District Administration - September 2006 - (Page 37)

EDUCATION REFORM Students will benefit from one-to- one wireless computing with Gateway laptops; SmartBoards; smart cards for everything from the cafeteria to an Interactive Learning Center or virtual library; and digital resources, with access to the Library of Con- g ress or the Louvre, Nevels adds. Open from about 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., but with school hours from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the school day will be project oriented, not based on the traditional seated time. Students will learn how to use scheduling software and attend classes, meetings and meals as appointments. Beyond Nevels, planners and administrators who made this happen are more than excited. Mary Cul- linane, group manager for Microsoft Partners in Learning Program, points out the active directory solution, whereby everyone has a role on the network either as student, teacher, parent or administrator. So when you log on in this school, it [the network] will know what information you will need to have access to including who a parent should talk to about getting MASTERFUL ARCHITECTURE When e Arrives students at The High School of the Future information and what a student's shuffle to class this fall, they will find schedule looks like, she says. It's a state-of-the-art spaces and environmentally- much more efficient environment. friendly designs with an education to match. A s exciting as this opening is, Cullinane says she gets frustrated WHEEL OF FUTURE when people claim the school is a miracle. It shouldn't take a mira- Microsoft developed a Competency Wheel, which cle, she says. One message I hope depicts 37 Educational Competencies that are grasp- we get across is that we all have to ing the attention of administrators. The wheel is be part of the solution, she adds. designed to help educators develop professional skills Public/private partnerships must be and help educational organizations find the right can- used for future growth in education. didates to fill key jobs. She explains that many admin- Here are six qualities needed to help districts ist rators still look for the silver succeed in the 21st century: bullet in education. We need to step back and we need to look at the 1. Individual Excellence: Achieve results by working effectively with others in various holistic perspective, she says. And circumstances. see the individual pieces of the pie 2. Organizational Skills: Ability to communicate within different organizations. and see how they collectively have 3. Courage: To speak honestly and with respect in difficult situations. an impact. DA 4. Results: An emphasis on goal-oriented action. 5. Strategic Skills: To accomplish longer-term goals. Angela Pascopella is senior 6. Operating Skills: Used for daily management of tasks and relationships. features editor. September 2006 37 www.DistrictAdministration.com philly.w.indd 37 8/14/06 11:51:03 AM http://www.DistrictAdministration.com

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

Contents
Editor?s Letter
Snapshots
Update
Inside the Law
Curriculum Update
Administrator Profile
District Profile
Unveiling the School of the Future
Are wireless VoIP handsets worth the cost?
Smart ways to detect and manage cyberbullies
Scared Straight
Up for Debate
In the Spotlight
Growing Community Schools
Learning Styles
The Online Edge Odvard Egil Dyrli
Speaking Out Gary Stager
Problem/Solution
Research Corner
Computer Literature
Leadership Books
New Products
By the Numbers

District Administration - September 2006