Your Communication Connection to Maricopa County Education Service Agency

Issue 2 | January 2013

MCESA w a s awar ded a $57.8 million Teacher Incentive Fund Grant, from the US Department of Education, to help improve pay structures, reward excellent teachers and principals and provide greater professional opportunities to teachers. The grant will fund MCESAs Rewarding Excellence in Instruction & Leadership The Next Generation (REIL-TNG) program to advance a human capital management system (HCMS) centered around

a performance-based evaluation system, significantly linking educator effectiveness to student outcomes. The initiatives human capital management system will help partner school districts attract, place, retain, and sustain effective educators in some of the highest need schools, said Dr. Don Covey, Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools. Each district has committed to using the same cross-district educator evaluation system that includes student academic progress measures, classroom observations

with feedback sessions, and targeted professional development. MCESAs REIL-TNG program partners include seven Maricopa County School Districts: Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections; Balsz Elementary School District; Maricopa County Regional School District; Mobile Elementary School District; Phoenix Elementary School District; Roosevelt School District; and Wilson Elementary School District.

School districts interested in benefiting from the REIL educator evaluation system and targeted professional development, are invited to participate in REIL Extend. REIL Extend offers school districts the teacher, leader and instructional coach observation instruments, teacher, leader, and instructional coach professional learning opportunities, and an online learning and data management tool. For more information about this opportunity, download the REIL Extend brochure, or visit www.maricopa.gov/schools

www.maricopa.gov/schools

This past November, 85 School Governing Board members were elected for the 58 school districts in Maricopa County. Dr. Don C ovey, Mar icopa County Superintendent of Schools officiated the oath of office ceremony for 46 governing board members on Tuesday, December 4, at MCESA. School Governing Boards are an important part of

their communities, making decisions that affect schools, leaders, teachers, students, and their parents. As advocates for the students, they set the direction for the district, establish the structure to ensure all students are served, provide support and, ensure accountability. Unfortunately, many districts did

not have enough candidates for the vacant seats and fourteen school board vacancies remain. Those vacancies will be filled by Dr. Covey through a collaborative appointment process. Find out more about running for the school board at http:// www.maricopa.gov/Schools/ category-home.aspx?cid=4

Congratulations to Dr. Jeff Smith, Superintendent at Balsz Elementary School District. Dr. Smith was honored with the Arizona School Administrators (ASA) All Arizona Superintendent Award. ASA looks at: relations with the Board, public, and community; long-range planning; leadership in curriculum and instruction; management of finances, personnel, student activities, and physical facilities; and overall professional qualities when selecting the recipient.

The Arizona Experiences Teachers Center is encouraging Arizona teachers to participate in the Imagine Arizona lesson plan contest. The Arizona Experience offers a broad range of informative and interactive material about Arizonas past, present, and future for lesson planning and instructional delivery, as well as supporting teachers implementing common core standards into the classroom.

Digital media technology also helps prepare students to enter the twenty-first century workforce. Teachers are eligible to participate in the lesson planning using content from the Arizona Experience website to earn a share of $25,000 in prizes. To compete, teachers need to incorporate material that meets state education standards into an original 3-7 day lesson plan unit and implement it in the classroom. Teachers then send in a one-page

description of the subject, content and how Arizona Experience material was incorporated. Any full-time teacher in grades 412 from an accredited Arizona school is eligible to participate in the contest. Lesson plans can be about any subject approved by the Arizona Board of Education. The deadline has been extended to May 10, 2013. For more information on the c o n t e s t , v i s i t www.arizonaexperience.org.

As schools and districts prepare for the implementation of the new state assessment system coming in the 2014-2015 school year, many questions are being asked about technology readiness. On December 21, PARCC published technology guidelines communicating technical information, and providing planning and implementation guidance in coordination with the existing efforts around the PARCC and Smarter Balanced Technology Readiness Tool.

Most current operating systems, laptops, desktops, netbooks, and tablets will be compatible with PARCC. For a list of requirements, visit http://www.parcconline.org/ technology

a calculator during assessment. More information about these policies and others can be found at: www.parcconline.org/parccassessment-policies.

PARCC has approved reference sheets, which include the needed formulas and reference information math students can use during testing. PARCC has also approved a calculator policy regarding when students can use

As Arizona school districts face the implementation of Common Core Standards, they also need to think about ways to share what is happening with their community to garner support. Expect More Arizona can help districts with communication needs regarding Common Core Standards. Pearl Chang Esau, President and CEO of Expect More Arizona recently published the article Building Public Will to Support Common Core. Read this article at http://bit.ly/UhMDW3 and find resources to assist with spreading the word about the Common Core Standards within your community. Learn more about Expect More Arizonas initiatives on Facebook and Twitter

Annual AZ State Gifted Conference

The Arizona Association for Gifted and talented (AAGT) is hosting their 39th Annual State Gifted Education Conference Gifted Matter in the 21st Century February 7 & 8, 2013 at the Black Canyon Conference Center. Register now! http:// www.arizonagifted.org/conference

Six principals in Maricopa County were named Rodel Exemplary Principals. Congratulations goes out to Laura Couret of Quentin Elementary, Dr. Chad Gestson of Camelback High, Michael T. Henderson of Galveston Elementary, Valerie Lopez Miranda of Los Amigos Elementary, Elizabeth Mullavey of Sousa Elementary, and Patricia Scarpa of Desert Star Elementary. Congratulations to Tolleson High School for receiving a $10k Grant for to fund a SFAz STEM club. The investment is targeted to increase participation of at-risk students and encourage them to consider a future in STEM. Mesa Public Schools Nancy Lindblom was chosen as Arizonas Teacher of the Year. She will go on to represent Arizona for the national title. Congratulations and good luck! Congratulations to Michelle Perryman of Paradise Valley Unified School District. She was named a 2013 Rodel Exemplary Teacher. She calls her school, Larkspur Elementary, a community of learners who pride themselves on all students achieving goals. Tolleson Elementary School District Governing Board wins the Lou Ella Kleinz Award of Excellence. The award goes to governing boards that demonstrate a clear focus on students, increased parental involvement, and fosters collaboration with social agencies, the community and innovation. West-MEC just received the Image Award from the Association for Career and Technical Education. The Image Award goes to a district that demonstrates extraordinary contributions to the image of career and technical education. Way to go West-MEC! Roosevelt School District has built a Child Nutrition Warehouse and Education Center. The multipurpose facility designed to not only serve as the hub for the Districts Child Nutrition Department but also serve as an instructional resource to enhance and support Wellness and Nutrition Education within the Roosevelt School District.

Maricopa County Parks & Recreation has a Fall Program Guide available highlighting the valuable education programs for the community. Check it out today: http://1.usa.gov/Uz0oAE Maricopa County Public Health has information available regarding Childhood Immunizations. See whats new: http://1.usa.gov/Uz0oAE Maricopa County Environmental Services Department provides free presentations to school and community groups on the effect of water pollution. Please visit www.maricopa.gov/stormwater for more information.

Maricopa County is home to approximately 63 percent of school-age children in the state of Arizona. Under the direction of County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Don Covey, the Maricopa County Education Service Agency and its staff of expert practitioners and service-oriented professionals are dedicated to ensuring that the more than 700,000 school-age children in the county graduate college- and career-ready. Our mission is to design and support innovation and excellence in educational services throughout Maricopa County by building alliances with school districts, education and social service organizations, the business community and others. In doing so, MCESA provides leadership, services and programs in three overarching service areas that are critical to student success and reflective of the agency's goals: Educational Innovation, Economic Management, and Executive Leadership. 4041 N. Central Avenue, Ste. 1200 Phoenix, AZ 85012 (602) 506-3866 www.maricopa.gov/schools