Select-a-Sessions

DOWNLOAD a full schedule
of Select-a-Sessions for Administrators' Days 2008

"Stories of Us:" A Unique Classroom Curriculum and DVD to Reduce Bullying Behavior
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER: Susan Swearer, Univ. of Nebr. -- Lincoln

"Stories of Us" is a unique program developed by Australian film producer, Christopher Faull, in collaboration with three leading experts on bullying behaviors among school-aged youth. Once of the consultants on the project is Dr. Susan Swearer from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She will show the movie about bullying that was filmed on location in Lincoln, Nebraska and will talk with school administrators about how to use this unique resource for teacher in-services, parent education, and student educational and social-emotional programming.

Data-Based Decision-Making: Creating a School Climate
Where Bullying Doesn't Exist
Susan Swearer, Univ. of Nebr.- Lincoln

School administrators are in an important position to lead the charge in creating a climate where data is used to make decisions. Over the past decade, the Target Bullying Project at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln has consulted with hundreds of educators about the topic of bullying. In our experience we have found that using data to make decisions about an emotionally charged issue such as bullying is a useful model for bullying prevention and intervention. Participants will learn about the Target Bullying model for data-based decision-making and both school-wide and individual intervention case studies will be presented.

Personalization -- One Key to School Success
DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER: Rick Kolowski, Millard West High School

This session will examine the connections between today's 3 R's -- Relationships, Rigor and Relevance and how they can link together to increase the personalization of a student's experience.

Autism Spectrum Disorders: What Every Administrator Should Know Е
Annette Wragge & Teri McGill -- NE ASD Network

Educating children with autism spectrum disorders often presents educators with difficult challenges. Through a user-friendly overview of the scientific knowledge underlying educational practices, programs and strategies, this presentation will discuss solutions for ensuring school success. In addition to a review of current debates and practices in the field, the presentation will provide a brief overview of ASD characteristics and resources available through the NE ASD Network.

Identity Theft and the Public Schools -- An Administrator's Nightmare
Jim Gessford -- Perry, Guthery, Haase & Gessford, P.C., L.L.O.

Part of the lifeblood of today's school operations is the computer. Most school computer databases contain a myriad of highly confidential and/or personal information pertaining to students, employees, district vendors, and others. With Identity Theft on the rise, recent statutory and case laws have imposed a fiduciary responsibility on schools to safeguard and protect such entrusted information. One example is a law that seems to have slipped under everyone's radar. In 2006, the Nebraska legislature passed the "Financial Data Protection and Consumer Notification of Data Security Breach Act of 2006" (Neb. Rev. Stat. зз 87-801 to 87-807). School administrators must be familiar with this Act along with various other Identity Theft initiatives that clearly impact school operations and create significant potential for liabilities. In this session Jim Gessford will examine this new law, the new Nebraska Cyber Security Center, and other legal and practical the issues involving Identity Theft and the Public Schools.

A District's Success Story:
What It Takes to Improve Achievement and Close the Gap
Andrea Boden and Don Hague -- Gering Public Schools

Reading First practices were implemented for four years and the student achievement results are unprecedented. Our "No Excuse Model" for success will be shared. Examples of the pre and post data will include increasing the percent of third grade students reading at grade level by 34% and completely closing a 44% gap between our Hispanic students and all Nebraska students on the Statewide Writing Assessment.

New School Transportation Rules
Janice Eret -- Nebraska Department of Education
Greg Perry -- Perry, Guthery, Haase & Gessford, P.C., L.L.O.

The transportation rules (Regulations 91 and 92) were changed effective in June. Key topics for this session will be changes in: driver qualification requirements, pre-trip inspections and post-trip checks, use of vans to transport students (new van driver requirements and sunset on use of modified 15-passenger vans), and the ubiquitous "School Students" signs.

Managing Student Conduct: Attendance, Handbooks and Cell Phones
Greg Perry -- Perry, Guthery, Haase & Gessford, P.C., L.L.O.

This session will address topics related to managing student conduct within the law. You will be give the latest court ruling on cell phones. We will address questions about cell phone rules. Can schools legally ban cell phones? Can schools enforce cell phone rules buy confiscating the phone? If so, how long can we keep it? Can the student be required to pay a fine for return of the phone? Can the Principal search a confiscated cell phone to find out what other students were violating the cell hone rules? We will also review the legal options for addressing student attendance problems and discuss student handbooks.

Nebraska Leadership Initiative
Dan Ernst -- Nebraska Council of School Administrators
Toby Boss -- ESU #6
Jan Hoegh -- Nebraska Department of Education

NCSA is partnering with Nebraska Educational Service Units and the Nebraska Department of Education to offer the Nebraska Leadership Initiative NLI). This session will highlight the program and provide an overview of why your school district leadership team should elect to participate. The NLI is intended for teams composed of superintendents, principals and teacher leaders and promotes professional development based upon best practice. The overall goal is to improve the skills of school administrators, focus on school improvement and to provide a blueprint for schools to engage in work that will make a difference for students.

2008-2009 New Superintendents
Dan Ernst -- Nebraska Council of School Administrators

This session is for first-time new superintendents as well as new superintendents to Nebraska. The session will highlight the NCSA-sponsored New Superintendents' Liaison Program and will review the many scheduled opportunities available for new superintendent assistance. A mentoring component of the Liaison Program is available as requested by each new superintendent. Our goal is to provide each new superintendent with the information, and development opportunities to have a successful 2008-09 school year.

Differentiated Instruction Strategies that Support Struggling Students in the Regular Classroom
Jim Grant -- Staff Developers for Educators

Differentiated instruction is the key to raising the academic performance of your subgroups. Learn dozens of practical classroom modifications and instructional strategies to deliver accommodations necessary to narrow the academic gap of your struggling students. Jim will model a wide range of do-able reading, writing, math, discipline, and management strategies that promote classroom success and ensure that all students can learn at a high level. You will leave this workshop with tools and strategies to help level the playing field for struggling students. This workshop is based on Jim's three bestselling books.

IDEA Task Force Update
Presenter: Steve Morton -- Norfolk High School

The National Association of Secondary School Principals IDEA Task Force has begun the process of developing recommendations for the IDEA re-authorization. This session will be an update on their work as well as a discussion of what Nebraska members would like to see included.

A Contemporary Teacher-Mentor Model Presenters: Dan Endorf & Dennis Haack -- York Public Schools and Toby Boss, ESU #6

Most schools have teacher-mentor programs, but are those programs designed to provide a foundation of success for 21st teachers? When a number of "baby boomers" retired at York High School, the district hired five first-year teachers and three veteran educators in their place. Through collaboration with current staff members, the high school developed a contemporary teacher-mentor model that proved to be quite effective for rookie teachers- as well as teachers already on staff. The presenters will share their experience and provide a teacher-mentor model that any school in the state, regardless of size, should be able to incorporate with relative ease and little expense.

The Construction Alternatives Act (LB889) -- What's In It For You? Presenters: Keith Prettyman -- Lincoln Public Schools

This session will be a three person panel that will briefly outline the law and then provide real world practical explanations of how and under what circumstances construction manager at risk and design build can best be used by school district building projects.

Establish Proper Boundaries Between Adults and Students Presenters: Kelley Baker -- Harding & Shultz; Dan Ernst, Nebraska Council of School Administrators; Randy Stoll & Bill Tangeman, Attorney General's Office and Chris Baker -- Social Worker

Schools owe a duty to provide students with a safe environment free from mistreatment by adults. That can often be very difficult, and it requires constant viligence. Assistant Attorney Generals Randy Stoll and Bill Tangeman will explain their work in investigating and prosecuting adult crimes against children. Social worker Chris Baker and NCSA Assistant Director Dan Ernst will discuss the importance of establishing and maintaining proper boundaries between adults and students. School attorney Kelley Baker will talk about recent cases and problems caused by adults' mistreatment of students.

"Update on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act" Presenter: Neal Stenberg, Stenberg Law Office

This session will focus on proposed changes in the regulations promulgated under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Special attention will be paid to proposed changes relating to: the definition of "personally identifiable information"; the rights of the parent of an "eligible student"; disclosure of personally identifiable information to contractors such as Educational Service Units, attorneys, etc.; the circumstances under which school employees and officials may access personally identifiable student information; changes in the regulations necessitated by the Patriot Act; disclosure of information regarding registered sex offenders; the "de-identification" of personally identifiable information; proposed liberalization of the rules relating to the disclosure of personally identifiable information in connection with a health and safety emergency (the Virginia Tech Rule); and expanded enforcement authority (possibly greatly expanded) for the Family Policy Compliance Office.

New Athletic Director Workshop
Presenter: Jim Tenopir, Nebraska School Activities Association

New Athletic Directors and Athletic Director new to Nebraska are required to attend a "New Athletic Director Workshop". This session will fulfill that requirement. The session will address NSAA Bylaws, reporting requirements, on-line data collection, eligibility issues and much more. Open to new and experienced Athletic Directors.

Accounting for the Poverty & Limited English Proficiency
Presenter: Russ Inbody, Nebraska Department of Education

This session will include a discussion on how to account for poverty and limited English proficiency expenditures to meet the requirements of state statute in relation to the state aid formula.

Elementary, My Dear Watson
Presenters: Karen Haase & Kelley Baker, Harding & Shultz

The statutes and court decisions affecting grade schools are hardly elementary anymore. Kelley Baker and Karen Haase will discuss the law and recent developments specifically affecting elementary school grades.

Encouraging Everyone to "Be There" for Our Students
Presenters: Brian Hale, NASB and Annette Eyman, Papillion-LaVista Pubic Schools

The "Be There" campaign is a statewide effort to inspire parents and other adults to take an active role in raising the next generation of Nebraskans. Fund out how your school can participate in spreading the word and plant seeds in your community that will bear positive fruit for your school and community.