Massachusetts Elementary School Principals' Association
MESPA Monday Memo
January 30, 2017
LAST CALL:
MALeads EdCamp
Saturday, February 4
8:30-3:00
70+ Signed up So Far!
Open to All Educators
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From the Executive Director:
Highlights from Our Survey
Part II. Principal Evaluation & Professional Learning
This year’s survey on the principalship had 283 administrators respond.   Complete survey results (minus written comments) can be found at this lin https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-FD7Y69K3/
The link brings you to the beginning of the survey.  Use the drop down menu at the top to move among the different sections of the survey.  

This week we focus on principal evaluation and professional learning.  

Principal Evaluation 84% of principals report being evaluated in the last year (up from 72% in 2010), but only 72% report receiving an evaluation in writing and 72% report having a meeting with their supervisor about their evaluation.  Despite new state reporting requirements for educator evaluation, there is clearly still room for improvement in this area.  

Professional Learning Topics Respondents were asked to choose 3-5 topics from a list of 18.  Among the top choices:
  • Social Emotional Learning                              45%
  • Difficult Conversations/People                        42%
  • Legal Responsibilities for Principals               34%
  • School Climate/Culture                                   31%
  • PLC/High Performing Teams                          31%
  • Instructional Rounds/Walkthroughs                31%
  • Leading Change                                             28%
  • Using Data to Improve Instruction                  28%
  • Response to Intervention                                27%
Educator evaluation, which had been a top choice in 2010 (63%) dropped to only 18%.  Not surprising given the amount of focus put on this area in recent years.  Working with teams, dealing with difficult people, and using data remained areas of high interest from 2010.  

Format
In terms of format,  respondents could choose as many as they wished.  Results show that offering a variety of formats continues to be important.
  • Workshops at MESPA                       49%
  • Regional Workshops                         48%
  • Fall/Spring Conference                      48%
  • In School or In District                       46%
  • Blended (In Person and Online)        46%
  • Online Only                                        39%
Next Week: In Your Own Words:  A summary of your comments on the rewards and challenges of being a principal.  

Last Week:  See Monday Memo January 23 for a summary of Demographics, Salaries and Working Conditions.
Rick Rogers
From The MESPA Blog:
Peer Buddies: An Opportunity to Make a Difference
by Nancy Kirk, Principal of M.G. Williams Intermediate School, Bridgewater, MA
In this week’s post,  Nancy describes how her school’s Speech and Language Pathologist began a Peer Buddies Program, during which student volunteers are trained to work with students with disabilities in a specialized program.  These students were “inspired by the work they did, were proud of themselves and had an appreciation for and clear understanding of the struggles students with disabilities face.” This program provides an example of how Nancy and her staff have created “A Caring, Cooperative and Respectful Community of Learners.”   

Join our Next Twitter Chat
Kids Deserve It!
#mespachat
Wednesday, February 8
8:00-9:00 pm

Guest Moderator: Todd Nesloney
Spring Conference Keynote Speaker & Co-Author of Kids Deserve It

Engage in an online discussion with Todd prior to hearing him at our Spring Conference! Todd is the Principal of a struggling, high poverty PK-5 school in Navasota, Texas. He brought in a brand new staff, and used his creative ideas to transform a campus.  He and co-author Adam Welcome helped to create a Kids Deserve It! website featuring a blog and a weekly podcast.
MESPA Spring Conference:
Leading Innovation & Change Registration Is Now Open!
March 22-24, 2017
Devens Common Center
  We hope you will join us for what promises to be three days of powerful professional learning, as well as a welcome opportunity to network with colleagues.   In addition to our 3 keynotes, 15 concurrent sessions will be announced in February. 

Click on flyer to see full-size.
New Job Postings
Lynnfield – Summer Street School
Peterborough, NH
For details & other postings, go to:  http://mespa.org/job-postings/
Teacher Workshop on Executive Function
Tuesday, March 14, 2017
@ Memorial School, Natick

This workshop will definitely run – and still has space for additional participants.  
Teachers can register at the membership rate if principal a MESPA member.
Discounts for teams of 3 or more from same school.