Our final quarterly meeting on Dec. 2 is at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro. You should have received your registration information in an earlier email. If you did not, please email Vanessa Jeter in Communications and let her know. The meeting will continue our focus on accountability, digital learning plan, etc.

Given recent news, all of us should be mindful that schools must be a safe place where all students feel welcomed to learn and grow. I know that each of you will continue your efforts to meet this imperative.

I have been blessed to work with you, and appreciate the leadership you have provided your districts as local superintendents. May your Thanksgiving table be surrounded by family and friends, the greatest blessings we can have.

Nov. 28 is Deadline to Submit Registration for Quarterly Meeting

Don’t forget in the holiday rush that Nov. 28 is the deadline to submit your registration form to attend the Dec. 2 Superintendents’ Quarterly meeting. The meeting is being held in conjunction with the NC School Superintendents Association’s Annual meeting.

The meeting invitation and registration form are available on the Superintendents’ webpage if you can’t locate these materials.

Digital Learning Opportunities

Leadership in Digital Teaching
and Learning:
District Teams for Digital Learning

As a reminder, Nov. 29 is the deadline to submit an application to participate in the Leadership in Digital Teacher and Learning: District Teams for Digital Learning.

NCDPI staff, in partnership with the Friday Institute at NC State University, are offering North Carolina educators a comprehensive and layered professional learning approach to support digital teaching and learning in NC classrooms. The District Teams for Digital Learning is one component of this approach.

The District Teams for Digital Learning cohorts will have the opportunity to participate in district-based and collaborative activities focused on Leadership in Digital Teaching and Learning. In order to best serve the field and prioritize learning outcomes for participants, as part of the application staff included district readiness items to assist in identifying focus areas for the participating cohorts. In addition to the readiness items, staff also will review district’s Digital Learning and Media Inventory (DLMI) and Teacher Working Conditions (TWC) survey data to inform the selection process.

Participating districts will be asked to develop a representative team of up to eight district leaders who can commit to attending all five days of face-to-face sessions over the course of a year. This year-long program consists of 60 hours total - 30 hours face-to-face and 30 hours of outside work in the action planning and readings.

There will be three cohorts, divided geographically: an eastern location in New Bern, a central location in Greensboro or Winston-Salem, and a western location in Asheville. During the 2016-17 school year, 15 districts will be accepted for each of the three cohorts.

Dates for each cohort are as follows:

• East - New Bern: January 25, March 16, April 3, May 12, and June 20(in Raleigh)
• Central - Greensboro or Winston-Salem: January 24, March 7, April 4, May 11, and June 20(in Raleigh)
• West - Asheville: January 26, March 14, April 6, May 16, and June 20(in Raleigh)

The only cost to district teams will be travel as there is no additional cost for participation in the professional learning. Participants will receive planning documents, professional reading material, and certificates upon completion.

The entire team should collaboratively complete the District Teams for Digital Learning application. For your convenience, we have prepared screen shots of the application for team review. Again, the deadline to submit an application is Nov. 29. Letters of acceptance will be sent Dec. 6.

We hope you will consider this opportunity to connect with colleagues across the state as we deepen capacity for effective digital teaching and learning.

For any issues with accessing and/or registering for the course, please contact Jill Darrough with NCDPI Digital Teaching and Learning. For program information, please contact Theresa Gibson with the Friday Institute.

Digital Learning Progress Rubric for Schools

The Friday Institute, in partnership with NCDPI, has developed a pilot “Digital Learning Progress Rubric for Schools” that lays out a detailed, yet digestible, roadmap for schools to transition to high quality digital learning environments.

The school-level rubric parallels the 2015 district-level rubric (available on the same webpage). The school rubric may be used to inform district strategic planning, school improvement planning, and/or guide informal monthly teacher-team meetings. It also contains a glossary of over 50 digital learning related terms/ideas.

Please note, the school level rubric is a pilot resource and is currently being field-tested. As your schools begin to use this resource, please share your feedback at any time throughout the 2016-17 year with Malinda Faber, research associate at the Friday Institute.

NC Superintendent of the Year from Wake County

Congratulations to Wake County Schools’ Superintendent Jim Merrill who was recently named the 2017 A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year. 

The North Carolina Association of School Administrators, North Carolina School Superintendents’ Association and the North Carolina School Boards Association jointly sponsored the award. Scholastic sponsored the event and provided $5,000 in recognition of Merrill's achievements. He will now compete for national honors.

The other 2017 North Carolina regional finalists were:

* Northeast Region, Melvin Hawkins, Camden County Schools

* Southeast Region, Rick Stout, Onslow County Schools

* Sandhills Region, Robert Taylor, Bladen County Schools

* Piedmont/Triad, Lory Morrow, Davidson County Schools

* Southwest Region, Jeff Booker, Gaston County Schools

* Northwest Region, Larry Putnam, Burke County Schools

* Western Region, Tony Baldwin, Buncombe County Schools

Superintendent Vacancy Announced: Person County Schools

The Person County Board of Education is seeking a superintendent to lead the school system in its continuing pursuit of excellence. Candidates must have or be qualified to hold a North Carolina superintendent license. Central office and building-level experience are preferred. A doctorate degree or progress toward a doctorate degree is preferred but not required. The individual chosen will be required to live in Person County. The application deadline is Jan. 9.

An electronic version of the application is available by going to the N.C. School Board Association's website and clicking on the appropriate link. Inquiries and requests for applications also can be directed to Allison Schafer, Legal Counsel/Director of Policy, North Carolina School Boards Association, PO Box 97877, Raleigh NC 27624-7877, telephone 919/841-4040, fax 919/841-4020, email. All inquiries will be kept confidential.

CCSA Registration Opens Dec. 1

Registration for the 2016 Collaborative Conference for Student Success, “Champions for Student Success,” opens Dec. 1. The conference will offer a variety of sessions of interest to educators, administrators, parents, school board members, university and college faculty/staff/administrators, and community and business representatives.

Registration is $175 if received before Feb. 1 and $200 if received after Feb. 1. For more information, please email staff or call 919.835.6133.

Weekly Message Breaks for the Holiday

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, there will be no Weekly Message for Superintendents sent Monday, Nov. 28. Special messages will be sent as appropriate.

NCDPI staff wish your family and you a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday!