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Mentor Coaching Initiative Sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education, Virginia Foundation for Educational Leadership and Appalachia Regional Comprehensive Center at Edvantia.

The Virginia Department of Education's Office of School Improvement in collaboration with the Virginia Foundation for Educational Leadership and the Appalachia Regional Comprehensive Center at Edvantia provided its first major training to school improvement teams that will be implementing programs during the 2009-2010 academic year.  The initial training, The Virginia Model: Mentor Coaching for School Improvement Institute, was held at the Doubletree Hotel in Charlottesville, July 27 - July 31, 2009.  Additional trainings will be held throughout the year via webinars and site follow-up visits.  This training is made possible by a grant from the United States Department of Education through Title I, 1000(g) under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.

Resources from the institute can be found at the Mentor Coaching Resource Center.

Click here to download BRIM Training Materials

Receiving awards at the 82nd Annual Virginia Middle and High School Principals Conference & Exposition held at the Williamsburg Marriott, June 28 - July 1, 2009 were (L-R) Gavel of Authority - Dr. Mark Emblidge, 2009 Outstanding Secondary School Assistant Principal of Virginia John Duellman, 2009 Outstanding Middle School Principal of Virginia Dr. Benita Stephens, 2009 Outstanding High School Principal of Virginia E. G. Bradshaw and Frank E. Flora Lamp of Knowledge Award - Richard Wong.

President-elect Kevin Bezy, President Larry Lenz and Executive Director Randy Barrack flank Gov. Kaine on July 1 during the presentation of the VASSP Resolution on the governor's education achievements.  The presentation was made during the 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 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 for comment. These may be accessed by going to this link www.principals.org/acelsurvey . The closing date for receiving comments is September 9, 2009.

VASSP and NASSP encourages each member’s own personal participation in the survey. It is imperative to ensure that the voices of our collective memberships are heard loud and clear as the standards, which will drive the ultimate assessment for receiving an advanced certificate, are put into place.

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.

Thank you for your support and assistance in this important matter.

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 annual policy meeting with Governor Kaine.  Also present were Virginia Board of Education President Mark Emblidge and Secretary of Education Tom Morris.

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