COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 282

November 14, 2008

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Patricia I. Wright Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Tenth Annual Panasonic National School Change Awards

 

The nomination forms for the Tenth Annual Panasonic National School Change Awards are now available from the award's sponsor, Panasonic Corporation of North America. 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 cosponsors 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 December 10, 2008, from 1 p.m.- 2 p.m. Ms. Linda Wood, principal of Harrowgate Elementary in Chester, winner of the Ninth Annual National School Change Award in 2008, and Mr. Ed Walent, Director of Instructional Support and former principal of Chalkey Elementary School in Chesterfield, winner of the Eighth Annual School Change Award in 2007, will discuss their successful approaches. Department staff will also be available to provide assistance for school divisions.

 

To join the teleconference, please call 1-866-842-5779 and use the pass code 804-371-2932.

 

Six Panasonic 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) $5,000 including Panasonic products; 3) national recognition and coverage by the media; 4) subsidized participation of the school's principal in the Twelfth 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 4, 2009. 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 December 3, 2008, 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.

 

PIW/AMS

 

Attachment

 

a. Audio Workshop Response Form (Word)