CREATING SUCCESS ONE STUDENT AT A TIME Implementation Options The National Institute for Direct Instruction is a non- x Early Literacy profit organization founded by the creators of Direct Instruction. x Remedial Literacy x Full Immersion We offer a comprehensive approach to the education crisis in America by providing continuous administrative and curricular x Middle Grades support to schools and districts as they x 3-Tier implement DI programs, particularly with students who are performing below Learn how NIFDI helped one grade level. We help schools create Nebraska district achieve success. Order your FREE copy of success for each and every student. The Gering Story from our website today! PLEASE CALL > 1.877.485.1973 > OR VISIT > WWW.NIFDI.ORG FEATURES 2 Leadership Matters: NCSA EXECUTIVE BOARD School Administrators Promoted 2008-09 in Radio Ad Campaign Chair . John Osgood Vice Chair . Jon Habben 3 Political Commentary BY U.S. SENATOR CHUCK HAGEL NASA Representatives President . Matt Fisher President-elect . Bill Mowinkel 4 Leadership: Intentional or Accidental Past President . Jon Habben BY LOUANN PURCELL NASBO Representatives President . Sandy Rosenboom 6 Keeping Our Focus, Expanding Our President-elect . Rick Feauto Vision, Finding the Balance Past President . Dennis Van Horn BY PAT ROSCHEWSKI, Nebraska Department of Education NAESP Representatives NCSA Announces 2008 Distinguished President . Mary Yilk 10 President-elect . Sarah Williams Service Award Winners Past President . Mark Wragge 11 Hillbilly Perspective on School Change NASES Representatives BY MATT FISHER, Chase County Schools President . Ellen Stokebrand President-elect . Jane Byers 12 A Contemporary Mentor-Mentee Model Past President . John Street BY DAN ENDORF, York High School NSASSP Representatives 13 New Superintendents Mentoring Program President . Ryan Ruhl BY BILL HEIMANN, Wakefield Community Schools President-elect . Kenton Mann Past President . John Osgood 14 Networking with New Principals BY BILL KENAGY, NCSA Principal Liaison NARSA Representatives President . Kay Gordon 15 How to Implement a Worksite Wellness Program BY ROY HUNTER, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska 16 School Health: More than a Bandaid NCSA STAFF – 2008-2009 BY KATHY KARSTING, RN Michael S. Dulaney Executive Director/Lobbyist 5 Affiliate LeadershipVisits the Hill Dan E. Ernst 18 NCSA Annual Report Associate Executive Director/Lobbyist BY MIKE DULANEY, Executive Director Kelly Coash-Johnson and DAN ERNST, Associate Executive Director Training and Development Director Nebraska Council of School Administrators Cami Cumblidge 20 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Finance and Membership Coordinator 4 UPCOMING EVENTS Angie Carman 15 MEMBER NEWS Executive Administrative Assistant NCSA Mission Carol Young The mission of the Nebraska Council of School Administrators (NCSA) is to be an effec - Administrative Assistant tive leader for quality education and to enhance the professionalism of its members. The opinions expressed in NCSA Today NCSA Today is a benefit of membership in the Nebraska Council of School Administrators, 455 South 11th or by its authors do not necessarily re - Street, Suite A, Lincoln, NE 68508. Telephone 402.476.8055 or 800.793.6272. Fax 402.476.7740. An - flect the positions of the Nebraska nual membership dues are $315 (active members) or $100 (associate members). NCSA Today is published Council of School Administrators. quarterly. Send address changes to NCSA, Membership, 455 South 11th Street, Suite A, Lincoln, NE 68508. Copyright 2008 by NCSA. All rights reserved. SEPTEMBER 2008 NCSA TODAY 1 LEADERSHIP Leadership Matters: School Administrators Promoted in Radio Ad Campaign s the 2008-09 school year begins, the NCSA would like Nebraskans Nebraska Radio Network Ato know that school administra - tors are committed to providing leadership KBRB-AM Ainsworth KQNK-AM Norton, KS at school and in the community in an ef - KBRB-FM Ainsworth KQNK-FM Norton, KS fort to promote the importance of educa - KWBE-AM Beatrice KOGA-AM Ogallala tion and lifelong learning. KCNI-AM Broken Bow KFAB-AM Omaha The NCSA launched its communications KBBN-FM Broken Bow KBRX-AM O’Neill campaign on August 1st, the last day of KGMT-AM Fairbury KBRX-FM O’Neill Administrators’ Days 2008. The campaign KHUB-AM Fremont KOAK-AM Red Oak will feature announcements on Nebraska Radio Network throughout August to KICS-AM Hastings KCSI-FM Shenandoah/Red Oak demonstrate how school administrators KUVR-AM Holdrege KCMI-FM Scottsbluff help schools remain safe, strong and com - KXPN-AM Kearney KSID-AM Sidney petitive in an ever-changing world. KGFW-AM Kearney KSID-FM Sidney The radio ads relate the message that KRNY-FM Kearney KRFS-AM Superior Nebraska’s school administrators remain KLIN-AM Lincoln KRFS-FM Superior on the cutting edge in terms of instruc - KNCY-AM Nebraska City KTCH-AM Wayne tional leadership, curriculum, student as - KNCY-FM Nebraska City KCTY-FM Wayne sessment, and remain focused on school WJAG-AM Norfolk WNAX-AM Yankton, SD safety. The NCSA believes Nebraskans are KXNP-FM North Platte KAWL-AM York fortunate to