ASCD Leader to Leader (L2L) News is a monthly e-mail newsletter for ASCD constituent group leaders that builds capacity to better serve members; provides opportunities to promote and advocate for ASCD’s Whole Child Initiative; and engages groups through sharing and learning about best practices. To submit a news item for the L2L newsletter, send an e-mail to constituentservices@ascd.org.

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This Month’s L2L News:

Join Educator Advocates for Special Elections Coverage

Register for the Leadership Institute for Legislative Advocacy (LILA)

November Whole Child Podcast: Applying Developmental Science to Teaching and Learning

Download and Display the Whole Child Tenet Posters

The Updated Healthy School Report Card Is Now Available

Access Common Core State Standards Resources

Leader to Leader Spotlight

• You’re Invited: Join a Book Study for School Leaders
• California ASCD Welcomes New Executive Director
• Washington State ASCD Presents Awards at Annual Conference
• New Jersey ASCD Holds Common Core State Standards Symposium
• Emerging Leader John Forbes Blogs for ASCD Inservice

Mark Your Calendar

Something to Talk About:

Dropouts, ASCD Fall Conference, Lessons from the Facebook Movie, School Health: What’s Next, Five Mistakes of a New Teacher, Educating for Us-ness, and Darwinism vs. Creationism

Join ASCD’s Educator Advocates for Special Coverage on the Elections and their Effect on Education

Sign up now to receive special analysis of this week’s midterm elections that will analyze the potentially historic election results—the winners, the losers, the effect on state and national education policies—and break down what it all means for educators and students. Then, stay subscribed to receive timely news, developments, and alerts related to federal education policy, including the imminent reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). As an Educator Advocate you’ll receive weekly education policy updates when Congress is in session and will be able to provide input and take action on education legislation that affects you, your local schools, and students.

Save your spot at the Leadership Institute for Legislative Advocacy (LILA) today!

If you haven’t already done so, register now for LILA, because places are filling up fast! Check out the detailed agenda and session descriptions on ascd.org. E.J. Dionne, journalist, political commentator, and Washington Post columnist, will be the opening speaker at the kick-off session of the legislative advocacy institute on Sunday evening, January 23, 2011.

Also remember to make your hotel reservations at the Westin Grand Hotel in Washington, D.C. The special group rate of $169/single room is subject to change based on availability. Questions? E-mail the ASCD Policy team.

Tune in Today, November 4, to This Month’s Whole Child Podcast: Applying Developmental Science to Teaching and Learning

Developing successful learners who are prepared for success in college or further study and for employment and citizenship in a global environment requires us to think outside the box—the cognitive box, that is. Although traditional education is thought to exist in the cognitive domain, science tells us that children’s academic progress cannot be separated from the emotional, social, and cognitive changes that occur simultaneously. The science of learning and child development is rarely used in classrooms and research has demonstrated that we can maximize learning when educators apply developmental principles effectively. What are some of the key principles of developmental science that can affect the way teachers teach and students learn? How can we prepare educators to apply developmental principles effectively to maximize student academic, social, and emotional development? Join us to hear from Eric Schaps, founder and president of the Developmental Studies Center; Chip Wood, author of Yardsticks and director of curriculum, instruction and professional development in the Gill-Montague Regional School District; and John Lee, an educator for Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland who has grounded his teaching in the Comer School Development Program to improve his teaching and student learning. Download the November Whole Child Podcast.

Whole Child Tenet Posters Now Available

If you attended Annual Conference or the L2L Event earlier this year, you’ve probably seen the colorful display signs that describe the whole child tenets and share unsettling statistics that remind us why educating the whole child is important. Because of popular demand, we’re now able to make these posters available to ASCD constituent groups to use at your own exhibits by printing this PDF file. Please note the statistics used are based on U.S. data; however, if you represent an affiliate outside of the United States, we are happy to work with you to develop a PDF file using data that represent your country or region. Please e-mail the Whole Child Team for more information.

The Second Edition of the Healthy School Report Card Is Now Available

The second edition of the Healthy School Report Card (HSRC) is now available in both hard copy and PDF.  This version has been updated as a result of the findings from the Healthy School Communities Pilot Project (2006 –2009) and reflects current research, updates indicators, and provides an expanded description of how Healthy School Communities fit into ASCD’s Whole Child Initiative. Changes have been made to this version to further enhance and establish the HSRC as the basis for a site or district’s School Improvement Plan. It is a tool designed for administrators, principals, and school or community leaders to further improve the health and wellbeing,  and teaching and learning environment of schools.

The second edition of the Action Tool guides you through the four steps of the Healthy School Report Card process with rationale, tips from successful participants, and easy-to-use tools. Once the process is completed, schools can use the Healthy School Communities Online Analysis Tool to

• View report card results.
• Assess priorities by characteristic.
• Compare results to other anonymous sites with similar demographics.
• Compare and review results across schools within a group.
• View trend line data.
• Link to technical assistance and online discussions amongst Healthy School Community sites.

A sample of the tool is available online. For more information about Healthy School Communities, go to www.healthyschoolcommunities.org.

Common Core State Standards ASCD Resources Available

ASCD has created an online resource page with useful information and developments on the Common Core State Standards Initiative. A backgrounder on the Common Core State Standards Initiative (PDF) provides basics on the standards and why they were developed, outlines the next steps states will have to take to successfully implement the common core, and raises important issues to consider, from developing additional standards and aligning assessments to how the standards may be incorporated into the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. A map tracks state-by-state common core adoption.

