ATLANTA — Policy-makers from the 16 Southern Regional Education Board states and several other states will converge here May 10-11 to develop ways K-12 schools and universities can work together to improve the quality of school leaders, especially principals.
The fourth annual SREB Leadership Forum will be held at the Atlanta Airport Marriott Hotel starting at 8 a.m. on May 10 and continuing through lunch on May 11. The news media is invited to attend.
The forum will bring together teams of state policy-makers, educators and business representatives to discuss key aspects of preparation, licensure and support of school leaders. Teams from 23 states attended the 2006 forum and learned about state policies and practices that can help provide better-trained school leaders — especially principals — who understand how to improve student achievement and provide better learning environments for all students.
Speakers will include Richard Laine, the director of Education for the Wallace Foundation, who will present an overview of findings from a recent study on preparing school leaders to improve student learning, and Kathy O’Neill, director of the SREB Learning-centered Leadership Program.
“Good schools begin with well-trained, effective principals,” said SREB Senior Vice President Gene Bottoms, who also will speak at the event. “Many states are raising the quality of training programs for school principals, but all states can do more to provide schools with the best candidates who can help improve education for all students.”
For the past three years, SREB has assisted several states in systemically redesigning how school leaders are selected, prepared and supported, with an emphasis on improving curriculum, instruction and student achievement. This year’s forum will focus on key aspects of preparing new school leaders. Participants will share the lessons learned nationally, regionally and locally about redesigning leadership preparation programs at college and universities. State teams already involved in redesigning programs will describe the partnerships necessary between universities and school districts to effectively transform leadership programs and improve schools.
The SREB Challenge to Lead Goals for Education, developed by the region’s leaders in 2002, call for every school to have leadership that results in improved student performance, beginning with an effective principal.
SREB is working with several states to improve the quality of training for principals and other school leaders:
Four colleges and universities in Alabama currently are redesigning their master’s degree programs and continuing education courses for K-12 school principals, based on new higher state standards for school leaders.
Kentucky is redesigning its master’s degree programs for aspiring principals, after state legislation passed requiring such changes.
Louisiana opened four redesigned master’s degree programs for aspiring school principals in fall 2006.
Tennessee is redesigning two master’s degree programs for aspiring principals and is developing higher state standards.
School districts in Georgia and South Carolina are working with SREB to develop the skills of existing school principals to focus on higher student achievement and other improvements.
For more information on the SREB Leadership Forum or to learn more about your state’s work on improving the quality of school leaders, contact SREB Communications.
SREB, a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization based in Atlanta, Georgia, advises state education leaders on ways to improve education. SREB was created in 1948 by Southern governors and legislatures to help leaders in education and government work cooperatively to advance education and improve the social and economic life of the region. SREB has 16 member states: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia. Each is represented by its governor and four gubernatorial appointees.
