"Thank you for the great opportunity to have served as the NAESP representative these past six years. I am proud to have been a part of an outstanding organization that serves our Minnesota elementary and middle level principals. MESPA has provided me endless support throughout my nineteen years as principal."

Houston, here we come! Over twenty educators headed to the 89th NAESP Annual Convention to represent Minnesota in Houston. They joined other elementary principals from across the nation for learning, leading and building community with one another and to “enrich their world and beyond.”

Zone VII booth: One of the most exciting changes was joining forces to share a single exhibit booth with the other seven states in Zone VII: Alaska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska and Colorado. Due to this year’s success, we look forward to future conventions with the combined Zone VII booth.

Keynote speakers
Many of you have seen the popular movie, The Pursuit of Happyness. The convention opened with a keynote by Christopher Gardner, the outstanding author of the autobiography that was the basis for that movie. We laughed and we cried as Gardner shared his powerful and moving life story. He inspired principals to overcome obstacles to reach new levels of success. Gardener shared what his son remembered most about this time in his life. His son said, “All I remember is that every time I looked up—my father was there.” He concluded by saying that the most powerful thing he has ever done is to break the cycle of men who are not there for their children. Gardner did whatever it took to keep his child, even if it meant being homeless for a while and finding “food for the soul.”

The second keynote speaker was award-winning actress Marlee Matlin, who is hearing impaired. She received worldwide critical acclaim for her motion picture debut in Children of a Lesser God, a performance for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. As a long-time advocate for the hearing impaired—especially children—she published a novel for children titled Deaf Child Crossing in 2002 and the sequel, Nobody’s Perfect, in 2006. She was instrumental in persuading the U.S. Congress to pass legislation requiring all televisions manufactured in the United States to be equipped with closed captioning technology. While she addressed us, Matlin shared her autobiography, I’ll Scream Later, to describe how a person’s will, not his or her circumstances, is the determining

Kris Stueve (MESPA President-Elect) and me at our table in the Zone VII booth.

factor for achieving dreams. Matlin began by telling us that there is no room in her world for the words “I can’t.” She has always embraced President Obama’s mantra, “Yes, we can!” Matlin’s family brought her up in a very loving, supportive and strong family. Matlin’s “Yes, I can!” attitude gave her the confidence to pursue acting. Matlin says that “deafness cuts you off from people only if you let it. The real handicap does not lie in the ear, only in the mind.” Matlin believes that every institution should be taught that “courage plus dreams equals success.” She believes that the courage to reach for dreams should be a right for us all.

The closing keynote speaker was humanitarian, world peacemaker, and award-winning author Greg Mortenson, best known for his bestselling book Three Cups of Tea. As educators, most of us have read his books that tell his inspiring account of how he overcame huge cultural and political obstacles to establish 130 schools in the most dangerous, remote, and anti-American reaches of the world. Throughout Mortenson’s incredible account, pictures were flashed on a screen to show his travels and his work.

Mortenson says that “every child on the planet has a right to an education.” He pointed out that 118 million children today are not in school and 18 million of those are girls. An African proverb says: “If you educate a boy, you educate an individual. If you educate a girl, you educate a community.” His newest book, Stones into Schools, picks up where Three Cups of Tea ends and brings to life the heroic efforts of dedicated educators who are transforming the lives of young women and creating lasting peace.

Make your voice heard: NAESP’s 2010 election is on the horizon. If you haven¹t already, review the election page (Go to www.naesp.org; click on Vote 2010. )  This site contains all the information you need to make sure your voice is heard in this year¹s election.  All NAESP members eligible to vote (active, institutional active, emeritus, and life members) should have received an election notification message from vote@naesp.org on Tuesday, April 13. The message contained a password and a link to the eBallot site where you can participate in the election of the president-elect. You may vote any time between April 13 and May 12. If you do not receive an election notification message, call 800-386-2377 and ask for Barbara Wilmer or Nancy Sharbel.

ESEA Blueprint raises concern for principals: NAESP Executive Director Gail Connelly issued the following statement on the principal’s role in the Obama administration¹s blueprint for ESEA: The National Association of Elementary School Principals

The MESPA Executive Committee (officers on our statewide Board of Directors) relaxing in the Houston sunshine: l-r, Kris Stueve (president-elect), Candy Bell, Tim Bell (secretary/treasurer), me, Jon Millerhagen (president), P. Fred Storti (executive director).

(NAESP) is encouraged by the priorities outlined in President Obama’s blueprint for the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) and shares the administration¹s belief that all students are entitled to a well-rounded education that prepares them for college or careers.

NAESP recognizes that the blueprint is a broad overview of proposals, and as such, raises many questions. Even in this preliminary context, however, NAESP has concerns about the blueprint¹s key proposals related to principals and how several policy initiatives will impact schools.

For example, the definitions for “effective” and “highly effective” principals should be left to the states, and such definitions should, at a minimum, draw upon research-based standards for leading learning communities that characterize effective instructional leadership. Further, it must be clear to districts that principal evaluation programs must be based on many different criteria, including multiple measures of student achievement, not solely student test scores. Because research shows student achievement depends on outstanding teachers and principals, NAESP supports the blueprint¹s provision that principals require high-quality, embedded professional development opportunities, especially among those who are new to the profession and those who are engaged in turning around the nation¹s lowest-performing schools.

However, NAESP has serious concerns regarding required models of reform that put principals on the firing line without providing adequate resources and support, including significant training to develop transformational leadership skills that are essential for sustainable improvement. The blueprint also recognizes that principals need autonomy, resources, and support to lead school communities that are focused on teaching and learning.

NAESP applauds this concept. Our nation¹s reform agenda depends on a comprehensive law that supports and empowers principals to lead schools to excellence. NAESP looks forward to working with Congress and the administration with the ultimate goal of improving ESEA and protecting the best interests of our nation’s children.

Thank you and a final farewell! Thank you for the great opportunity to have served as the NAESP representative these past six years. I am proud to have been a part of an outstanding organization that serves our Minnesota elementary and middle level principals. MESPA has provided me endless support throughout my nineteen years as principal.

I wish you all the best. I know that Dr. Steven Geis will do an outstanding job as your next NAESP state representative, and MESPA will continue to prosper and serve its members well!