The page also includes links to existing ASCD resources related to standards, instruction, curriculum, and assessment that can help educators implement the new standards in their schools and classrooms. ASCD’s resource page and backgrounder will be continually updated as new information becomes available. For more information, e-mail the ASCD Policy Unit.

You’re Invited: Join a Book Study for School Leaders

What are the bold actions needed by school leaders today? How can we ensure that those bold actions reflect our core values and build community? Join the Women’s Leadership Professional Interest Community with facilitator Lori Stollar as they explore the leadership skills required to be an effective school leader today. 

Over the next several months, the group will read Leading Every Day:  124 Actions for Effective Leadership by Joyce Kaser, Susan Mundry, Katherine Stiles, and Susan Loucks-Horsley (Corwin Press, 2006), supplemented with various ASCD resources.  You’re invited to read the text and blog with the group on ASCD EDge in the months leading up to Annual Conference. Upon the book study conclusion in March 2011, participants are invited to attend the ASCD 2011 Annual Conference session, “Bold Actions for School Leaders” to share insights and network with ASCD colleagues. Contact Lori Stollar for more details.

California ASCD Welcomes New Executive Director

California ASCD (CASCD) President Mike Hendricks is pleased to announce the selection of a part-time executive director, Kathy McCreery. McCreery has been playing a key role in CASCD as a Leadership Council member. In the past, she worked as an administrator for curriculum and instruction for the Baldwin Park and the Temple City unified school districts. She also served on the Association for California School Administrators’ Elementary Education Committee, their state board of directors, and as their assistant executive director of educational services. Her depth of knowledge, experience, and connections in California will bring added value to CASCD’s work with California educators.

New Jersey ASCD Holds Common Core Symposium

On September 24, 2010, New Jersey ASCD  held a symposium entitled “The Common Core Initiative: a new Vision for Teaching and Learning.” Approximately 125 educators and stakeholders from across the state were in attendance. Participants included leaders of each professional/content organization in the state along with representatives of the NJ State Department of Education, NJ Education Association, NJ School Boards, NJ Administrators Assoc, and the NJ Principals and Supervisors Association. ASCD Managing Director of Public Policy David Griffith was in attendance, along with Chris Minnich, Director of Strategic Initiatives and Membership for CCSSO. Minnich’s presentation is available for download on the New Jersey ASCD website.

Washington State ASCD Presents Awards at Annual Conference

Executive Director Kathy Clayton reports that Washington State ASCD recently presented its annual state recognition awards at its annual conference held October 15–16, 2010. The following awards were presented (in PDF):

Outstanding Young Educator Award
Educating the Whole Child Awards: Tammy Campbell and Mary Wilson 
State Schools of Character Award
Community Award
Individual Awards

• Contributing to a Significant and Positive Impact on Student Learning
• Pursuit of Lifelong Learning
• Influencing the Instructional Leadership and Professional Growth of Educators
• Influencing the Instructional Leadership and Professional Growth of Educators

Program Awards

• Contributing to a Significant and Positive Impact on Student Learning
• Influencing the Instructional Leadership and Professional Growth of Educators Beyond the Scope of its Implementation

Team Awards

• Contributing to a Significant and Positive Impact on Student Learning q
• Influencing the Instructional Leadership and Professional Growth of Educators

A full listing of award recipients is available on the Washington State ASCD website. Congratulations to all recipients!

Spread the Word: Submit Content to the L2L Newsletter

Constituent Services would like to share your news with the ASCD community! Submit your ASCD updates, news, and accomplishments (approximately 100–300 words) to constituentservices@ascd.org.

2010 Emerging Leader John Forbes Blogs for ASCD Inservice on “A Digital Nation Divided”

As part of a new series designed to engage ASCD Emerging Leaders in online conversation, 2010 Emerging Leader John Forbes started a conversation this month on ASCD Inservice regarding the challenges of incorporating technology into the classroom. Read the comments for responses from ASCD Emerging Leaders and Emerging Leader coaches. Thanks to John for a great post!

Mark Your Calendar

L2L Web Seminar—Talking Tech-y: Finding the Time to Make Social Media Happen: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. eastern time Wed., November 17, 2010        

L2L Web Seminar—Learn, Teach, Lead: Development as an ASCD Leader 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. eastern time Wed., December 15, 2010

Registration closes for the ASCD Leadership Institute for Legislative Advocacy (LILA) Fri., January 7, 2011

ASCD Leadership Institute for Legislative Advocacy (LILA) January 23–25, 2011 at the Westin Grand Hotel, Washington, D.C.

2011 ASCD Annual Conference (Volunteer at Annual Conference/Registration Discounts/Travel and Lodging) March 26 – 28, 2011 in San Francisco, Calif.

Leader to Leader 2011 July 21-23, 2011 in the Washington, D.C. area 

Something to Talk About

• Dropouts Try to Find Their Way Back to School—The Hechinger Report, November 1
• Fisher and Frey: Feed-Up, Feedback, and Feed Forward—ASCD Inservice, October 30
• Four Lessons for Educators from the Facebook Movie. Lesson 4: Build Fast and Break Things—The Innovative Educator, October 27
• What’s Next for Coordinated School Health? Moving From Rhetoric to Sustainable Action—Sean Slade via Whole Child Blog, October 22
• Five of the Biggest Mistakes I Made as a New Teacher —Robyn Jackson via ASCD EDge, October 18
• Are We Still Capable of Educating for Us-Ness?—Ecology of Education, October 18
• Creationism vs. Darwinism in Education Infographic—Detention Slip, October 13