Professional Development

As you know, teachers have professional development throughout the school year. I bet you didn't know that administration has professional development (PD) as well. I as the superintendent have three different kids of PD. First, I have a book study with my principals. Now that I have two schools, I will change how I am doing it, but right now the principals in Hamburg and I are reading,
Crucial Conversations by Al Switzler, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan. It was a very good book that the principals and I read in Farragut a few years back. I am enjoying reading it again. Most of these books I buy at www.half.com or www.ebay.com.

The second type of PD for me is classes I take with fellow superintendents. Currently I am taking a class where we listen to books on our iPods. The last book we read or listened to as it were was A Whole New Mind by Daniel Pink. This book has really made me think of how we instruct in the classroom.

Lastly, are the conventions and workshops that I attend. Coming up next week is the Iowa Association of School Board's conference. If there was only one conference each year that I could attend, this is the one. It provides my attending board members and myself a great look at positive practices in schools around the nation and our state.

Iowa AEA Online

After School Education Help
Don’t forget, the state of Iowa pays for the best websites for students and parents to use at Iowa AEA Online (link below). This wonderful resource can help you with almost any homework assignment. Login: farragutes or farraguths Password: aea13 or Login:hamburges or hamburghs Password aea13.

http://www.iowaaeaonline.org/

Shared Superintendent

September was the first month of the sharing arrangement for a superintendent between Farragut and Hamburg. By doing this I have learned a lot about each district and myself. But the most amazing thing I have learned is the fact that these two school districts can work together and build a better educational program for their students.

The most common question I am asked has to do with the drive. My answer will probably change when the weather starts to get bad, but for right now I am enjoying the 18 mile drive. It gives me enough time to think about what I am going to do when I get there and allows time to process the day on the way home. Most days Denise Stevens, Business Manager for each district, joins me on the trip.

Hello Everyone!

Welcome to my blog. I am changing my former blog over to this one associated with my Gmail account. This is going to be short because I am visiting with friends and watching the Huskers crush a very good team.