District Administration - September 2007 - (Page 34)

factor X X-Factor Student Achievement Awards 2007 A 300-word entry brings $30,000 to a K12 school district. DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION LAUNCHED THE FIRSTEVER XFACTOR Student Achievement Awards last spring, with the exclusive sponsorship of AutoSkill International Inc., a company that creates intervention software solutions to help close the proﬁciency gap in K12 schools. The program challenged public school educators to submit one or more 300-word descriptions of a creative “X-factor” idea that would raise student achievement in their districts. Proposals could be targeted to student groups, classes or schools, as long as each was practical, did not take long to implement, was transferable to any size district and had measurable results. The grand-prize winner would receive $30,000 seed money to jump-start the initiative, and as Susan Koch, vice president of marketing at AutoSkill International put it, the program provided “a forum to share new ideas and the ﬁnancial means to test the winning concept in a real-world classroom.” Entries were submitted online with a seven editors also brought unique perspec- vania, for “Fitness Buddies.” Proposed in deadline of June 30, 2007, and we were tives to the table, including Judy Hartnett’s collaboration with reading/language arts gratiﬁed by the number, quality and vari- thoughts as a parent of a middle school and wellness teachers, the project explores the ety of proposals received from school dis- daughter, Angela Pascopella’s concern for link between physical activity and academic tricts throughout the United States. The disadvantaged students and “green environ- achievement. In a new ﬁtness center, students many ideas included purchasing interactive ment” proposals, Zach Miners’ interest in will use technologies such as Sportwall Interwhiteboards and portable readers, equipping electronic media, and Ken Royal’s admira- national and Dance Dance Revolution to mobile learning labs, hiring mentors and tion for a teacher whose love of books changed deliver cardiovascular workouts in a game tutors, initiating classroom videoconferences, his life forever. But tough decisions had to be format. Participants will have ﬁtness budorganizing ﬁeld trips, providing career train- made, and after extensive negotiations, we dies from the high school wellness program to ing, and implementing curriculum programs unanimously chose the grand-prize winner, record data and keep individuals motivated, one runner-up, four ﬁnalists and 20 school and ﬁtness and academic achievement will in almost every content area. The proposals were judged by the entire entries for honorable mention. be evaluated throughout the year. We are pleased to announce that the editorial staﬀ of District AdministraCongratulations to Lou Ann Miller, the tion over a period of several weeks, and winner of the $30,000 award for the 2007 ﬁnalists and every participant in the X-Faceach idea was reviewed and discussed mul- X-Factor Student Achievement Awards is tor Student Achievement Awards. Creativity tiple times to narrow the ﬁeld. In addition Lou Ann Miller, physical education teacher is alive and well in American schools! to editorial and educational experience, our in the Mohawk School District in Pennsyl-Odvard Egil Dyrli, Editor-in-Chief 34 September 2007 Students at Mohawk School District in Pennsylvania move and sway using Dance Dance Revolution, a video game with ﬂoor pads, as part of the X-Factor program, “Fitness Buddies.” The new program will be held in the Interactive Fitness Center, which is adjacent to the Mohawk Elementary School gymnasium. District Administration

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of District Administration - September 2007

Cover Contents Editor’s Letter Letters News Update Curriculum Update Inside the Law District Profile Administrator Profile District Buying Power 2007 X-Factor Student Achievement Awards 2007 We've Got Mail Supporting New Teachers How Well Does This Web Site Work? New Products Problem Solution Computer Literature Research Corner Online Edge Supervisor’s Opinion Speaking Out Calendar of Events Understanding the Times

District Administration - September 2007

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