MESPA Institute 2008 Feature Sessions and Follow-Up Resources

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Roger Aronson, MESPA Legislative and Legal Counsel

Top Five Legal/Legislative Concerns of Principals
Roger Aronson, MESPA Legislative and Legal Counsel
Aronson – highly regarded school law expert, past Minnesota Top Lobbyist, and Minnesota Super Lawyer in 2002 – provides the insights and knowledge that principals need to be effective in their work. In this session he explores the top five concerns of Minnesota principals:
1. Will I ever be able to retire?
2. Legislature preview
3. Custody issues
4. Medical issues at school including: peanut butter, shots, sharing information, "how updated are your policies?"
5. New state and federal cases affecting

Katia Petersen, Ph.D., Safe and Caring Schools

the principalship
Visit Legal Resources in the Members Only section of the MESPA Web site for details on the MESPA Legal Assistance Program.

Bye Bye Bullies!
Theater production by National Theatre for Children, Inc.; with Katia Petersen, Ph.D., of Safe and Caring Schools®, author and expert in school climate improvement and violence prevention.
"Bye Bye Bullies!" is a play that teaches children about personal responsibility, ethics, and good citizenship. Created by the locally-based National

Theatre for Children Inc. (NTC) along with curriculum from Petersen Argo Inc. (Safe and Caring Schools) and Free Spirit Publishing, the play uses a proven educational method -- live theater -- to encourage elementary-school students to have empathy for their peers and take positive steps when confronted with bullying behavior. The 25-minute show is based on the Safe and Caring Schools® preK-8 program that infuses lessons on self-awareness, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making into classroom learning. The messages in "Bye Bye Bullies!" are reinforced

Susan Risius, Ph.D.

before and after the performances with exciting student workbooks, an extensive teacher guide, online games, and take-home activities for students and their parents.

"With kids, it's not enough to just say 'No, don't do this or that.' They need to understand what these behavioral concepts mean and the consequence of their choices," said Dr. Petersen. "One of the most important aspects of the show is that beyond the lessons and information, Bye Bye Bullies! calls upon kids and teachers to act by building a positive community where everyone rejects bullying behavior."

The Principal’s Role in RtI Implementation
Ann
Ann Casey, Ph.D., Director Minnesota Response to Intervention Center
Casey, Ph.D., Director of MN Response to Intervention Center; with Susan Risius, Ph.D., principal Vista View Elementary (Burnsville)
Response to Intervention is a model of school improvement that assists schools in using data to make instructional decisions -- so that all students make sufficient progress toward high stakes outcomes. How can principals provide school-wide organization and structure to support the implementation of RtI?

For copies of an RtI resource list compiled by the presenters, as well as their Institute PowerPoint presentation, click on the links below.

RtI_resources__MESPA_Institute.pdf

RtI__Casey_and_Risius__MESPA_Institute.ppt

Mission: The Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association is dedicated to promoting and improving education for children and youth, strengthening the role as educational leader for elementary and middle level principals, and collaborating with partners in education to assist in achieving these goals.

Leading schools toward excellence through the MESPA vision to be the premiere resource for preparing today's principals for tomorrow and a strong leading voice for public education.

Minnesota Elementary School Principals' Association

1667 North Snelling Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108

651.999.7310 MN toll free 800.642.6807

Fax: 651.999.7311 E-mail: mespa@mespa.net