Superintendent Bulletin - March 21, 2011

Annual statewide tornado drill is March 23 Ohio’s Spring Severe Weather Awareness Week, March 20-26, brings the annual statewide tornado drill, scheduled for Wednesday, March 23 at 9:50 a.m. At that time, every county will sound its warning sirens and broadcast an Emergency Alert System test message. Schools are encouraged to practice their severe weather plans during the statewide tornado drill. If the drill interferes with testing periods, or if schools are not in session because of spring break, they must schedule another time to practice their tornado drills in accordance with Ohio Revised Code Section 3737.73. Elementary schools may want to consider having students in grades 1-6 participate in the Severe Weather Awareness poster contest as a learning activity during the next few weeks. For more information on weather preparedness and the contest, please visit the Ohio Committee for Severe Weather Awareness Web site <http://www.weathersafety.ohio.gov/>.

Message from the Secretary for Education/Superintendent

In light of the Japanese disaster that has been unfolding before our eyes these past 10 days, please continue your prayers for all the victims of the earthquake and tsunami, living and dead, for those in danger of the radiation threat, and for the first responders. The New York Times, has online resources entitled: Teaching Ideas: The Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan as part of The Learning Network: Teaching & Learning With The New York Times. Go to www.NYTimes.com or google The Learning Network + Teaching Ideas: The Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan.

For those who can send money for the relief effort, we strongly urge you to make your checks payable to your parish whom the Bishop has asked to hold a second collection this past weekend and next. The parishes have been asked to submit a totaled single check to the Diocese Finance Office. The funds will be sent to Catholic Relief Services who will transmit our donations to CARITAS JAPAN, the humanitarian organization of the Japanese Catholic Conference. CRS has been found to be the most efficient organization and reliable source of direct aid to areas in which calamities occur.

In this bulletin, we feature Bishop Lennon’s Lenten Message that goes right to the heart of the matter, encouraging us to deepening our relationship with Jesus as we journey through these six weeks of Lent. Part of that deepening process is uniting in prayer for those in need and offering our sacrifices and alms in their intention.

Bishop's Lenten Message...The Journey

…we have a special opportunity as individuals and as a faith community to reflect … upon what this Lent can be for us this year. When we look at Church teachings and at the writings of various spiritual writers on Lent we see there are many ways of approaching Lent, all of which have value. I would offer the image of Lent as a journey as a way of entering into these … days that can profit each of us both as individuals and as a community of believers.

When we speak about a journey there is most importantly a goal that we wish to reach. For example, a family gathers together in February after the holiday season to talk about their summer vacation. What will we do, where will we go, are the questions that are raised and discussed. And at the end of the conversation a decision is made that we will go to this city or area to see and do this or that.
Well, in a similar way we can look at Lent as a journey and discuss where is it we wish to go, what do we wish to achieve. I would suggest that the ultimate goal of the journey should be a renewed life in Christ, for one and for all. There is nothing, there is no one more important in our lives than Jesus Christ and it is that relationship which needs to be the goal of our lives.
We know on one level that Lent is a journey which ends with the celebration of the Paschal Triduum culminating with Easter Sunday and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, as He conquers darkness and death with light and life, and opens the way for us to experience now and, God willing, forever salvation.
When we are on a journey there are certain essential matters that need to be attended to. For example, we need to attend to how are we going to travel, what is going to be our daily schedules, and so on. I would say such matters must be prepared for if we hope to have a fruitful journey this Lent, a journey that renews our life in Christ. We cannot afford to leave it to chance!
I recommend that we all look at the teachings of God as found in Scripture and of the Church regarding Lent to ground our journey. One may be tempted to say this sounds like going back to basics, almost as if there is something wrong with such an approach. However, I would suggest that when we have the teachings of God and of His holy Church to guide us why would we want to look somewhere else for "directions."
On Ash Wednesday the Gospel that is proclaimed every year is from the Gospel of Saint Matthew. It presents Jesus' teaching on almsgiving, prayer, and fasting by challenging His followers then, as well as now, on the proper motivation for each of these religious activities. It is not so that other people may see us doing them and then thinking highly of us. On the contrary, the reason is to deepen our relationship with the Lord, and with Him alone, by caring for those in need, by spending quality time with the Lord in prayer, and by building up our self-discipline so that we are ready and prepared to stay focused on God and heavenly matters.
In a series of Church teachings centering around the Lenten journey we hear added the challenge of intensifying our acts of charity toward others in faithfulness to Jesus' response to the question about the greatest commandment. His response was "Love God and your neighbor as yourself." A journey needs to be well planned and prepared for so that it may be successful. Let us use these precious few days to get things in order spiritually so that the journey may begin well on Ash Wednesday and that is may end well with the celebration of Easter. The basics will serve us well if we are truly embracing them in a spirit of generosity and commitment.
My prayer for all, and I hope your prayer for all including me, is for a journey that leads us all to a renewed life in Jesus Christ as His people in the Diocese of Cleveland.