have so many experienced and skilled administrators, helping to im - KODY-AM North Platte KTMX-FM York prove schools and student achievement, and to prepare young people for bright fu - tures. UPCOMING EVENTS September 17-18 October 4 October 14 Nebraska Leadership Initiative NCSA Tailgate Party Facilities Management Workshop Civic Center - Gering NCSA Parking Lot - Lincoln Sandhills Convention Center - North Platte September 18-19 October 6 NASES/NDE Fall Conference Hispanic/Latino Summit October 15-16 Lied Lodge - Nebraska City Embassy Suites - Omaha Nebraska Leadership Initiative ESU #3 - Omaha September 25 October 8-10 School Law Update Leadership Conference on Assessment October 17 Holiday Inn - Kearney Hilton Hotel - Omaha Facilities Management Workshop Embassy Suites - Lincoln October 1-2 October 13 Nebraska Leadership Initiative Managing Student Conduct for Assistant October 27 Ramada Inn - Kearney Principals and Principals Paraeducators Convention Cornhusker Hotel - Lincoln Holiday Inn - Kearney For more information, please visit http://ncsa.org 2 NCSA TODAY SEPTEMBER 2008 POLITICAL SCENE Political Commentary BY SEN. CHUCK HAGEL, NEBRASKA NCSA has asked Senator Hagel to write the first in Congressional funding of the Individuals with a series of articles from our Nebraska Congressional Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is another exam - delegation. ple of unfunded federal mandates. More than 30 years ago, Congress passed IDEA to help states pro - ecisions on how to best educate our chil - vide children with disabilities access to quality ed - dren should be made by parents, educa - ucation. At that time, Congress committed the Dtors, local school boards, and state federal government to picking up 40 percent of the boards of education. A lifelong passion for learn - cost of serving these students. When I took office ing can only be instilled on a personal level. Those in 1997 federal funding provided only 9.2 percent who know the students best are most qualified to of IDEA funding. engage students in their work. During my time in the Senate I have advocated In 1997, I supported an amendment to the De - for increased funding of IDEA. In 2004, along with partment of Education appropriations bill that Senator Harkin (D-Iowa), I succeeded in getting an would have “block granted” much of the federal IDEA re-authorization bill passed that included lan - funding for education directly back to local educa - guage putting IDEA on a path to ensuring the fed - tion authorities. While serving as a member of the eral government’s 40 percent funding responsibility Sen. Hagel Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Com - over the next few years. We also sent letters to Sen - mittee (HELP), I cosponsored several pieces of leg - ate appropriators asking them to provide the high - islation that would have returned est possible funding for IDEA during Congress’ “All of America’s more control of education to local annual appropriations process. Through these ef - students must be school districts. forts, the federal government’s funding for IDEA is Based upon this philosophy of at $11.04 billion, or 17.4 percent of the cost asso - given equal local control over education policy, ciated with providing children with disabilities opportunities to I opposed No Child Left Behind in quality public education. 2001. The law places extensive un - IDEA has been a great success. While we have learn.” funded federal mandates on states made significant progress in increasing federal and local school districts. Instead of funding for IDEA over the last eleven years, we still dictating rigid federal education policies to local have a long way to go. governments and school districts without providing As we know, education is the best way to in - adequate funding, we should allocate the funds and crease opportunities for all of our young people. the use of those funds to the discretion of local of - All of America’s students must be given equal op - ficials. Initiatives I have supported such as the portunities to learn. I appreciate the continued ef - Straight A’s Act and the Teacher Empowerment Act forts and good work of the NCSA to advance this were intended to send federal funds directly to local important goal. I school districts no strings attached. Block grant funding puts the resources and decision-making in the hands of those closest to the students. SEPTEMBER 2008 NCSA TODAY 3 NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE Leadership: Intentional or Accidental BY LOUANN PURCELL, E d.D., Executive Director, Council of Administrators of Special Education early all men can stand adversity, but if George singled me out and encouraged me to be - you want to test a man's character, come even more involved in the CASE organization. ‘N give him power.” Abraham Lincoln 1 It was also a turning point for Ken. At that fall What is the big deal about leadership? Everyone meeting, he resigned his presidency because he had is always talking about leadership. We hear about accepted a position as superintendent of a local it on the television as the different parties try to district.