On a monthly basis, the Project LEAD Team administrators meet to review grant progress and plan next steps. Here's what went on at their first meeting the 2004-05 school year:

 

U of O / 4J - • collaborative product, "Educational Leadership Improvement Tool," tested as reliable, with a high correlation between each category and its sub-categories • North Carolina is using the tool in a pilot program • confident that is reliable as designed for coaching aid • it will be put online for others to use with final approval		North Region - • regional retreat set for Fri-Sat of state inservice on cultural competence • all region focused on same questions, include others in staff development, K-12 levels are sharing • small communities within the school at Kelly and developing now at NEHS • have been concentrating on culture building in the schools, now moving to focus on success for all students
Sheldon Region - • a lot of administrative changes, coming together doing goal setting • Mar. 28, Gary Howard presentation "You Can't Teach What You Don't Know," all administrators welcome • focus on cultural competence, start with selves, then staff • had joint elementary inservice 1st day staff back in August with Rhonda Getto • consistent process strategies re: literacy; ease transition to middle and high schools		Churchill Region - • strength in diversity in region • group goals: literacy, cultural competence • several administrator changes; have 2 Wallace interns in Region • Chavez having Open House Sept. 30, 2004, 7-8:30 PM • have consensus on target, linking proposals to goals
South Region - • recommitted to goals: cultural competence, literacy • 5 of new staff at SEHS are of color • Web & Link Crew - staff from middle & high schools attended training in San Diego; mentor-ship for transitioning students being implemented • administrators reading "Leadership Brain" • SEHS team attended Jensen training on the brain & trained staff		Upcoming events - • SREB Module training on Data, Culture, Curriculum reschedule - Kay will send out date options for confirmation; goal is to have those attending become trainers of trainers. • Kelly staff will present at 2 national conferences on their small schools program; all invited to their practice session Oct. 28, 2004, in the Ed Center Auditorium, from 3:45-4:45 • Mar. 28, 2005 - Gary Howard presentation

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The executive summary of How Leadership Influences Student Learning, by Kenneth Leithwood, Karen Seashore Louis, Stephen Anderson and Kyla Wahlstrom, September 2004, Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement and Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, was handed out, which read in part:

"Leadership not only matters: it is second only to teaching among school-related factors in its impact on student learning. And leadership's impact tends to be greatest in schools where the learning needs are most acute. How can leaders achieve this impact? By setting directions - charting a clear course that everyone understands, establishing high expectations and using data to track progress and performance; By developing people - providing teachers and others with the necessary support and training to succeed; and By making the organization work - ensuring that the entire range of conditions and incentives in distriacts and schools fully supports teaching and learning." Click here to download the 17 page executive summary in a PDF format.