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2010 General Assembly Update

Ten VASSP past presidents join Executive Director Randy Barrack and Board of Education President Eleanor Saslaw for a photo at The Hotel Roanoke during the 83^rd Annual Virginia Middle and High School Principals Conference & Exposition, June 27-30, 2010. L-R: Dr. Randy Barrack, Larry Buchanan (1987-88), Dr. Sam Cambell (1990-91), Dr. Glenn Koonce (1991-91), Russell Fleshman (1998-99), Consuella Woods (1999-2000), Larry Lenz (2001-02, 2008-09), BOE President Eleanor Saslaw, Don Vale (2003-04), Dr. Carol Robinson (2007-08), David Blevins (2005-06), Kevin Bezy (2009-10) and 2010-2011 President Dr. Richard Turner.

The VASSP Leadership Retreat was held August 13-15, 2010. Members of the association's board of directors, key staff personnel, and several guest speakers attended the event.  Photographed at the Retreat was VASSP Board Member Dr. Patricia Wright, Superintendent of Public Instruction, VASSP President Dr. Richard Turner, and Virginia Board of Education President Mrs. Eleanor Saslaw.

President-elect Kevin Bezy, President Larry Lenz and Executive Director Randy Barrack flank Gov. Kaine on July 1, 2009 during the presentation of the VASSP Resolution on the governor's education achievements.  The presentation was made during the 2009 Annual Conference.  For a copy of the resolution, other photos and more information about the state conference, click on "Conferences & Workshops" on the menu bar to the left.

Speaking at the 2009 Annual Conference were candidates for governor, Republican Bob McDonnell and Democrat Creigh Deeds.  Photos below show former VASSP President Dr. Carol Robinson and VASSP Region 2 Director Carolyn Bernard with Bob McDonnell and VASSP President-elect Kevin Bezy with Creigh Deeds.

Coming in 2011 - Advanced Principal Certification

A New Way to Develop, Recognize and Retain Top School Leaders

Effective principals are critical to the success of students, teachers and entire schools. A successful principal creates a culture of learning that:
•    Advances student learning and engagement.
•    Recruits and retains the best teachers.
•    Improves teacher and school performance.

To create a consistently reliable process to develop, recognize and retain effective principals, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards® (NBPTS®) has announced an initiative to develop Advanced Principal Certification. The plan calls for rolling out the new certification from design to launch within the next three years.

Advanced Principal Certification, the first national certification program focused on principals, is also the first phase of an expanded umbrella program, Advanced Certification for Education Leaders (ACEL), which builds on the National Board’s 20-year, highly successful program, National Board Certification for teachers and school counselors. The ACEL program will not only create standards and an assessment process for principals, it will also lay the groundwork for a new teacher leader certification for teachers and other school-based educators who positively impact the culture of learning in the classroom.

It is important that VASSP brings to your attention that the draft standards for the Advanced Certification for Educational Leaders (ACEL) are now available. These may be accessed by going to this link http://www.ncpapa.org/forms/ACEL/ACEL_PrinFlyerFINAL[1].pdf.

The ACEL is a significant and timely development in elevating the status of the principalship and providing a great opportunity for principals to be recognized as exemplars of their profession.

Principals’ Pay Increases Don’t Match Cost of Living (see national study)         
State Board grants initial approval for new Literacy Assessment; Praxis I to be "gatekeeper" for teacher prep programs; provisional license to be granted for one year for assessment completion. New national poll puts teaching profession in top three after scientists and doctors - up over 19%! (Details)

VASSP Board of Directors hold their last annual policy meeting with Governor Kaine.  Also present were Virginia Board of Education President Mark Emblidge, Secretary of Education Tom Morris, and Superintendent of Public Instruction Pat Wright.

VASSP Capitol Issues Reports Available on this Web Site (Go to Capitol Issues)  Check out Priority Legislation for latest action on bills targeted by VASSP. 

Education Poll titled, "Opinion in Virginia Divided Over School Vouchers" has been posted as a PDF document on the Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute (CEPI) Web site at www.cepionline.org.

Congress Passes IDEA: Congress has reauthorized the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) after three years of difficult work to revise federal special education law. The compromise between the House and the Senate contains many positive provisions advocated by VASSP/NASSP members related to the discipline of special education students, reduction of burdensome paperwork provisions, and reform of  the contentious litigation process. To view additional information please go to: Click