E-NEWS

...your dues at work.

 

A weekly digest of education news for Alaska's School Board Members.

Association of Alaska School Boards, 1111 West 9th St., Juneau, AK 99801. Tel.

907-586-1083, Fax 907-586-2995. Carl Rose, Executive Director,

crose@aasb.org:    John Greely, Editor, jgreely@aasb.org. Review past issues of

the E-News on the AASB Website at <http://www.aasb.org>. To unsubscribe send an email stating the same to jgreely@aasb.org.

 

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Sponsored by Alaska Public Entity Insurance Co. <http://www.akpei.com>

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AASB E-News                                                                                                                     

March 6, 2008

 

 

--ITÕS NOT POLITICS AS USUAL FOR TEACHERS IN ANCHORAGE 

--AMERICAN STARS IN TEACHING NOMINATIONS SOUGHT

--AASB POLICY UPDATE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

--AASB LEGISLATIVE FLY-IN SCHEDULED FOR APRIL 5-8

 

Dimond High School government teacher Missy Nurmi goes to such great lengths to keep her political affiliation hidden from her students that she showed up at her partyÕs caucus this year in disguise, wearing a camouflage baseball cap and sunglasses. She supports the Anchorage School DistrictÕs longstanding rules that school staff are not allowed to express their political views and works hard to stick to them – including not being seen by her students at the caucus. See full story here:

http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/334119.html

 

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AMERICAN STARS IN TEACHING NOMINATIONS SOUGHT

The U.S. Department of Education's Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative is accepting nominations for 2008 American Stars of Teaching until March 31.
 
Parents, students, colleagues, school administrators and others can nominate an exemplary teacher who they believe has the qualities to be an American Star of Teaching.  We are seeking nominations of teachers across the United States who are improving student achievement, using innovative strategies in the classroom, and making a difference in the lives of their students.
 
Teachers across all grade levels and disciplines will be honored as 2008 American Stars of Teaching this fall.  To nominate a teacher, go to: www.t2tweb.us/AmStar/About.asp.


The U.S. Department of Education received more than 4,000 nominations for the 2007 school year.  A list of previous honorees can be found at:
http://www.ed.gov/teachers/how/tools/initiative/american-stars-teachers.html.

 

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AASB POLICY UPDATE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

 

The most recent edition of AASBÕs Policy Reference Manual Update is now available online on a subscription basis.   The update has been posted on the AASB Website http://www.aasb.org/Policy/PolUpdts.html in a Word format that makes it quick and easy for you to download the instructions and policies and prepare them for your board to review, revise and adopt, according to the needs of your school district.

 

Currently 47 of AlaskaÕs 53 school districts utilize the AASB Policy System format.  Knowing that all school boards want to keep their manuals current with changes in laws and regulations, each of those 47 districts will be automatically invoiced for the update and a password will be issued upon payment. Districts may access the update sooner by simply contacting Laurie Miller (lmiller@aasb.org) with a purchase order number to receive the password right away.

 

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AASB LEGISLATIVE FLY-IN SCHEDULED APRIL 5-8

The 2008 AASB Spring Boardsmanship Academy & Legislative Fly In is scheduled for April 5th-8th, in Juneau at the Baranof Hotel. The academy begins on Saturday, the 5th, and includes workshops on school accountability; Medicaid and how it can work for your district; WorkKeys, a state program to prepare students for work or college; and afternoon sessions on Positive Youth Development, featuring staff of the Alaska ICE program.

 

The Legislative Fly-in on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday includes special briefings by AASB staff and remarks by legislative leaders, followed by opportunities to take your districtÕs story to the Capitol before the scheduled adjournment of the Legislature on April 13.

 

You can register via mail or fax, using the brochure or you can register online at, http://www.aasb.org/FORMS/Sprflyin.html.

 

Please feel free to contact us with any questions.  We look forward to seeing you in April.

 

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Association of Alaska School Boards

 ...promoting BOARD STANDARDS through...

Vision Structure Accountability Advocacy Conduct & Ethics

Association of Alaska School Boards

 

1111 West 9th Street, Juneau, Alaska 99801-1510 Tel. 907-586-1083

Fax 907-586-2995 Email: aasb@aasb.org

Website: http://www.aasb.org