Don’t Forget! April is National Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Month
April is National Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness about child abuse and neglect and encourage individuals and communities to support children and families. Learn more about the history of the month, see examples of Presidential and State proclamations, and find strategies for engaging communities and supporting families.

According to national statistics, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthdays…. but it doesn’t have to happen. As adults, we can change things. It is our responsibility to protect the children in our community from sexual abuse so that they can grow up to lead healthy productive lives. They are our most precious resource.

Marketing Minute #8
Our grandparents’ generation believed strongly in a Catholic education, often building the school before the church as a parish was established.

After a Grandparents Day event, do we encourage grandparents to include the school as a beneficiary in their wills?

It’s always a good practice to keep excellent visitor/donor records updated and to continue putting good news in their hands. Ask for scholarships in their name. If grandparents provide scholarships, invite the families to an event to honor scholars.

St. Rocco PTU Spaghetti & Meatball Dinner
On Sunday, April 8, 2011, St. Rocco’s School PTU will sponsor a Spaghetti and Meatball Dinner at the Parish Hall from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. Dinners include: pasta, meatballs, salad, bread & butter, dessert, and coffee. Adult dinners are $9.00; Children dinners are $5.00. Raffle tickets will be available for $1.00 each.

Professional Development Grant for Math Teachers
This program is intended to help math teachers become proficient with alternative teaching methods, and to become involved with national courseware development groups working on Acellus Math courses at the International Academy of Science. As an optional feature, teachers are also offered online instruction regarding the use of Acellus in various school environments. The program even has support for setting up classes of real students for math tutoring and courseware. It is the intention of this program that it will improve the quality of math instruction by teachers enrolled in the program.

The cost to enroll in this program is $495/teacher annually. Teachers enrolling now are set up for the next school year, and are able to start immediately resulting in a year and a half of benefits for the cost of one year. Better yet, there is a block of grant money set aside to support this initiative. The grants will cover up to 50 percent of the cost of the program for qualifying schools.

For details regarding the program, please review online:
http://www.science.edu/Acellus/teacher-development-program/

When a teacher is ready to proceed with the grant application, Julie Billings can assist.
It takes about 10 minutes. Or, if preferred, let Julie know the number of teachers you would like to put on the program, and she will put together the grant application and send you the link by email for your approval. Julie can be reached by telephone at (567) 270-3812 or by email:
mail to: julie_billings@science.edu.

Julie Billings
Acellus Coordinator
(567) 270-3812 direct

International Academy of Science
26900 E. Pink Hill Rd., Independence, MO 64057 USA
Phone: 816-229-3800 Fax: 816-229-1000
www.science.edu

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST)
The National Science Foundation is currently accepting nominations and applications for the PAEMST program. PAEMST is the highest recognition that a kindergarten through 12th grade mathematics or science teacher may receive for outstanding teaching in the United States. The year 2011 is for secondary school teachers, grades 7-12. The year 2012 is for elementary school teachers, grades K-6.

