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 President's Corner
Sarah D. Jerome
June 2008 — Those Pesky Gender Issues
AASA's president reflects on gender issues in her final column.
May 2008 — Sharpening Our Focus To Save Students
A legislator who recently characterized 2,000 high schools as "dropout factories" raised the ire of AASA's president, who says the association's legislative agenda is right to focus on the front end of schooling.
April 2008 — The Road Less Traveled Probably Isn't Paved
The important role schools can play in guiding well-balanced children to become healthy citizens of the world. Unfortunately, most of the school-age children needing mental health services do not receive them.
March 2008 — Bringing the Arts Front and Center
The association’s strides to promote the
arts as an integral part of the learning
and growing process. Plus, the latest hero
profile.
February 2008 — Are Our Students Ready for the Future?
The AASA president’s ideas for teaching
the right combination of knowledge and
skills to ensure student success now and in
the future. Plus, her latest hero profile.
January 2008 — Creating Healthy Learning Environments
To deal with the complexity of making
schools healthy places for learning,
AASA’s elected leader devised her 10 P’s
of Healthy Schools.
December 2007 — Guns and Butter: Stepping Up to the Plate
Who could imagine the classic economic tradeoff would become synonymous with the deadliest threat to the well-being of American children?
November 2007 — Unleashing Genius: Move Up, Reach Down
AASA’s president — one of only two
women to serve in that position — worries
that leadership opportunities for women are
not a top priority on anyone’s national or
international agenda.
October 2007 — Leading Schools for Global Literacy
International relationship-building is essential to achieving economic, political and intellectual harmony around the world. Educators’ role: help students become fluent in world languages, economics, geopolitics and world cultures.
September 2007 — Shaping the Future
Duty and joy are interwoven with our every action and thought. This is how AASA’s president considers what lies ahead for the association and its members.
August 2007 — At the Heart of AASA
In her debut column, AASA’s elected leader says her mission as association
president is to champion public education and the children served by public schools.
June 2007 — Success Masquerading as Effectiveness
In his final column, AASA’s elected leader says the key to moving a system from “good” to “great” is the effectiveness of how you evaluate those most responsible for educating children.
May 2007 — The Challenge of Urban Leadership
Commission reports and think tank studies on the pressures and politics of urban school leadership don’t do justice to the subject. Only when you walk in the shoes of an urban school executive can you truly appreciate what the challenges amount to.
April 2007 — Who Are We?
Awareness and understanding come with knowing who you are as a person, says AASA’s president.
March 2007 — The Primacy of the Superintendent
It may be the primary position of authority and pre-eminence in the school district, but the superintendency is no stronger than the support it generates from others.
February 2007 — Are We Leaving Behind Students With Gifts?
AASA’s president on how the student selection process compromises what passes as gifted programming.
January 2007 — The National Conference: Back to the Future
AASA’s president on a unique opportunity to help a great American city.
December 2006 — CSI Public Schools: Solving a Mystery
AASA’s president says he is glad so many people are curious about solving crimes because he has a good who-done-it in need of resolution: Who is attempting to kill public education?
November 2006 — The Courage To Lead
Transformative leadership, sustainable leadership, situational leadership and all other forms of leadership in public education call for one important attribute — courage.
October 2006 — The Absence of Daily Prayer
AASA’s president doesn’t remember any room for diversity or religious tolerance during daily prayer time in his earlier school experience. He wonders aloud: Was the quality of education really affected by the daily school prayer?
September 2006 — A Quick Glance: Leadership Versus Culture
How the author plans to use his opportunities as president of AASA and superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools to weave change into the culture of both organizations.
August 2006 — Show Up, Step Up
In his first official column, the new AASA president, Eugene White of Indianapolis, Ind., builds his case for the importance of member participation in the rebuilding of New Orleans in the coming year by attending the national conference.
June 2006 — Reflections on the Year
The outgoing president expresses gratitude for the opportunity to lead this association.
May 2006 — Pro Coaches and Unpopular Decisions
Superintendents find themselves in similar predicaments to football coaches. A track record of success becomes blurred by a few losses. The owner and the players remain, but the coach is sent packing.
April 2006 — The Missing Link in School Reform
While educational reformers often look to the CEOs of private industry for solutions to educational concerns, superintendents are not afforded the same recognition and respect in their own world.
March 2006 — Where’s the Beef Revisited
Curious why so few aspire to become career administrators today, AASA’s president approached those who’ve given up on the profession. He found them frustrated and angry.
February 2006 — Who’s Driving the District Bus?
The movie made it look so simple: Get everyone to work together and head in the same direction. Unfortunately, real life does not always mirror the cinema.
January 2006 — A Nation of Displaced Students
AASA’s president relays what the association has done to support education leaders affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes while reminding policymakers of the promises to fulfill.
