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School Administrator, October 2017

I found Nic Clement’s My View column, “Two Lessons Extracted From My Root Canal” (May 2017), to be insightful and applicable, containing multiple leadership lessons.

As school leaders, we can exceed the expectations of our students and families by INTENTIONALLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY BEING ACCESSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE. By taking little extra steps to serve the people in our community, we not only can deliver excellent service, as Clement describes, but further build the relationship trust that is so essential.

Also, there is great value to showing simple empathy and genuine concern for others, especially when they are experiencing difficulties and need extra help. MANUEL O. VALENZUELA
SUPERINTENDENT,
SAHUARITA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT,
SAHUARITA, ARIZ.
Admissions Impact
Re “Three Lessons for Schools Shifting Their Grading” (January 2017): In my work researching standards-based grading with the assistant superintendents for instruction in Monroe County, N.Y., a question arose relating to a lesson author Matt Townsley shared about his school district shifting its grading practices.

His point involved higher education and the impact of new grading policies on student admissions and scholarship awards. We have reached out to local colleges and universities on this and will meet with a few admissions people. Townsley shared with us a transcribed conversation between his district’s high school principal and an admissions official that will help us frame our questions. MICHELLE M. RYAN
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT FOR ACCOUNTABILITY, ASSESSMENT AND TECHNOLOGY,
MONROE 1 BOCES AND MONROE 2-ORLEANS BOCES,
ROCHESTER, N.Y.

 

Adding Arts to STEM
I enjoyed reading Karen Jacobs’ article, “STEM for All in Alief” (May 2017). I was especially glad to read that her school district will be expanding STEM to the arts — STEAM ahead!

The Alief Independent School District recognizes that gone are the days of teaching vintage lessons from a textbook. Their STEM teachers design lessons using state standards and real-world data sets with problem-based and project-based scenarios.

Kudos to the Alief leadership for taking it to the next level, moving from STEM to STEAM, with full integration of the arts into the process. 
MICHAEL CHIRICHELLO
EDUCATION CONSULTANT,
LEADERSHIP MATTERS LLC,
SWARTSWOOD, N.J.


My Multiple-Board Life
I enjoyed the Board Savvy Superintendent column “One Superintendent, Multiple Boards” (May 2017) by Nick Caruso. He brought back some fond memories of my past work as superintendent in a multiple-board region.

I served as superintendent for the Chester, Deep River, Essex and Region 4 school districts in southern Connecticut. The area is governed by a regional board of education responsible for the education of students in grades 7-12 from the three towns. A fifth board governs shared services between the towns.

Between board meetings, various committee meetings and town meetings, we often worked until midnight four or five nights a week to move the region forward. It was an exhausting pace that allowed little time for family and friends.

Caruso, with the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education, was helpful during the first months of my superintendency when we conducted a joint workshop for the various boards. His work promoted trust and collaboration between the local and regional boards with their new superintendent. Importantly, Caruso’s work facilitated each board’s commitment to work beyond their pur-view toward a K-12 vision for education for all students.
 
KIM M. CARON
RETIRED SUPERINTENDENT,
PALM CITY, FLA.
Letters should be addressed to: Editor, School Administrator, 1615 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314. E-mail: magazine@aasa.org