Presidential awardees receive a citation signed by the President of the United States, a trip for two to Washington, DC to attend a series of recognition events and professional development opportunities, and a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation.

The Nomination Deadline is April 1, 2011. This date gives the nominated teacher enough time to thoroughly prepare an application prior to the application deadline. The Application Deadline is May 2, 2011 for secondary school teachers (Grades 7-12). Elementary school teachers (Grades K-6) are eligible to apply in 2012.

The National Science Foundation administers PAEMST on behalf of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Fabulous Lawns and Landscapes Without Chemicals: Transitioning to Cost-effective, Organic Landscape Management
Presented by Cleveland Botanical Garden and Beyond Pesticides Ohio
Friday, April 29, 2011
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
Fee: $25/member; $35/nonmember

Beautiful and healthy lawns, landscapes, playing fields and public spaces do not need to rely on toxic pesticides and herbicides. Address issues of adopting safe and affordable natural turf care, organic turf methods for homes and public spaces, integrated pest management, and the broader implications of pesticide reduction to human and ecosystem health.

Barry Zucker, Executive Director, Beyond Pesticides Ohio
Chip Osborne, CEO of Osborne Organics and nationally known horticulturist and trainer
Alec McClennan, President, Good Nature Organic Lawn Care
Andrew Pratt, Grounds Manager, Cleveland Botanical Garden
Cynthia Druckenbrod, Director of Horticulture, Cleveland Botanical Garden

Hiram College Summer Courses 2011 for Professional Educators
Hiram College offers graduate-level courses for professional educators. Participants can earn graduate credit hours that may be applied toward updating teacher certification/licensure. If you register prior to May 16th, there is a 10% discount on the $190/credit hour tuition. For more information and to register visit www.hiram.edu/future/grad/programs/teachers.html or call 330.569.6111 or email mais@hiram.edu.

Scholarship Opportunity for Students
Please inform parents of the opportunity for a James E. Flynn Memorial Scholarship sponsored by Unity Catholic Federal Credit Union (UCFCU). This scholarship awards $7,000 in funds to support Catholic Education within the Diocese of Cleveland. The UCFCU awards:

Four $500 Scholarships to students Kindergarten through 8th grade
Five $1,000 Scholarships to students 9th – 12th grade

The student must be a member of Unity Catholic Federal Credit Union, but don’t worry if the student is not a member. If he/she opens an account before March 31, 2011 the Credit Union will deposit the first $5 in his/her new member account.

The deadline for the Scholarship is April 1, 2011. Applications are found by visiting any office or on the website www.unitycatholiccu.org.

Become a 2012 National Reading Recovery & K-6 Classroom Literacy Conference Presenter
You are invited to share your expertise by presenting a concurrent session during the nation’s premiere conference for K-6 literacy and Reading Recovery in the United States. The conference will be held February 4-7, 2012 in Columbus, OH. The conference is seeking proposals for the following areas:

Reading Recovery
Classroom Literacy: K-2, K-6 and 3-6
Literacy Coaching
Children’s Literature (K-6)
Administrative and Research

The session proposal form is available online. Please review the overview of the process and the description for each strand prior to submitting your session proposal. Find the overview and proposal form online at http://rrcna.org/conferences/national/CFP_info.asp

Proposals are due May 20,2011. Please contact the Reading Recovery Council of North America office directly if you have any questions, by phone at 1.614.310.7337 or email at conferenceinfo@readingrecovery.org. Applicants will receive feedback in mid-July. Sessions are 90 minutes in length and cannot promote products or services. Concurrent session speakers present on a voluntary basis and do not receive an honorarium or expenses. To view the 2011 sessions by strand, visit http://rrcna.org/pdf/conferences/NC11/conference_brochure.pdf. If you have an idea for a concurrent session proposal, send it to the email above.

Playhouse Square’s 2011 International Children's Festival!
10:00 AM, 12:00 PM. Performances, May 4th and 5th
Curriculum Connections: Arts, English Language Arts, Social Studies & Science.

Special Offer: Buy One Get One Free! $6 ticket*
* Offer is good on new orders only.

The International Children's Festival is a new way to introduce children to the arts and help them to discover the beauty and cultures of our world. From a passionately politically aware thirteen year old (Shopping for Shoes- Scotland; 4-8) to finding a witch's lost things (Room on the Broom- United Kingdom; 1-4), to the adventures of two friends (Boats- Australia; K-4), children feel connected to our community and our world.

For more information, contact Lora Workman at 216.7771.4444 ext. 3244 or at WorkmanL@playhousesquare.org.

Cleveland Catholic High School Choir Invitational
Friday, March 25th at 7:30pm
Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist
Part of the Helen D. Schubert Concert Series
Admission is free, parking is free and secure at the Cathedral Garage, Rockwell at East 9th
Following a successful premiere last year, organizers Ian Crane and Dr. Tom Scott have gathered together six Catholic High Schools from Greater Cleveland, for a grand night of singing. This year’s choirs include St. Ignatius, Magnificat, Holy Name, Trinity, Cleveland Central Catholic, and Beaumont. Each school will sing a ten-minute program and participate in two massed choir pieces at the end of the concert. The Invitational was created to enable Catholic high school students to sing amongst peers at the Mother Church of the Diocese, while exposing them to a wide variety of quality sacred music. A freewill offering will be taken.

Nonpublic School Newsletter
The Ohio Department of Education Nonpublic School Newsletter Volume IV, Issue 2 – Winter 2011 is now available online at the ODE Web site. Some of the information may be familiar to you through the staff members of the OCE already. The Newsletter provides many helpful links.

Congratulations! Finalists in the 2011 Stop the Hate: Youth Speak Out Essay Contest!
We are very proud of the following students who are finalists in the Essay Contest sponsored by the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage:

Heather Guhde, Beaumont School – One of the Top Ten Finalists for $100,000 with a chance for
one of three scholarships and prizes.

Liyanna Chandler-Nieves, St. Joseph Academy – Finalist
Alexis Nieszczur, Padua Franciscan High School – Finalist
Brandi Sutton, St. Barnabas Elementary – Finalist

These students’ essays were selected from more than 1,700 submitted by students in grades 6-12 throughout the seven-county area in which the contest was held. Heather, as a top ten finalist will attend the special Awards Ceremony on April 10, 2011 at Severance Hall in the Reinberger Auditorium. Each top ten finalist will orally present his/her essay. The three scholarship winners will be announced at the ceremony. In addition, the other finalists will receive their awards at the Ceremony.

Maltz Museum March/April Offerings
LIFE, LOVE AND SONG: Celebrating American Women
Wednesday, March 23
7:00 – 9:00pm
$15/$12 members
Cantor Paula Pepperstone explores the many facets of American womanhood in this musical tribute to mothers and daughters, doers and dreamers, immigrants and entrepreneurs. Bring your mother, sister, daughter, friend or even the man in your life for a delightful evening of songs both familiar and new.

Opening, Friday, April 1 for a limited three-month engagement is About the Right of Being Different: The Art of Diversity and Inclusion at Progressive. What’s so disturbing about being different? How does fear of not fitting in shape perception and behavior? Do you think the rules of our society encourage or discourage interaction? Explore your own feelings and emotions through this provocative show of contemporary art from the collection of The Progressive Corporation curated exclusively for the Maltz Museum.

March is Women’s History Month
The National Women’s History Project is commemorating this observance with the theme Our History is Our Strength. There are many resource available to spotlight women who have made significant contributions to our country and culture. There is a month-long celebration at the Ohio Statehouse honoring significant women who have made an impact in the state.

Applications are Open for U.S.-China Administrator Shadowing Project
School principals and superintendents may apply through April 4 for the 2011 U.S.-China Administrator Shadowing Project that provides opportunities for exchange, expansion of American-Chinese relations, professional development, personal growth and friendship. It is sponsored by the China Exchange Initiative of Newton, Massachusetts, and China’s Ministry of Education in Beijing, in collaboration with ODE, the Buckeye Association of School Administrators and the Ohio Association of Secondary School Administrators.

The U.S.-China Administrator Shadowing Project enables Chinese and American school administrators to observe and learn first-hand about one another’s educational systems. Through this program, selected U.S. participants host counterparts from the province of Hubei, China, in the fall and visit their counterparts in China during the spring. The school partner visits promote discussions of future student and faculty exchanges and joint educational projects. This program is designed to broaden the world view of district decision-makers, foster the development of sister-school agreements and plant seeds for future student exchange opportunities. For more information and to apply, please contact Desiree Caliguire-Maier at desiree.caliguire-maier@ode.state.oh.us or call 1.614.728.7851.

Doris Kearns Goodwin to Present Virtual Program for Ohio Students
Historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin will present a free virtual program on Wednesday, April 6, from the Ohio Statehouse as part of celebrations marking the 150th anniversary of the Capitol building’s completion. Kearns Goodwin will offer insight into the life of Abraham Lincoln, his leadership in dealing with the Civil War and Ohio’s contributions to the war. Ohio students, teachers and administrators are invited to take part in the virtual program, that will run from 1 to 2pm, during a live Web stream at ohiochannel.org.

During the program, Goodwin will speak directly to Ohio students about the Civil War era and the historical importance of Ohio and its leadership. Students are encouraged to participate by submitting questions to Kearns Goodwin by email before the event. Questions, that must be sent to statehouse@csrab.state.oh.us no later than 5pm on April 5, can focus on the American Civil War and Ohio’s contributions, Abraham Lincoln or presidential history. Kearns Goodwin’s presentation also is open to the public from 1 to 2pm at the ground floor Statehouse Museum Gallery; however, an RSVP is required at www.ohiostatehouse.org due to limited seating. Full details of this event and other Sesquicentennial events are available at www.ohiostatehouse.org.

Teachers Encouraged to Apply for Ohio Global Institute by April 15
Applications are now available for the Ohio Global Institute that will be held August 2-4, 2011 at Ohio University, Athens, Ohio. Applications are competitive and only 100 Ohio teachers will be chosen to attend. Application must be submitted via the link above by April 15, 2011.

Educators from Ohio schools who teach English language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, fine arts, world languages, health and physical education, career programs or technology in grades PK-12 may apply. Registration is open to teachers from Ohio school including charter school, private and career-technical school programs.

Priority will be given to teams of educators from one campus, as well as teams from schools and districts that have never participated in the Global Institute before. Each team member must complete the online application individually. Selection will be based on information included in the application. Lodging on Tuesday and Wednesday and meals will be provided. Google Ohio Global Institute, Ohio University to learn more and to access the Application pdf.

Grant for Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Fees
Ohio has received a FY 2011 U.S. Department of Education grant to waive advanced placement (AP) test fees and international baccalaureate (IB) program registration and examination fees for low-income students and public and nonpublic schools. The AP/IB Test Fee program assists schools with high minority and low-income students to narrow the economic achievement gap. Funds received from this grant will help eligible students succeed in pursuing postsecondary education or certification, and help prepare them for careers in today’s global economy. For more information, contact Dwight Groce at dwight.groce@ode.state.oh.us or call 1.614.387.3200. This Web page also is available by visiting www.education.ohio.gov, keyword search: AP/IB.

Letter from Arne Duncan, US Secretary for Education re: Interstate Compact for Educational Opportunities for Children of Military Parents
Ohio is one of 35 states that are part of this Compact working to ensure that military children are properly enrolled in schools, have eligibility for school activities and have assistance in meeting graduation requirements. There are resources on the ODE Web site related to the Interstate Compact including a link describing the actual Compact.

The letter to State Superintendents reads in part:
“…There are more than 1.2 million children of service men and women in our schools. …more that 120,000 currently have a parent deployed to a combat zone. Many of these parents are on their second, third, or fourth deployment. Some of these children live near large military installations. But, because our armed forces rely so heavily on the activated National Guard and Reserves, students of deployed parents can live in any community across our nation and attend any school. Deployments can also affect children of military contractors and civilian government employees.

“Among the many challenges for military families is the need for flexibility related to school attendance policies. When a service member is deployed to a combat zone, military families often ask schools to grant their children excused absences so the family can spend extended time together before the deployment, during mid-tour breaks, and after the military units to which service members are assigned and is commonly referred to as “block leave.”

“…all of us want to do whatever we can to support our military families. However, deployment-related absences can cause challenges for schools and school districts. Educators are concerned that increased absenteeism can reduce educational outcomes…

“Many districts, however, have developed successful ways of responding to this unique need without adversely affecting academic performance… This letter provides information for school districts seeking examples of effective practices that address the needs of military families while maintaining high standards and upholding established attendance policies.

“… This Interstate Compact provides, in part, that a student…shall be granted additional excused absences at the discretion of the head of school to visit with his or her parent or legal guardian relative to such leave or deployment of the parent or guardian. Notwithstanding the above, the …head of school may provide a maximum number of additional excused absences.

“…As you consider policies on deployment-related absences, you may also find helpful a publication released by the Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC). MCEC has worked with the military services to develop a useful guide to military child attendance issues. This publication emphasizes open communication, advance planning where possible, and flexibility to balance educational needs and family responsibilities. It also contains many examples of best practices. The publication is available at http://www.militarychild.org/education/leavepolicies/.”

Summit 2.0 Offers Cutting-edge Keynote Speakers
On April 5 and 6 in Columbus, the Partnership for 21st Century Skills and ODE are presenting Summit 2.0, the second annual conference dedicated to transforming classrooms into learning environments that prepare students for their future. Leading experts in education and innovation will speak during the conference to encourage inquiry, collaboration and creativity in pre-K through grade 12 learning across all content areas. Deborah S. Delisle, superintendent of public instruction, will speak at this event, in addition to the following speakers:

Karl Fisch, veteran teacher and creator of the Did You Know 2010 video, which has been viewed more than two million times on YouTube. He also is creator of The Fischbowl, a Web site of resources for educators.
Ewan McIntosh, considered one of Europe’s foremost experts on digital media, who uses lessons from high-tech enterprises to help schools and universities innovate education practices.
Tony Wagner, the first innovation education fellow at Harvard University’s Technology and Entrepreneurship Center and author of The Global Achievement Gap.
Daniel Pink, author of A Whole New Mind and Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, who will participate via live Web stream.

Participants may register for one, two or all three conference events, which include a choice of five onsite lab experiences on Tuesday afternoon, a dinner Tuesday evening and a daylong summit on Wednesday. The lab experiences, which will have limited registration, will include: Thinking Like an Artist: Designing for 21st Century Skills, a collaborative program led by the Columbus Museum of Art and the Columbus College of Art and Design;

Adventure, a program at the COSI science museum that invites participants to use their imagination while searching for knowledge;
The Third Teacher: School Design, which will describe aspects of the Reggio Emilio approach to education;
A Visit to the Metro High School, which emphasizes science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); and
Food Curiosity; a Design Challenge, a STEM-based program that will look at many environmental issues affecting our food supply.

For more information about the Summit, please click here <http://21stcenturyskillsohio.org/>. Participants may register online <http://21stcenturyskillsohio.org/?page_id=955>. Ashland University is offering a graduate credit option for those who attend all Wednesday sessions and complete a research project by Aug 31. Questions about the Summit may be directed to Russ Harris at RHarris8@ashland.edu or Paula Aveni at PAveni@ashland.edu.