December 2005 — Don’t Laugh at How I Dance
November 2005 — Leadership’s Time Is Now
October 2005 — Measuring Your Force
Recalling a favorite pop song, AASA’s president asks readers to become the supportive wind beneath someone’s wings.
September 2005 — Reform, Reform and More Reform
AASA’s president comments on the need for a united voice and why the association is helping members manage change and continuous improvement.
August 2005 — The Cornerstone of Our Freedom
In his debut column, AASA's president for 2005-2006 establishes his top priority for guiding the association.
June 2005 — Reflections on Leadership
The farewell commentary on school leadership by AASA’s outgoing president.
May 2005 — Make Every Minute Count
After-school programs play a unique role in fostering student success in home, school and community.
April 2005 — Securing Our Country’s Future
Recognizing this important mission of developing caring citizens in a democracy, AASA is collaborating with groups that promote civic and character education.
March 2005 — The Test-Taking Time of Year
Tests and testing during the next couple of months may overshadow the joy of learning, yet we should take time to enjoy what those assessments tell us: Public schools are doing a good job.
February 2005 — The Power of Family
AASA’s president learned more about himself and leadership from working with the Prusator family in Bureau County, Ill., than anyone else.
January 2005 — The Leaders of the Future
Knowing and understanding the effects one generation has on the next is significant when determining the role future generations will have in the ongoing development of our nation.
December 2004 — The President’s Wish List
AASA’s president finds no place better for gaining important information and inspiration than the association ’s national conference.
November 2004 — A Month for Standing Up
The AASA president urges colleagues to exercise their right to vote.
October 2004 — Connecting All the Pieces of the Mission
Recognizing that a school district is one of many connected systems within a community, AASA is embarking on an exciting venture, the creation of a Center for System Leadership.
September 2004 — Ethics and Community Values
When addressing ethics in school governance, I consider the engineer who was hired to drain the swamp but did not realize the magnitude of the job until being surrounded by mad alligators. While our purpose as school leaders is to provide the best education possible for children, sometimes it is difficult to adhere to our objectives when confronted with regulations of the modern day.
August 2004 — Finances, Finances, Finances
As your new president, I face a challenging task when it comes to speaking to you about school finance. Let me give you my dilemma. It is the end of the school year as I write this piece and I am reflecting on the uncertain state of school finances in coming months and what these financial challenges mean for us as school system leaders.
June 2004 — It Ain’t Over ’Til It’s Over … But It ’s Over
There must be a hundred old sayings and clichés in America. If you have been reading my columns in this publication, you probably think that I have borrowed them all. Nonetheless, with this, my final column, I seek your indulgence in the use of just one more. Sadly, it’s a one-liner that’s accurate yet among my favorites: “The older you get, the faster the time flies.”
May 2004 — ‘Never a Better’ AASA Gathering
April 2004 — Getting Students Ready for Democracy
March 2004 — In Black and White, Two Views of Our Role
My typical day begins pretty much the same every morning. I wake up, say good morning to my wife, look in the mirror, frown at what I see and then walk to the end of my driveway to pick up what at 6 a.m. is the most important document of the day, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
February 2004 — Freebies From AASA
One of the reasons AASA is the pre-eminent educational leadership organization in America is the association’s long-standing practice of delivering massive amounts of information to educators.
January 2004 — Good News To Share With Gusto
How often have you heard a colleague utter a line similar to this: “You know, we need to tell more positive stories about America’s public schools, to tell people about the great things that occur in local schools every day!”
December 2003 — Our Role in These Defining Times
November 2003 — A Conference Purpose for Everyone
October 2003 — Acting Resolutely on Our Self-Perceptions
In a previous President’s Corner, I shared my long-standing passion for the Andy Griffith show. I still watch the reruns whenever I can. Like many viewers, my favorite character is Barney Fife, who was played so well by Don Knotts.
September 2003 — My Elusive Pursuit of ‘Cheese’
August 2003 — Seven ‘Stand Up’ Sound Bites
June 2003 — A Greater Appreciation Once Abroad
May 2003 — Reciprocal Agreement With You
April 2003 — Call Waiting
March 2003 — A Six-String Salute to Public Education
February 2003 — Weather We Do or Weather We Don’t
January 2003 — When Good Isn’t Good Enough
December 2002 — The Challenges of a New Presidency
November 2002 — No Family Left Behind
October 2002 — Bringing a Focus to the Next Generation
September 2002 — Our Partnership With Parents
August 2002 — The Future Is in Good Hands
June 2002 — Thank You for a Year of Privilege
May 2002 — What Will Be Said of Your Career?
April 2002 — Improving Instruction as a Team
March 2002 — Configurations Alone Don't Breed Success
February 2002 — The Heart of Leadership: Tough Decisions
January 2002 — Reading Success Where No Child Slips By
December 2001 — Accountability for Student Success
November 2001 — A Duty to Prepare Tomorrow's Leaders
October 2001 — Virtual Learning In the Box or Out?
September 2001 — Maximizing Positive Stress in Our Lives
August 2001 — School/Community Relationships: A Vital Lifeline
June 2001 — Reorganizing Your Central Office
May 2001 — Finding Alternatives to the Assembly Line
April 2001 — Welcome More Data, But Apply It Well
March 2001 — Continual Learning in the New Marketplace
February 2001 — Your Contract: A Bridge to Success
January 2001 — A Strategic View of Recruitment
December 2000 — The Indispensable Quality of the Arts
By Benjamin O. Canada, president, AASA
November 2000 — Responding to the Call for Change
By Benjamin O. Canada, president, AASA
October 2000 — Paying for Stellar Performance
By Benjamin O. Canada, president, AASA
September 2000 — What Kind of Leader Are You?
By Benjamin O. Canada, president, AASA
August 2000 — My Pledge of Performance
By Benjamin O. Canada, president, AASA
June 2000 — A Farewell Amid Optimism
By Joseph J. Cirasuolo, president, AASA
May 2000 — Is Privatization a Facsimile or the Real Thing?
By Joseph J. Cirasuolo, president, AASA
April 2000 — Technology’s Driver Seat: Are We There Yet?
By Joseph J. Cirasuolo, president, AASA
March 2000 — Who Would Serve a Dysfunctional Enterprise?
By Joseph J. Cirasuolo, president, AASA
February 2000 — Liberating Minds and Spirits
By Paul D. Houston, executive director, AASA
January 2000 — Better Beginnings for Every Child
By Joseph J. Cirasuolo, president, AASA
December 1999 — Fearless Forecasts on Learning, Geography and the Web
By Joseph J. Cirasuolo, president, AASA
November 1999 — A Risky Fix to Test-Score Worship
By Joseph J. Cirasuolo, president, AASA
October 1999 — A Likely Backlash Against Special Education
By Joseph J. Cirasuolo, president, AASA
September 1999 — Bemoaning Fate Won't Garner Public Support
By Joseph J. Cirasuolo, president, AASA
August 1999 — Charter Schools, What Rules Really Matter?
By Joseph J. Cirasuolo, president, AASA
June 1999 — Amigos Para Siempre
By Daniel A. Domenech, president, AASA
May 1999 — Making Success a Reality for Even More Students
By Daniel A. Domenech, president, AASA
April 1999 — What a Country, This America!
By Daniel A. Domenech, president, AASA
March 1999 — In Cuba, Child-Teacher Relationships Are Key
By Daniel A. Domenech, president, AASA
February 1999 — Conference to Focus on Leadership, Youth
The future is now! Today's juniors in high school will graduate in the year 2000. Today’s kindergartners will graduate in 2011.
January 1999 — A Brighter Spotlight on Math
By Daniel A. Domenech, president, AASA
December 1998 — Expanding Your Vision Through Technology
By Daniel A. Domenech, president, AASA
November 1998 — Gifted Quality Education for Every Child
By Daniel A. Domenech, president, AASA
October 1998 — Is the Grass Greener Across the Atlantic?
By Daniel A. Domenech, president, AASA
September 1998 — Let's Become Champions of Learning
By Daniel A. Domenech, president, AASA
August 1998 — An Immigrant Fulfilling a Dream
By Daniel A. Domenech, president, AASA
June 1998 — The End of a Wonderful Opportunity
By Karl V. Hertz, president, AASA
May 1998 — ‘The Only Investment That Never Fails’
By Karl V. Hertz, president, AASA
April 1998 — Connecting All That We Are
By Karl V. Hertz, president, AASA
March 1998 — Two Brief Moments Define What’s Important
By Karl V. Hertz, president, AASA
February 1998 — Keeping Our Eyes on the Real Target
By Karl V. Hertz, president, AASA
January 1998 — Much to Think About in the New Year
By Karl V. Hertz, president, AASA
December 1997 — Up Close With AASA on The Hill
November 1997 — Reflections on an Education Abroad
October 1997 — A Great Squirming Away From Our Responsibility
September 1997 — The Infrastructure of AASA
August 1997 — Excellence, Goodness, Justice ... A Foundation for Education
June 1997 — A Year of Engagement For Parents and Communities
May 1997 — National Testing ... Fight It Or Join It?
April 1997 — Thurow: Great Optimism Is Competing With Great Pessimism
March 1997 — Superintendent of the Year Program Observes a Happy 10th
February 1997 — National Conference Attendance is the Mark of a Professional
January 1997 — Let's Give All Children a Sound Learning Environment
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