Making the transition to working within a team can be both exciting and daunting. In schools today, most professional development focuses on job-embedded tasks. The rationale is that the substance of professional learning is within the schools, “in the workplace, not in a workshop” (DuFour, 2004, Spring). Due to the changing nature of professional development, even that term is being replaced with more inclusive language. ‘Professional learning’ is now preferred over ‘professional development’.

Coast to coast, school budgets are tight and the cuts keep coming. In this difficult economic climate, families, businesses and communities are tightening their belts and schools are no exception. First in the line of fire at school districts is usually professional learning. While most district leaders acknowledge that continuous learning is vital to educators, when cuts are required, funds for such programs are cut quickly and deeply. “No travel” policies are enforced, conference fee reimbursement is denied and program contracts are rescinded.

There is an unspoken agreement among parents, caregivers, community members and educators that if articulated, would clearly express the expectation that educators conduct themselves in an ethical manner at all times. The nature of the relationship between educators and their students requires a very high standard.

Happy Valentine's Day from ASAP!

Check out the full version of our special Valentine's ecard here (make sure your speakers are turned on).

Since 2003 districts around the United States have professed their love for the ASAP Educational Leadership Assessments.  Now in 2008 ASAP has released the new ASAP In-Basket!

Educators have heard a lot in the past decade about building community in their schools. Understanding why community is so essential is the purpose of this message.

It’s really simple; community is the element that makes possible everything   that needs to be accomplished in a school. It’s the catalyst that unites people and ideas, teachers and students, parents and educators. It creates a shared and common purpose for the work of schools.

The Council for Educational Change presents the 2007 Florida Assistant Principal Leadership Forums on September 26-27 in Tampa and October 24-25 in Orlando.  ASAP schools are eligible to attend.  Assistant Principals can develop instructional leadership skills and fast track their professional development by attending a Forum.

Come and see what ASAP's cooked up for you!

We're serving up information about ASAP's NEW online In-Basket Assessment.  Join us for breakfast and dialogue about the newest assessment for educational leadership.

Join us on Monday, September 24th, 2007 from 7:45am-8:30am at the Florida Association of Staff Development Conference.  This year's conference is located at the Trade Winds Island Resort at St. Pete Beach, Florida. 

To RSVP, please contact Christine Harrison at 1-866-609-2727 ext 43. 

June 24-29 and July 15-20 are the dates of the 2007 Florida Leadership Academies.  This is the fifth year of delivering these renowned events to educators from across the state of Florida. The Academies offer unique statewide learning opportunities to energize a leadership team from your school.

Nearly 400 participants attended the Florida Assistant Principal Leadership Forums in April and early May of 2007. The focus of each Forum was on enhancing instructional leadership.  Among the important topics addressed were: