Principal Attends Canadian Conference

By Brett Bennett

Posted: November 29, 2009 at 4:35 a.m.

• Print item
• E-mail
• Share
• Tweet

SPRINGDALE — Hoping to learn about the latest trends in education, Springdale High School Principal David Kellogg traveled to Canada the week before Thanksgiving to attend the International Quest Conference in Ontario.

“It was very informative and made me feel good about what we’re doing here,” Kellogg said Monday.

Featured speakers at the conference included education reform advocates Michael Fullan, of Toronto, and Douglas Reeves, an Massachusetts-based author. He also visited Richmond Hill High School in Ontario as part of the trip.

The Arkansas Department of Education, which funded the trip, invited Kellogg to the conference. Education Department employees who attended included Debbie Coffman, the director of professional development, and Carol Massey, director of Arkansas Reading First.

“There was a group of 11 that went,” said Julie Thompson, department spokeswoman. “Most of the people were from the department.”

The department invited Kellogg because it likes to include administrators from the local school level, Thompson said.

“They also wanted someone from a school with a high ESL (English as a second language) population,” Kellogg said.

The Springdale School District has approximately 7,410 ESL students.

During the school visit to Richmond Hill, Kellogg said he observed students doing writing projects and working in groups. The approach was similar to what is done at Springdale High School, he said.

Kellogg was impressed with the emphasis on student-centered instruction at the conference, he said.

“I’m always interested in what we can use,” he said.

Kellogg was allowed to take the trip as a professional development activity, said Rick Schaeffer, Springdale School District spokesman.

The department officials wanted to attend because of their experience with Fullan, who they have been enlisting to provide professional development training, Thompson said.

“Our professional development people are very impressed with his research and approach to improving student achievement,” she said. “It’s only through learning the latest research ... that we can bring that down to the school (level).”

Fullan and Reeves spoke several times at the conference, Kellogg said. The Arkansas group was among the conference attendees that ate breakfast with Reeves one day.

Part of Fullan’s approach is a belief that principals should be instructional leaders, rather than building managers, in their schools, she said. That approach is something education officials have been leaning toward more and more over the last 20 years, Kellogg said.

Kellogg plans to do a presentation on the conference for the faculty sometime after Thanksgiving break, he said.

AT A GLANCE

Conference speakers Michael Fullan and Doug Reeves have written books on education.

Fullan’s books include:

• “Leading in a Culture of Change.”

• “On Common Ground: The Power of Professional Learning Communities.”

• “Turnaround Leadership”

• “What’s Worth Fighting for in the Principalship?”

Reeves’ books include:

• “The Leader’s Guide to Standards: A Blueprint for Educational Excellence and Equity.”

• “Assessing Educational Leaders: Evaluating Performance for Improved Individual and Organizational Results”

• “Making Standards Work.”

• “Leading Change in Your School: How to Conquer Myths, Build Commitment and Get Results.”

Source: Staff Report

Comments

To report abuse or misuse of this area please hit the "Suggest Removal" link in the comment to alert our online managers. Please read our comment policy.

Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.