Don’t let anyone fool you into believing that the soon to be revealed teacher evaluation tool recommendation from MCEE (Michigan Council for Educator Effectiveness) will make the job of teacher evaluation an easy task. The committee represents thoughtfulness and wisdom. As such they are spending more time and resources developing their recommendation. One member of the group Mark Reckase confirmed my concerns about the complexity of the task.

Dr. Mark D. Reckase , metrics expert and member of the MCEE, shared his perspective with us this week and gave us a hint as to the committee’s final recommendation for an evaluation tool. In the past we believed that teachers could be evaluated by the amount their students learned.  It is not that simple. As Dr. Reckase points out, students also learn outside of the classroom from parents, friends and their environment. They learn language skills from family members but not as much mathematics. So how much credit does the teacher receive for a child’s learning knowing that there are multiple factors that determine the quantity and quality of student learning? A teacher with lots of resources, highly capable and motivated students gets the high grade?

Read more: Teacher Evaluation: A Complex Endeavour

I have been working HARD on writing good columns this year, all about school culture, evaluation of teacher performance and student learning, improvement plans…..and the column which has received the most attention was last week’s column on stress reduction! A sign of our times, it seems.

As I begin my final four columns, I return to ways to think about the upcoming school year. As one of our wonderful Leadership Matters participants mentioned last summer: “Every new school year provides me with a ‘do-over’!” Several weeks ago, we talked about school culture and I provided you with a School Culture Audit and another strategy for reflecting on this year’s culture and how to look ahead to further develop the culture you and your stakeholders envision.

This week, I am going to build on some ideas provided in the attached article which will be very useful to those of you who will lead “new” schools in the fall: “Starting Confused: Where Leaders Start When They Don’t Know Where to Start” (Jentz, B. Kappan. 2005).

Read more: Planning for a New Year

Technology is transforming how we communicate and work in the 21st century—and how we learn. Digital solutions offer us exciting, innovative ways to prepare all students for the demands of college and careers in our increasingly global, connected world.

Outside of school, students’ lives often revolve around technology. Inside the classroom, however, many students face a tech-free world and outdated resources. Using digital tools in the classroom lets students engage with materials, information, and their peers in ways that are fun and natural to them. As a result, students are more motivated to learn and take more responsibility for their learning, which improves achievement.

Read more: Improve Teaching and Learning with Digital Solutions

Mark White, NAESP Zone 6 director has won the prestigious position of NAESP president-elect. Mark served zone 6 which includes Michigan, Iowa and Wisconsin at the national level for the pat 3 years providing outstanding leadership. Mark comes to the position with more than 20 years as elementary principal currently at Hintgen Elementary School in La Crosse Wisconsin. Mark White understands the current political climate in our country today. He will be an effective advocate for education generally and principals who are leading dramatic reforms from coast to coast. Mark White will spend the next two years representing NAESP and you in Washington D.C. and from California to Maine.

Thank you for taking the time to vote for Mark and for encouraging your peers to vote leading to this historic election win.

Eric Cardwell MEMSPA past president and outstanding leader has been elected to represent NAESP zone 6 replacing Mark White. As MEMSPA President Eric traveled the state meeting members and seeking their input in order to make our association stronger and more relevant. Eric has been active in MEMSPA's strategic planning process bringing both experience and institutional knowledge. I am confident that he will represent MEMSPA and the entire zone with the same level of passion and energy.

Congratulations Mark White and Eric Cardwell.

As I mentioned a month ago, I am providing a series of columns about issues related to the end of the school year:

• Assessments to use to determine progress with issues of school culture
• Conversations as part of final evaluation conferences in the spring
• Looking ahead to the new school year

I have had the opportunity to listen to, and coach, more than two dozen educational leaders during the past four weeks, and my concern for their stress levels has grown. Therefore, I am inserting a column on stress management as school leaders move into the final weeks of the 2012-2013 school year. As I listen, I understand that this year has been a unique and, often stressful, experience for beginning principals AND experienced principals!

During the March 7 & 8 Conclave for Women Educational Leaders, Dr. Shawn Johnson guided us through a session on Mindful Living. She taught us to breathe deeply and discussed the impact of stress on our emotional and physical health. As I read further on this issue of stress management, I found this simple process for breathing deeply, as Dr. Johnson guided us that day:

Read more: Stress Relievers from Nancy