When the Boston University team asked principals and administrators why they hired emergency-certified teachers, they reported using them to fill shortage areas, especially in special education.

The teachers working under these licenses also helped diversify the state’s classrooms, as they were about twice as likely as other beginning educators to be Black, Hispanic or Asian.

Read more from The 74 million.

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Since a White House conference in August on ransomware threats, dozens of school districts have signed up for free cybersecurity services, and federal officials have hosted exercises with schools to help them learn how to better secure their networks, said Anne Neuberger, the Biden’s administration’s deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology.

Read more from AP News.

The post K12 schools improve protection against online attacks, but many are vulnerable to ransomware gangs appeared first on District Administration.

The proposed legislation was filed by state Sen. Bill Eigel, a Republican from St. Charles County who is also seeking the GOP nomination in the 2024 Missouri governor’s race.

Eigel said the “original mission” of DESE was to transfer money from Jefferson City to local school districts. He said it now has 2,000 employees and has lost its way.

Read more from Springfield News-Leader.

The post Missouri lawmaker wants to abolish state’s K12 education department, transfer its powers appeared first on District Administration.

Sen. Stephen Meredith of Leitchfield filed Senate Bill 93 Monday. The measure contains language from laws and regulations passed in Florida and Texas aimed at rooting out diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts in higher education institutions.

SB 93 would prohibit Kentucky’s K12 public schools from advocating for, or spending resources or funds on “diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.”

Read more from Louisville Public Media.

The post DEI efforts in Kentucky K12 schools at risk under proposed legislation appeared first on District Administration.

In a survey emailed to parents, the district said it’s gathering feedback on the measure.

“If this transition were to occur, high school students would attend school Monday through Thursday and have an optional 5th day for extended learning opportunities. The student day would be 8.5 hours long,” said the Broward County Public School District.

Read more from CBS News.

The post Broward County public schools considering a four-day week for high schools, asking for input appeared first on District Administration.

The evacuation led officials to call a remote day of classes for the more than 3,400 students enrolled at the high school, sparking immediate backlash from politicians and parents that echoed on a national stage. Local elected leaders, right-leaning media personalities and even Elon Musk, the tech billionaire, weighed in to criticize the government response.

Read more from The New York Times.

The post James Madison High School sheltered migrants in a storm. The hate calls poured in appeared first on District Administration.

Dr. Alex Marrero, Superintendent of Denver Public Schools, was named the District Administration National Superintendent of the Year. 

“I am incredibly honored and humbled to be named District Administration’s 2024 Superintendent of the Year!” said Dr. Marrero. “Serving as DPS Superintendent has been an inspiring journey. Collaborating daily with our dedicated educators to ensure every learner in this district thrives fills me with overwhelming pride. Thank you to #TeamDPS for your help in achieving this extraordinary recognition for our district.” 

Amy Dujon, Vice President of District Administration Leadership Institute, offered high praise for Dr. Marrero: 

“Driven by an unwavering commitment to student success, his transformative leadership, resilience, and innovative vision have set a new standard for educational excellence. In the face of challenges and crises, Dr. Marrero’s dedication to fostering a safe, inclusive learning environment while pioneering initiatives such as the groundbreaking Glenbrook Greenhouse, nationally recognized Sustainability Plan, and Community Hubs represents the qualities that make him an exemplary leader. His principled decision-making, coupled with a passion for positive change, has not only elevated Denver Public Schools but serves as an inspiration for educational leaders nationwide.” 

Districts of Distinction: Inspiring Replicable Success Stories 

At the heart of Districts of Distinction is the belief that remarkable, homegrown programs can inspire and be replicated by educators nationwide. We are searching for pioneering initiatives that have made a significant impact on student achievement, engagement and overall educational excellence. By sharing these successful models, we empower educators to build similar programs in their districts, fostering positive change in education across the country. The 2024 winners are: 

• Academic Acceleration: Fulton Public Schools, AR 
• Student and Adult Wellness: Poway Unified School District, CA 
• College and Career Pathways: Laurens County School District 55, SC 
• Recruitment and Retention: Warsaw Community Schools, IN 
• Equity and Inclusion: Spokane Public Schools, WA 
• Technology: Tiverton Public Schools, RI 

Leaders of Distinction: Honoring Visionaries in Education  

Leaders of Distinction provides an exceptional platform to recognize individual leaders who have demonstrated exceptional vision, executed innovative strategies and achieved remarkable results. The awards in this category honor extraordinary superintendents, cabinet leaders, technology leaders and principals who have spearheaded transformative initiatives, paving the way for progress within their districts. The 2024 winners are: 

