Superintendent’s Report
November 10, 2011
Student Recognition:
· National Merit:
o Connor Strynkowski has been named one of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 57th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Connor has the opportunity to continue the competition to earn a National Merit Scholarship.
o Kelly Snyder has been named a Commended Student in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program. Only about 34,000 students across America receive this honor for exceptional academic promise.
· CTC Recognition:
o Shaylea Nunn (commercial art) student was highlighted for her realistic artwork of a steel plate jail cell which was part of the Manheim Halloween Parade.
o Asja Stevens (carpentry) & Andrew Conard (law enforcement) were the Rotary Students of the Month for Oct.
§ It has been an exciting time for athletics in Palmyra since student athletes from Cross Country (Men & Women), Field Hockey, Football, and Soccer have all qualified for state level competition. We wish football and field hockey well as they continue competition this Friday and Saturday. Go Cougars!
Staff Recognition:
· Darcy Brenner-Smith, Dir. of Business Affairs, has earned the PA Registered School Business Administrator certificate, which will be active for four years and is awarded by PA Assoc. of School Business Officials (PSBO).
· Anne Hoover, MS Principal, is the recipient of an Educational Administration Scholarship for costs necessary to support on-going professional studies, which will be presented at the national convention of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA).
· Melanie Wiscount, HS business teacher, is currently at the US Global Forum in Washington, D.C. representing the US team in what is considered to be the World Cup of Education. Links to the activities there are on our website.
· Jill Bucks, HS Phys. Ed. teacher, was named a recipient of a Kappa Delta Pi Classroom Teacher Grant. Jill applied for the grant to support the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award. She recently presented the awards to three students who were in the Personal Fitness & Wellness class and is encouraging broader participation by students.
Research Requests:
Several of our administrators will be supporting two PA administrators who are gathering research for their dissertations. One will examine various support programs available to principals and how extensively they are used, and the other will examine the potential impact of spirituality and/or morality on student and staff achievement and performance in public schools. All submissions are anonymous and voluntary. No specific data will be linked to Palmyra but, rather, analyzed collectively with other data from PA.
Working with IU13 and Beyond:
Two evening, information sessions were held in early November:
· Making the Grade: Effective Teaching in Every Classroom was a virtual town hall meeting, led by Ron Tomalis, Secretary of PDE, held at the 1 Cumberland Building. Educators who are involved with the new teacher evaluation system, which is in its second pilot year, shared their experiences and insights. The evaluation system is unique because it would link student achievement and growth to teacher evaluations.
· Parent Fiscal Information Forum: Lebanon County and Manheim Central Superintendents, along with Tom Gentzel, PSBA’s executive director, shared information on many on the fiscal realities and challenges that face our area districts to a large group of interested parents at the Lebanon CTC.
Superintendent Professional Growth:
1. I spent one day at the annual PASA-PSBA conference. The highlight was the keynote and breakout session with Jamie Vollmer who pointed out that these are the worst of times and the best of times. It is up to us within education to represent our profession well and to highlight the many accomplishments that are indeed occurring within the educational system today.
2. The annual IU13 Chiefs’ Study Trip was in Washington, DC. While there, we spent one day visiting with Karen Cator, educational technology head, at the USDOE; Senators Bob Casey, Jr. and Pat Toomey; and Congressman Joe Pitts. The highlight was the training we received on the Stephen Covey work Leading at the Speed of Trust. The information and self-reflection were invaluable.
3. On a day of vacation, I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Condoleezza Rice. She spoke about her life during the Bush administration years, her reflections on various world events, and insights into the current economic and political situations. Her Q/A session underscored her intelligence and depth of experience. I can’t wait to read her new book.
