Volume XLII                            June 2021

No. 308

Volunteering

“The broadest, and maybe the most meaningful definition of volunteering:  Doing more than you have to because you want to, in a cause you consider good. ” – Ivan Scheier

I was recently having a conversation with a “grey-haired” colleague like myself about volunteerism in public education. At first our comments were about the decrease or absence of young teachers, parents and administrators raising their hand to offer to help. Then we found we had more and more examples of its presence in our schools. Volunteers really are everywhere! We saw it in teachers volunteering to sit on a committee that meets outside of their contract hours, mentoring other new teachers without extra pay, organizing the retirement party or the baby shower and taking on leadership roles in their associations. Parents helping parents who are new to our schools, sharing their experience and support when a child is new to special education, raising money for special events, and parent committee work that celebrates the teachers in their buildings further confirmed the positive impact of volunteers in our schools.

We spoke of all of the administrators like those in MCASE who answered the call to volunteer. They were at all stages of their career and found the time to engage in a cause and contribute. It might have been taking on a Region representative position, serving on delegate assembly for a SAM region, writing and writing again to our legislators as part of the legislative network, serving on a standing committee, or taking on a leadership role such as president.

In the MCASE description of duties and responsibilities is the following statement: “There is no mention of extra time spent. The extra time spent serving as an officer in MCASE should be rewarding intellectually and professionally.” It goes on to say that we were elected, but in reality each member of MCASE first volunteered to take on a role when the call came. For myself, the volunteer position of MCASE President within SAM was exactly what the role described, “intellectually and professionally rewarding.” By far I gained more than I gave and benefited from every moment in which I was thinking about the “big picture”. With every interaction I grew in my perspective, learned something new and felt valued as an administrator. Together we’ve celebrated a good job done and had more than a few laughs in the process. Indeed, I believe in the cause and the cause is public education. My thanks to you who volunteer too. For those of you who have not yet raised your hand and said you will, do it! You have much to contribute and gain, I promise.

SAM Members - Changing Lives and Making a Positive Difference!

by Kirk Miller, SAM Executive Director

The 2020-21 school year coming to an end will go on record as a time of disruption and dissonance due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Now is a good time to reflect beyond the disruption and dissonance and capture the truly magnificent opportunities that our schools and communities have provided for children to continue learning and to focus on the value of their school.  Graduation time, whether it be pre-school, 8^th grade, or high school, brings forward the great work accomplished by students and the outstanding partnerships that our schools engage in with our communities.  Celebration of this milestone truly reinforces the great system of public schools here in Montana that have been built, nurtured, and responsive to every local communities’ needs, hopes and dreams for their children!  The administrators work to insure this balance, under ever-changing health conditions of COVID-19, is a positive difference maker in the education of our community.

Our SAM members all across the state have helped to make this happen for their local community and also for the greater good of Montana.  We are thankful for your diligent day-to-day effort to work appropriately with challenging situations, that when resolved, clear a path for your education team to meet and exceed the needs of the students you serve.  It may feel at times like the daily challenges are too overwhelming, but in the end (and especially at this time of year) your resolve to address challenges and keep your focus on the bigger education goals for your students is the difference maker!  You likely don’t hear it from this perspective, but know that your work is so very important to each and every child you serve, as well as to your community – so THANK YOU!

Your professional association, SAM and the affiliate you are a member of, are focused on working with you and supporting you in your educational mission for kids.  In 2020-21, countless members of SAM have added their voice to the issues impacting the education of our children.  Our members have participated on the Board of Public Education (thanks Darlene Schottle and Tammy Lacey), negotiated rule making committees, variance to standards review board, Montana School Safety Advisory Council, MT-PEC guidance for pandemic and advocacy, K-12 Vision Group, RISE4MT and the Montana University System Educator Recruitment and Retention groups (all focused on recruiting and retaining quality educators for Montana schools), and literally nearly every opportunity where the voice of an experienced administrator can add to great policy making to serve all students.  In addition, hundreds of Zoom delivered planning and strategy sessions have contributed to our ability to communicate effectively and work together during the pandemic.  Finally, a shout out to the SAM Legislative Network, 75+ SAM members who worked diligently during the 67^th Legislative session from January to May to help ensure the SAM advocacy priorities were front and center in this session – your great work made a difference!

With thanks, our thoughts now turn to the 2021-22 school year where the same great collective effort of our SAM members will continue to add to the outstanding system of schools we have in our state… 

At the top of the list is utilizing federal funding to adequately and fully respond to the impacts of COVID-19 while concurrently setting up Montana’s students and public schools for a transformational opportunity.  First up is the impact of summer school and programming in nearly every school district across the state to accelerate learning for students.  Thank you school leaders and educators for your efforts over the summer.

