District Administration - June 2006 - (Page 50)

ADMINISTRATOR Q&A a ssessment and balances learning Learning to Lead assessment, so it's like learning on a 3-D level. The program is called A s if his day job wasn't challenging enough, Porter applied and was accepted mClass Reading 3-D, and it's giving to the prestigious Broad Superintendents Academy. Out of 275 applicants, 18 us real-time results for students: As professionals ranging from a former general, a female colonel and three super- soon as they sync their Palm [after in tenden t s Porter is the only deputy superintendent were chosen to be in the program founded by multi-billionaire Eli Broad. completing certain exercises], we can The academy is for traditional and non-traditional people who want to go see how students are doing based on into urban education. [Broad's] belief is that the problem with education is their race, cluster it helps manage you're managing a billion-dollar organization, but no one is taught the skills to the process for all schools, all parts of manage [a billion-dollar organization]. And what you need is leadership to man- instruction. age an organization that size. So Broad has gotten a cadre of instructors from We also include professional some of the highest professional school districts in the country as well as other development online systems around experts to teach students the ways of governing a district. teachers. We have a central manage- Most of the learning is done by example: the academy travels to different cities ment system that on a day-to-day once monthly to see the culture of a community and school district. Then there's basis helps teachers with lesson class time Thursday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., once a month. plans, what they need to cover with W hen I come back after every session, I debrief the other deputy super- in tenden t s and the superintendent, says Porter. Sometimes it's interesting students. We invariably use data in a because [I've learned] things we've already done, so it reinforces that we're million different ways. doing the right thing. We've learned from Broad in terms of race and diversity. The Broad Superintendent's Academy is a great experience for John, says With so much going on, how often do MCPS Superintendent Jerry Weast. He will get some excellent insights into teachers receive tech training? the business of education and how it's done in other parts of the country. It will JQP: We try to move away from call- not only benefi t John, it will also benefi t [our district]. i ng it tech training: Technology is 50 June 2006 District Administration itguy.w.indd 50 5/15/06 4:12:44 PM http://www.compasslearning.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - June 2006

Contents
Editor's Letter
Update
Inside the Law
Curriculum Update
Administrator Profile
District Profile
Graduation Woes
The Hidden Downside of Wireless Networking
Cover Story: John Q. Porter: Leader/Pioneer/Secret Shopper
8th Grade Algebra: Finding a Formula for Success
Building a Strong Community Partnership
Join the A/V Club
Big Brother Gets Bolder
Security Trends
The Online Edge
Speaking Out
Problem/Solution
Research Corner
Research Corner
Computer Literature
New Products
By the Numbers

District Administration - June 2006