COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 253

December 8, 2006

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Eighth Annual National School Change Awards

The nomination forms for the Eighth Annual National School Change Awards are now available from the awards co-sponsors: the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), the Fordham University Graduate School of Education, and Pearson Education. The purpose of the award is to recognize schools across America that have made significant positive changes. Potential awardees must meet certain criteria related to school change set by the co-sponsors in the following four dimensions: 1) how meaningful is the change; 2) how deep and broad is the change; 3) how is the change focused; and 4) how is the change measured.

To assist schools in Virginia that may be interested in applying for the award, the Virginia Department of Education will provide a one-hour audio technical assistance workshop on February 8, 2007, from 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Ms. Marjorie Stealey, principal of Norview High School in Norfolk, and winner of the Sixth Annual National School Change Award in 2005; and Ms. Hilda Puryear, principal of Chase City Elementary School in Mecklenburg County, winner of the Second Annual National School Change Award in 2001, will discuss their successful approaches. Department staff will also be available to provide assistance for school divisions. The call-in number for the audio workshop is (800) 337-3137 and the pass code is #2932.

Six National School Change Award winners are selected in the spring of each academic year. The winners will receive: 1) an award ceremony conducted at their school; 2) a $5,000 grant; 3) national recognition and coverage by the media; 4) subsidized participation of the schools principal in the Eighth Annual National Principals Leadership Institute; 5) an award presentation by the United States Department of Education in New York City; and 6) participation in a major national research project focusing on school change.

The deadline for submission of applications is March 19, 2007. A copy of the application is available at

www.npli.org/nsca.

Attachment A contains a response form for the audio conference to be completed and returned by fax on or before February 6, 2007, to Ann Sheehan, Title I specialist, at (804) 371-7347. Please note that the form contains a place to list questions to be addressed at the workshop. If you need additional information, please contact Ms. Sheehan at Ann.Sheehan@doe.virginia.gov or (804)-371-2932.

BKCJr/AMS

Attachment

http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2006/inf253a.doc