him, whisper the first few words, then follow up with a booming “¡Muy bien!”But on a January morning at Rocky Hill Middle School in Clarksburg, the smiling grandmother gave nothing away. One seventh-grade boy returned to the overhead projector three times to rewrite a sentence, hesitating each time, while his classmates squirmed in silence.“You like that?” Hellie asked when he settled on an answer. He nodded. Finally, she beamed and praised the progress he was making — in his cerebral cortex.“You have a whole different set of neurons popping up there!” she told him.A growing body of research over three decades shows that easy, unearned praise does not help students but instead interferes with significant learning opportunities. As schools ratchet up academic standards for all students, new buzzwords are “persistence,” “risk-taking” and “resilience” — each implying more sweat and strain than fuzzy, warm feelings.“We used to think we could hand children self-esteem on a platter,” Stanford University psychologist Carol Dweck said. “That has backfired.”Read more HERE.
Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 1/10/12The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, January 10 will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes.Executive session - 10 a.m.Call to order - 1 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance, Henry E. Lackey High School JROTCElection of Chairman and Vice ChairmanMotion to elect Wise as Chair by Cook; Second by AbellYes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, WiseMotion to elect Cook as Vice Chair by Lukas; Second by WiseYes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, WiseMotion to elect Lukas as Vice Chair by Bowie; Second by PedersenLukas respectfully removed his nominationSuperintendent's update to the Board - Spoke of Cunningham's passing. Read reportCorrespondence/Board member updates all took turns speaking of Mr. CunninghamLukas - visit to schools, thank youBowie - anti-bullying correspondence from parents; parents' rights; forum at Jaycees on 1/23Lukas - donation of tickets to the Nutcracker ballet in DC for under-privileged children...thank you Richmond - Ms. Dorsey and Mr. Cornette will be in charge of school operationsEducation Association of Charles County update - read reportStudent Board member update - see reportSchool administration - enrollment update9/30 enrollment = 26,77812/15 enrollment = 26,924greatest growth in African-American, Hispanic, and Multi-Racial ethnic groupsgreatest growth at Diggs, Davis, Neal, and North PointCIP update - see reportESOL program and Bunkyo trip - See ReportPolicy #3430, Accounts: Opening and closing accounts - See ReportFY 2012 budget update - See report - breakfastLegislative updateno increase in state funding, but will remain steady; 7 counties in MD did NOT meet maintenance of effortteacher retirement may be put on countiesUnfinished business - noneNew businessWade asked for our position on MLK Breakfast. Tickets are to be bought individually if we want to attend.Future Agenda items - NoneRecognition - 4:30 p.m.Students - Caleb Caine, fifth grade, Academic Achievement, Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer Elementary; Jaylyn Pinchem, fifth grade, Personal Responsibility, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd Elementary; Micaela Patin, fifth grade, Career Readiness, William B. Wade Elementary School; Paul Adams, II, eighth grade, Academic Achievement, Matthew Henson Middle SchoolStaff - Lauren Washington, first grade teacher, Jenifer; Velta Williams, Secretary to the Principal, Mudd; Audre Codrington, school psychologist IA, Wade; Immaculada Dove, special education, IA, F.B. Gwynn Educational Center; Michael Forrest, science teacher, HensonResolutions: African American History Month - Accepting: AVID advocates and students; Jada Proctor, 7th grade and Michelle James, school counselor, General Smallwood Middle School; Loren Ward, 9th grade and Laura Buzzell, math teacher, Henry E. Lackey High School; Dielle McMillan, 11th grade, Daquan Patterson, 11th grade, and Jacqueline Cheaves, school counselor, Westlake High SchoolCareer and Technical Education Week: Accepting: Chitra Sharma, Chairperson, Charles County Commission for WomenNational School Counseling Week: Accepting: Michelle James, school couselor, General Smallwood Middle School; Wanda Proctor, school counselor, Benjamin Stoddert Middle School La Plata High School Thespian SocietyNathan Freeman, winner of the 2011 Student Space Flight Experiments Program (SSEP) Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-135 mission patch design contestPublic Forum - 6 p.m. - NoneAction itemsMinutesMotion to accept the Minutes by Cook; Second by AbellYes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, WisePersonnelMotion to accept Personnel by Pedersen; Second by CookYes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, WiseAdjournment
REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 1/10/12The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 10, at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata. The public portion of the meeting begins at 1 p.m. and student and staff recognition starts at 4:30 p.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS 12 and is rebroadcast throughout the week. All televised Board meetings are also streamed live on the school system Web site at http://www2.ccboe.com/boe/live/. Executive session - 10 a.m.Call to order - 1 p.m. - Pledge of Allegiance, Henry E. Lackey High School JROTCElection of Chairman and Vice Chairman.Superintendent's update to the BoardReports of officers/board/committeesCorrespondence/Board member updatesEducation Association of Charles County updateStudent Board member updateSchool administration - enrollment updateCIP updateESOL program and Bunkyo tripPolicy #3430, Accounts: Opening and closing accountsFY 2012 budget updateLegislative updateUnfinished businessNew business and future agenda itemsNew businessFuture agenda itemsRecognition - 4:30 p.m.StudentsStaffResolutions: African-American History Month, Career and Technology Education Month and National School Counseling WeekLa Plata High School Thespian SocietyNathan Freeman, winner of the 2011 Student Space Flight Experiments Program (SSEP) Space Shuttle Atlantis STS-135 mission patch design contestPublic Forum - 6 p.m.Action itemsMinutesPersonnelAdjournment
Notes from Board of Education Meeting, 12/13/11The Board of Education Meeting on Tuesday, December 13 will be re-broadcast on Comcast Channel 96, Verizon FIOS Channel 12 and is available via webstream at http://www.ccboe.com/ . To view the full agenda and the various reports, please visit BoardDocs.The below notes are my personal notes and are not intended to be all-inclusive or official minutes for the Board of Education meetings and are provided as a request from my supporters and the general public in a personal effort to be more transparent. Although I have diligently tried to make these notes as unbiased and accurate as possible, I am only human and do make mistakes.Executive session- 12 p.m.Call to order- 1 p.m. - Pledge of AllegianceSuperintendent's update to the Board - see report. Extra discussion on tele-presenceCorrespondence/Board member updatesPedersen - dinner at Mt. Hope/ Nanjemoy was delicious.Pedersen - Career Day at Mattawoman was very successfulCook - All County Orchestra was fabulousWade - Joint Military Ball was very colorful and was very valuable for our cadetsWise - Portfolio interviews; North Point...several are done on disc and include videosBowie - Senior interviews; very impressed; MABE legislative seminar was very informativeWise - Wade was honored for the citizen of the year by Omega Si PhiEducation Association of Charles County update - See reportStudent Board member update - See reportDeputy Superintendent update - Maryland State Golf Championship - McDonough High SchoolCIP updateIAC appealSMECO presentation of refund check - $145,708 for partnership on energy conservation (Demand Response Program)F. B. Gwynn Center Renovations - see report (Power Point to be added to board docs post meeting)Student TransfersDr. Vaira - Principals' meeting changes requested...deadline from March to May. Concerns with item #5 and #6.Mr. Richmond - Recommends leaving the current policy & rules in place and let staff review them and come back to the board with recommendations.Abell - was going to recommend strike #5 & #6 from the committee's recommendation. Current enrollment numbers show 9 elementary schools, 4 middle schools and two high schools with openings due to being under state-rated capacity.Bowie - asked if possible to form committee to include teachers without children in the system.Lukas - concerned with wording on capacity limitationsLukas - questioned reasoning for changing the policy to begin withAbell - board wanted to take a look at the policy/rules based on a report given in August showing the number of out-of zone transfers. Consideration must be given to the legal appeals that come before the board involving out-of-zone transfer denials. The board is tasked with deciding whether or not the Superintendent's denial contains one or more of four elements: illegal, immoral, unreasonable, or arbitrary. The first three aren't an issue. It's the "arbitrary." The committee's recommendation was based on policies in place in other counties across Maryland to close any loopholes and remove the question as to whether or not a decision was arbitrary.Motion to accept the Superintendent's recommendation by Cook; Second by LukasYes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, WiseLegislative Update key issues are funding, teacher retention and maintenance of effort do NOT expect any additional funding over last year from the statepossible shift of teacher retirement cost to local governmentsmore information after the session beginsUnfinished businessHettel - Subsitutes: 360 had degrees of BA or BS and above. 350 are below. No count on AA degrees because we don't ask, but the question has been asked and they are collecting the data.New businessLukas - North Point removal of "nest" time.Full discussion took place on the single lunch periods.Bowie - anti-bullying seminarFuture agenda itemsPedersen - referenced an article on diversity Recognition- 4:30 p.m.Students - Duane Kizer, fifth grade, Academic Achievement, C. Paul Barnhart; Arrin Sanders, fifth grade, Personal Responsibility, Dr. Gustavus Brown Elementary School; Elise Hopkins, eighth grade, Academic Achievement, John Hanson Middle School, Principal; Lashawn Queen, twelfth grade, Career Readiness, Henry E. Lackey High SchoolStaff - Robynn Mudd, first grade teacher, Barnhart; Tina Thomas, secretary, Brown; Brenda Richards, gifted education teacher, Hanson; Laura Buzzell, mathematics teacher, LackeyWar of 1812 DVD Project: La Plata High School seniors: Geoffrey Hammersley; Christopher Cheney; Jonathan Teeney; Matthew Bellerose; Casey Gaskins and Jennifer Munoz; and Michael Mazzeo, history teacher, La PlataPublic Forum- 6 p.m.Liz Brown - EACC - still has members that want to speak on how potential changes could affect their livesMary Fenton - J C Parks Elementary - thank you for allowing her children to attend local schools. Please keep policy that allows this to continueJennifer Turner - Piccowaxen - 2 children that had attended local school. School family. Supporting colleagues. Daughter got out of zone transfer to LaPlata. Can't believe it got this far.Debborah Hahn - Middleton - 29 years. Son graduated already but had an issue in elementary school and she was allowed to transfer her son. Son got chicken pox at school and was allowed to sit in the office while she completed her class.Cindy Hangartner - Wade - benefits received, enjoys perk. Saves on daycare and can be more involved with her own son's education who attends with her. Teachers will still give 100% but extra curricular activities will be affected. Several colleagues live outside of county and are weighing what their options are if they have to pay tuition.Christy Nelson - Piccowaxen - has a daughter that is nonverbal special needs child who attends out of zone. Very upsetting to think she may need to find another daycare and school for her daughter.Kelly Craft - Risk losing amazing teachers. Consider the life of a teacher: we knew what we were getting into when we became teachers, but bringing our children to school with us lessens the stress. Please reconsider.JoAnn Garner - T.C. Martin - 11 years - lives in St. Mary's county. Has a 4 and 7 year old. Son attends TC Martin. Consider all the contributions the teachers already make prior to imposing tuition. Works from 7 -6 every day and her son is with her. Please reconsider.Sean Starcher - LaPlata HS - son will be entering 6th grade next year. Wants son to attend Somers. 13 years ago, took a pay cut to come here. Will have to reconsider her employment if this policy passes.James Brietinger - moved to La Plata...both students attend LaPlata High School out of zone. Retired but wife is a teacher. Thinks policy change is disguised as overcrowding. Has not seen statistics on enrollment that justify overcrowding. Quoted Item #8 as the only difference he sees that tightened up loop holes.Rick Hood - Band teacher at Somers - daughter is a sophmore at La Plata HS. Lives in Hollywood. Stays after frequently and daughter stays with him. Has received an excellent education.Julianna Herscher - TC Martin - son is an 8th grader at Hanson out-of-zone. Did not feel comfortable with him walking to and from local school Stoddert. IRT so her work location could change from year to year. Children maintain highh academic standards and they are not discipline problems or have transportation issues.Action itemsMinutesMotion to accept by Abell; Second by WadeYes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, WisePersonnelMotion to accept by Wade; Second by PedersenYes = Abell, Bowie, Cook, Lukas, Pedersen, Wade, WiseAdjournment
REMINDER: Board of Education Meeting, 12/13/11The Board of Education's next monthly meeting is Tuesday, Dec. 13 at the Jesse L. Starkey Administration Building on Radio Station Road in La Plata. The public portion of the meeting begins at 1 p.m. and student and staff recognition starts at 4:30 p.m. The meeting is televised live on Comcast Channel 96 and Verizon FiOS 12 and is rebroadcast throughout the week. All televised Board meetings are also streamed live on the school system Web site at http://www2.ccboe.com/boe/live/. Executive session- 12 p.m.Call to order- 1 p.m. - Pledge of AllegianceSuperintendent's update to the BoardCorrespondence/Board member updatesEducation Association of Charles County updateStudent Board member updateDeputy Superintendent updateCIP updateF. B. Gwynn Center RenovationsStudent TransfersLegislative UpdateUnfinished businessNew businessFuture agenda itemsRecognition- 4:30 p.m.StudentsStaffPublic Forum- 6 p.m.Action itemsMinutesPersonnelAdjournment
Green Ribbon award will recognize eco-friendly schoolsMichael Alison ChandlerMaryland Schools Insider/The Washington PostDecember 5, 2011The federal government has long awarded schools with stellar academic achievement a Blue Ribbon. Now there is another way for schools to shine, with a Green Ribbon for environmental achievement. The new award will go to schools with strong environmental curriculum and healthy and sustainable learning environments. The Maryland Education Department is looking for the greenest schools to nominate for the first round of Green Ribbons. Is your school outfitted with solar panels and surrounded by gardens that serve as outdoor classrooms? Are the students working on team projects to come up with new ways to limit greenhouse gases? It might be eligible. “The greatest privilege we have in our short time on this planet is to make the world a better place for the next generation,” said Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley (D). “We are pleased that our schools will get an opportunity to be nationally recognized for their efforts to create a cleaner, greener and healthier planet.” Last year, Maryland became the first state to make environmental literacy a graduation requirement. And the state already recognizes “green schools” and “green centers” that promote outdoor learning. Schools both public and private can apply beginning in mid-December, and the state will select up to four to nominate. The Green Ribbons will be awarded in April.

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