The SAM Delegate Assembly Steering Committee met and prepared our association for the SAM Delegate Assembly that will take place (blended delivery - both in Helena and Zoom) on June 10-11.  This all important event defining our advocacy priorities where delegates representing the 6 affiliates of SAM will make the Delegate Assembly an uplifting experience through their participation.  All SAM members can follow the Delegate Assembly on the SAM Delegate Assembly webpage.  My thanks to Chair Rick Duncan, the Delegate Assembly Steering Committee, and all 45 SAM members who are Delegates for your intelligence, input, and participation in this important SAM advocacy opportunity!

MT-PEC continues to collaborate shifting from advocacy to the professional learning of our members on key topics related to funding, flexibility, efficiency, safety and security, community ownership and local control.  A variety of opportunities will highlight the desired outcomes to deliver to our members over the coming 2021-22 year.   Expect to see more information at Delegate Assembly 2021, SAM Administrators Institute 2021, and MCEL 2021.

Please consider the professional learning opportunities, outlined in this Bulletin, for your own development, sharpening your saw, and preparing for the best for the 2021-22 school year.  Your SAM association has worked to develop professional learning opportunities that are targeted to meet your needs, please check out the SAM LPLP 2021-22 and SAM Administrators Institute 2021 and register to join administrators from all across the state to enhance opportunities for your students and community!

Hoping June will be a great time for reflection and opportunity for you to energize and regenerate that enthusiasm you have for educating children.  Thanks so much for your contributions to SAM and education in our state!

Register for SAM AI 2021!  Both On-Site and Virtual Delivery Options Available!

Be sure to register yourself and your admin team for the SAM Administrators Institute 2021 featuring keynote speakers Will Richardson and John Perricone!  This year's event will be held at the Delta Colonial by Marriott in Helena.

• Will Richardson is an international speaker, thought leader, and best selling author who will provide strategies for developing solutions to the challenges faced every day in your classrooms. He will address the current conditions of opening our schools in August and describe the '9 Big Questions Schools Must Answer to Avoid Going Back to Normal'. Mr. Richardson presented at the SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program Symposium in February receiving rave reviews from SAM LPLP members!
  

• John Perricone is a best selling author and a nationally sought keynote speaker, having been invited to all fifty states. We are excited to invite him back to Montana after receiving an overwhelmingly positive response to his address at the Montana Principals Conference 2018.  Mr. Perricone will provide a message of hope as he shares his experiences as an impassioned educator and the importance that relationships and connections can have on our lives and the lives of our students and staff.  

• Also included at SAM AI 2021, Reimagining the Future with Strategies of Hope Moving Forward:
• Focus Zone Sessions:  

• Social Emotional & Mental Health
• Accelerating Learning
• Infrastructure Needs

• Launch of SAM's 50th Anniversary Celebration
• 
• SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program Summit - Launch of SAM LPLP 2021-22

Click HERE for more information!  Register HERE!

Registration for SAM LPLP 2021-22 is Open!

New and experienced administrators have begun registering for the 2021-22 SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program!  Nearly 500 Montana administrators over the past seven years have experienced intentional, personalized professional learning through SAM LPLP's research-based strategies resulting in improvements in job satisfaction, administrator longevity, and ultimately to increased student achievement and quality of instruction. SAM LPLP’s multi-faceted blended learning approach consists of personal learning networks including the option of one-on-one coaching/mentoring with experienced Providers, collegial learning networks designed to be dynamic based upon topics of interest as they arise that allow participants to focus on specific areas of interest, and a rich online resource center.   Tailored to meet the needs of new, experienced, and aspiring administrators, SAM LPLP may be the just-in-time professional learning that will meet the needs of you and your administrative team. 

SAM LPLP 2021-22 launches on July 29th from 12:00pm - 3:00pm during SAM AI 2021

Click HERE for more information & to Register! 

Now Accepting Nominations for SAM Awards!

• G.V. Erickson Award - Nominations are open until October 1, 2021: The G.V. Erickson Award is given to a member of the School Administrators of Montana who has made the greatest contribution to the betterment of education in Montana; something that G.V. did throughout his career. This is the most honored award a school administrator of Montana can receive.

• Erdie Memorial Scholarship - Applications close October 1, 2021: A Dr. Jay Erdie Memorial Mentor Scholarship in the amount of $1000 will be awarded annually to a deserving educator. The purpose of the scholarship is to “train and mentor” new Montana school administrators. The scholarship will be awarded to a school administration candidate who plans to begin and/or complete his/her administrative credentials and intends to work in a Montana school district. Once the candidate has secured a position and notified the SAM office, a trained mentor will be provided through SAM’s Mentor Program to assist during his/her first year on the job.