COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 44

February 18, 2005

INFORMATIONAL

TO:

Division Superintendents

 

FROM:

Jo Lynne DeMary

Superintendent of Public Instruction

 

SUBJECT:

The Governors High School Leadership Summit II

 

 

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE), in collaboration with the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals (VASSP), is pleased to announce the Governors High School Leadership Summit II on March 16, 2005, at the Omni Richmond Hotel, Richmond, Virginia. All high school principals have been mailed the attached invitation from Governor Warner to attend the daylong event. Preregistration is required; however, there is no registration fee. Please encourage your high school principals to attend. Since this is an Invitation Only event, any high school principal who did not receive an invitation should contact Dr. Randy Barrack, executive director, Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals, at (804) 2882777, rbarrack@vassp.org. If you are interested in attending the Governors High School Leadership Summit, please contact Dr. Barrack.

 

Registration for the summit will begin at 7:45 a.m. at the Omni Hotel. A continental breakfast will be offered for everyone. The first plenary session will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at 11:30 a.m. The second plenary session will be held during the working lunch from 12 noon until 2:15 p.m. Beginning at 2:30 p.m. concurrent sessions will begin and the final set of concurrent sessions will end at 5:15 p.m. The summit registration and program details will be announced soon on the VASSP website at www.vaprincipal.org.

 

This years summit will serve as a next step for coordinating and strengthening the high school improvement efforts that are encouraged by Governor Warner, the Standards of Learning, and the federally mandated No Child Left Behind Act. Working in partnership with organizations that represent a broad cross section of education issues and that have a stake and role in transforming Virginias high schools, VASSP and the VDOE will assemble key leaders from across the nation and commonwealth for the summit. The format of the summit will provide educators, policymakers, business and education leaders the opportunity to share information on a peer-to-peer basis, as well as hear about current reform efforts on the high school level from content experts and VDOE officials.

 

In March of 2004, VASSP and the VDOE brought leaders together for the first Governors High School Leadership Summit. This meeting augmented the national launch of Preparing Americas Future High School Initiative, and addressed Governor Warners intent to make high school improvement a top priority. Since that time, VASSP and the VDOE have worked on their high school plans, and also formed partnerships for outreach and technical assistance working with such cutting edge reform strategies as Governor Warners Principals Turnaround Specialist Program in cooperation with the University of Virginia and the National Association of Secondary School Principals Breaking Ranks II.

 

The goals of The Governors High School Leadership Summit II are to:

 

       Equip state and local education leaders and policymakers with current knowledge about high school through special forums, print and electronic materials, and targeted assistance;

       Develop the expertise and structures within VASSP and the VDOE to provide coordinated support and outreach toward helping local education systems improve high school and youth outcomes; and

       Facilitate a statewide dialogue to raise awareness about the need for significant reform in Americas high schools.

 

Summit speakers and workshop presenters will address the

following:

 

       High expectations for all students with an emphasis on literacy across the curriculum.

       Small, focused learning communities based on student aptitude and interests, with an unrelenting commitment to academics.

       Opportunities for building relationships and reflective thought.

       A unique twelfth grade program that addresses students interests, needs, and the transition to the next phase of their education.

       Leadership that is sustained, entrepreneurial and performance based.

       Curriculum revision that is focused on a tight framework that is rigorous and spans both Blooms Taxonomy as well as the appreciation of knowledge to the real world in unpredictable situations.

       Using data to make daily decisions.

 

We know that high schools can improve and needs of high

school students can be met. Governor Warners

initiatives are working with partners across the

commonwealth to make a real difference in what we expect

from our students and how we use our resources to expand

their opportunities. This summit will help Virginias

principals meet the challenges they face in preparing

Virginias students for a successful future.

 

For hotel accommodations, please call the Omni Richmond Hotel (100 South 12th Street, Richmond, VA 23210) at 804-344-7000 and ask for the special rate of $99 single, $109 double (plus prevailing taxes) for The Governors High School Leadership Summit II. The Omni Richmond Hotel provides complimentary van transportation in the downtown area, Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The hotel offers valet parking for registered overnight guests with unlimited in and out privileges at a $15 per night charge. Local attendees may self-park in the James Center Garage or in any other local lot. Prices range from $6 to $15 per day.

 

JLD/PIW

 

Attachment http://www.doe.virginia.gov/administrators/superintendents_memos/2005/inf044a.pdf