2011 Global Youth Service Day – Cleveland: April 15-17
Business Volunteers Unlimited (BVU) in partnership with the Cleveland Clinic and the Cleveland Indians are bringing youth and families together to promote service in our community for Global Youth Service Day (GYSD). GYSD is celebrated in more than 100 countries – making it the largest service event in the world. In 2010, 900 youth from 27 groups volunteered at 20 nonprofits in Cleveland for Global Youth Service Day.

GYSD promotes teamwork, and gives group members a chance to spend a meaningful and FUN day “giving back” to our community. Additionally, GYSD is a great way to introduce young people to volunteering and to making service part of their lives. Each GYSD participant will receive a GYSD t-shirt.

Family-friendly volunteer projects have already been planned at various nonprofits on Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16. Go to tinyurl.com/gysd2011 to view projects and register TODAY. Projects are available on a first-come first-serve basis. All projects and participants must be confirmed by March 25, 2011.

The GYSD Final Recognition Event is a fun-filled day organized in partnership with the Cleveland Indians in order to celebrate and recognize all of the volunteer efforts during GYSD 2011. Participants who choose to participate in the Final Recognition Event will receive two tickets to the April 17, 2011 Indians game vs. the Baltimore Orioles. Before the 1:05 pm first pitch, GYSD participants are encouraged to participate in the on-the-field GYSD Parade and Pre-game Presentation beginning at 11:45 am. After the game, youth are invited to run the bases.

Educators May Apply for the Teaching Tolerance Award
The Southern Poverty Law Center’s (SPLC’s) Teaching Tolerance program is seeking nominations for a new award that will honor educators who excel at teaching students from diverse racial, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The Teaching Tolerance Award for Excellence in Culturally Responsive Teaching will recognize outstanding teachers and promote their practices in the nation’s schools. Five winners will be selected to receive $1,000 each at an awards ceremony in Washington in late 2011. They also will be videotaped in their classrooms to allow educators across the nation to learn from their expertise. A panel of scholars and National Board Certified teachers will pick the winners. This award is supported by a grant from The Richard W. Riley College of Education and Leadership at Walden University. The SPLC provides a free magazine, newsletter and teaching kits. The resources help teachers incorporate tolerance education into pre-K –12 lessons in many content areas: the arts, social studies, science and health, mathematics and technology, and reading and language arts. All teachers are eligible for the award and need not make use of SPLC resources to enter the competition. Teachers may apply for the award on the SPLC Web site <http://www.tolerance.org/award> until the June 1 deadline.

Respect for Persons Profiler
The Respect for Persons Profiler is a free tool to measure attitudes and behavior toward people of diverse backgrounds at your school. The Profiler is designed to help you identify potential trouble spots, as well as to guide you in creating a positive school environment.

The Profiler is made up of separate online surveys to capture the perspectives of students and educators. Students and educators can see school results, and compare perceptions. When used pre- and post-intervention, it can help measure effectiveness of diversity appreciation programs.

The Respect for Persons Profiler is a FREE gift to the community from Community of Caring and Ripple Effects. Community of Caring is a non-profit organization founded by Eunice Shriver, to develop a foundation of positive relationships in school communities, based on the five core values of Caring, Respect, Responsibility, Trust and Family. Ripple Effects develops, delivers, tests and supports research-based, technology-enabled prevention tools, including award-winning behavior training software programs.

The two sponsors of the Profiler gratefully acknowledge the role of Partners Against Hate for their role in helping to develop content for this tool.

The Respect for Persons Profiler was created by Ripple Effects, makers of next generation, research-based prevention tools, including award-winning behavior training software programs.

To view the survey and how it presents its results google Ripple Effects + Respect for Persons Profiler.