• Dr. Jose Dotres, Miami Dade Public Schools, FL 
• Dr. Matthew Frederickson, Bowling Green R-1 School District, MO 
• Alex Haltom, Hemlock Public Schools, MI
• Beverly Miller, Greeneville City Schools, TN 
• Dr. Barbara Mullen, Rush-Henrietta Public Schools, NY 
• Dr. Patrick Wnek, Northeast Florida Educational Consortium 

Women of Distinction: Recognizing Leadership Excellence 

These awards recognize women who have exhibited exceptional leadership skills in the education field, inspiring and empowering others to achieve their full potential, resulting in improved student outcomes, increased graduation rates or enhanced educational opportunities. The 2024 winners are: 

• Maura Horgan, Newark City Schools, NJ 
• Dr. Kelly May-Vollmar, Desert Sands Unified School District, CA 
• Atiya Perkins, Linden Public Schools, NJ 
• Dr. Jeanne Siegenthaler, Richmond School District, WI 
• Dr. Cherie Washington, Fort Worth Independent School District, TX 

About District Administration Leadership Institute: 

The District Administration Leadership Institute stands as the foremost national pre-K12 organization dedicated to empowering district leaders through a comprehensive suite of services. With a commitment to excellence, we offer expert advice, thought-provoking convenings and practical resources that cater specifically to the dynamic needs of educational leaders. At the heart of our mission is the provision of cutting-edge leadership development opportunities tailored for superintendents and senior staff. We foster an environment that inspires innovation and cultivates leadership excellence within the PreK-12 education sector. The DA Leadership Institute is steadfast in its pursuit of advancing educational leadership, ensuring that our nation’s schools are equipped with the visionary guidance needed to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.  

Press Contact: 

Amy Dujon, Vice President, District Administration Leadership Institute
amy.dujon@etcnetwork.com  

The post Winners of the 2024 District Administration National Awards Program announced appeared first on District Administration.

Date & Time: Thursday, February 15 at 2 pm ET

Economic impacts like a possible recession, rising inflation, and a higher cost of doing business are changing the employment landscape. Which is why, now more than ever, it’s critical that educators prepare students for current and emerging professions through Career and Technical Education (CTE).

In this DA Ed Talk, a digital curriculum expert will discuss three ways school and district administrators can take their CTE program to the next level by developing long-term goals that allow it to grow and adapt over time.

Practical takeaways include:

• Tips to understand your students’ interests and build CTE programs they want to participate in
• A checklist to better understand your local job market and post-secondary school options
• Strategic questions to leverage when refining your CTE offerings

Presenter

Amy Heflin, Senior Manager, Curriculum Development, FlexPoint Education Cloud

Register Now

Sponsored by

The post 3 Ways School and District Leaders Can Elevate Career and Technical Education appeared first on District Administration.

Date & Time: Wednesday, February 7th at 2 pm ET

Virtual learning enabled teaching and learning to continue during the pandemic, but today its use is rapidly evolving. As part of efforts to expand offerings of CTE and AP courses and meet the academic needs of more students, district leaders at the Johnson City Schools in Tennessee revamped their virtual learning program to better align to the future of K-12 education.

Attend this 20-minute DA Ed Talk with the district’s Director of Secondary Education to learn how to design and utilize a virtual learning program that provides more flexibility, choice, and expanded learning opportunities for students.

Topics will include:

• How to design a virtual learning program that meets your district’s unique needs
• How to scale a program as needed while maintaining academic excellence
• How Johnson City Schools is using virtual learning to expand CTE and AP course offerings and provide more choice and flexibility

Presenter

Dr. David Timbs, Director of Secondary Education, Johnson City Schools (Tenn.)

Register Now

Sponsored by:

The post Flexibility, Choice, and Opportunity: The Next Chapter of Virtual Learning appeared first on District Administration.

Date & Time: Thursday, January 25th at 2 pm ET

According to national data from the NAEP 2022 report card, more districts than ever before are facing large gaps in student learning.

To overcome this challenge, successful districts are structuring coordinated intervention teams, systems, and supports to increase academic results.

Join us for a 30-minute Ed Talk and discover how to cultivate a framework for intervention success that positively impacts student growth in your schools.

Gain valuable insights on how to use data to pinpoint student learning needs. Then learn how to leverage this data to personalize interventions, instruction, and practice, ensuring every student gets the support they need.

This webinar will cover:

• How to structure a framework for intervention success
• How to use data to make the right intervention decisions
• How to address social, emotional, and behavioral factors to influence outcomes

Presenter

Jenny Parris, Professional Learning Consultant, Istation

Register Now

Sponsored by

The post Cultivate a Framework for District-Wide Intervention Success appeared first on District Administration.