PD for Program Administrators

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Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment] Discussion of State PD Systems
From: fantine@ohio.edu fantine at ohio.edu
Date: Fri Feb 10 00:41:24 EST 2006

Ok, one more question and I'm going to bed:

Jackie also asked, "What type of PD for administrators do states offer?"

This year we offered a PD activity for the ABLE program directors/coordinators in our region - we invited Kaye Beall from NCSALL to discuss using Study Circles around issues of program management. It was well received. We'd like to do more PD for administrators - are considering some type of leaderhip series for next year.

What are other states offering in terms of PD for administrators?

Jeff Fantine
Director, Literacy Center
College of Education
Ohio University
340 McCracken Hall
Athens, OH 45701

Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment] Discussion of State PD Systems
From: Corley, Mary Ann MCorley at air.org
Date: Fri Feb 10 08:46:06 EST 2006

Hi, Jeff:

I'm responding to the question about PD for administrators:

California offers a 2-year leadership institute for new adult education administrators. It's a competitive application process, although we usually get just about the right number of applicants each year (approx. 20) to allow us to accept all who apply. The Institute is held five days each of two years, for a total of 10 days. Topics covered fall under two major categories: effective management of adult education programs, and quality leadership. We invite successful adult education administrators to lead some of the sessions, such as fiscal mangement, personnel and legal issues, community asset mapping, learner retention, etc. CALPRO and CDE staff conduct the sessions on quality leadership, such as creating a shared vision, the leader as change agent, strategic planning, etc. Participants have homework assignments and a group project. This year, for the first time, we are offering CEUs for persons who complete all sessions and assignments. We hold a recognition ceremony for each year's graduating class, and we publish an annual leadership booklet with photos of the graduates. Because participants get to see each other and participate in Leadership sessions over a 2-year period, they tend to bond with one another and then have a support group of administrators to call on when they need support. Participant reactions generally reflect that, in addition to the content of the sessions, they greatly appreciate the opportunity presented by the Leadership Institute to meet and network with their peers.

In addition to the Leadership Institute, CALPRO offers one-day sessions at the PDCs on some of the effective management topics for persons who cannot commit to the 10-day Leadership Institute. And the PDCs host administrators' networking groups--which provide an opportunity for administrators to come together, discuss issues, and share ideas.

We would like to offer a more advanced Leadership Institute for seasoned administrators--but we haven't planned this yet.

A question for other states: Do you have PD advisory boards to help guide the direction of your PD efforts? If so, what process or what activities have you used with your board members to involve them in your PD work?

Thanks,
-Mary Ann Corley
CALPRO

Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment] Discussion of State PD Systems
From: Marcia.Hess at state.sd.us
Date: Fri Feb 10 09:10:17 EST 2006

In South Dakota we have offered two very helpful PD workshops for our local directors on writing measurable goals and objectives for continuous program improvement. We asked Lennox McLendon from NAEPDC and Professor Tim Barnett from Northern State University, who works with international business to set up business plans and long range strategic planning, to present the why and how of writing goals.

Nest our MIS provider presented a workshop on mining local data to see the bigger picture and dig deeper into the data than we had ever done before to inform them of trends and gaps. This consisted of running NRS tables across the age groups, ethnicities, and genders to assess how we are doing and then compare it to the states data reports. Some assumptions were dashed and there were a few surprises. Now there will be even greater control in managing their program.

Marcia Hess

Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment] PD for Program Administrators
From: Miller, Jane Miller_J at cde.state.co.us
Date: Mon Feb 13 11:32:21 EST 2006

In Colorado, for several years, we assembled annual cohorts of program directors who were either new or needed assistance based on their peer review. We hired a professional coach who also has a good grounding in educational non-profits. For the coaching circle, the participants selected an area of focus, the coach facilitated two in-person meetings and followed up with regularly-scheduled teleconferences. The circles utilized the Pro-Net Program Manager Competencies during their work together. The participants overcame their feelings of isolation, brainstormed solutions to common problems, moved more quickly through the learning curve, and built a network amongst themselves. Those who took part in the coaching circle always speak very highly of it. We phased out the coaching circle because gradually there weren't enough new directors to create a new cohort.

Another idea for PD for directors came to me at our adult ed spring conference last spring when two of our long-time program directors retired. Both of them spoke at a special celebration. One mentioned that more than 20 years earlier, when she was fresh in the position and feeling overwhelmed, she struck up a conversation with the other in the ladies' room at our annual directors' meeting. They discovered that they shared the same home town and from that tidbit a connection - and a mentoring relationship - was built that lasted over 20 years and was of tremendous benefit personally and professionally to them both. It made me wonder, as the state's PD coordinator, what I might do to help facilitate mentoring relationships between new and experienced program directors, so that such relationships wouldn't have to occur, if they occurred at all, by chance meetings in the ladies' room.

It doesn't seem like it would be too difficult to facilitate. The PD coordinator could identify experienced directors who would be willing to be mentors, match them with a new director based on a survey of background and interests, set up a face-to-face reception for the initial meeting, let the pairs work together on their own during the year and put on an end-of-year celebration. I haven't had a chance to act on the idea yet, and because we've been in continuations for so many years, we haven't brought on any new programs with directors who are new to WIA Title II. However, if the legislation is reauthorized I'd like to consider it, and/or start the coaching circle again.

Have any of the other people on the listserv set up any kind of mentoring program for their new directors?

Jane Miller
Professional Development Coordinator
Colorado Department of Education
Adult Education and Family Literacy
Miller_j at cde.state.co.us

Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment] PD for Administrators
From: Wendi Maxwell wmaxwell at cde.ca.gov
Date: Mon Feb 13 14:23:54 EST 2006

I'm responding the question about what states provide for professional development for adult education administrators. Mary Ann touched on some of the offerings in Calfiornia, but I'd like to expand a little.

All new administrators get a technical assistance phone call and/or visit from state staff. This includes an orientation to adult ed in California, basic information on fiscal issues, education code, reporting requirements, and administrator responsibilities for the federal and state adult education programs. Each region within the state also holds monthly networking meetings of administrators, sponsored by the three adult education professional organizations. Each professioanl organization also holds a statewide conference, as well as regional conferences.

We hold 2, day-long "Just-in-Time" Leadership seminars for new administrators - one on fiscal issues and one on personnel and legal issues.

As Mary Ann described, we offer a two-year Leadership Institute that covers everything from administrator's role as instructional leader, to community asset-mapping, strategic planning, community collaborations, and everything else we can think of.

Administrators are expected to attend workshops on assessment and testing, data collection, and accountability requirements. This includes how to use information from the MIS system for evaluating and improving instruction.

Our voluntary Programs of Excellence process involves administrators in evaluating and improving their programs. Workshops assist them in learning how to use the instrument.

Administrators also attend many of the workshops that their teachers attend. Good examples are our workshops on learning disabilities and learner persistence.

There are online and print documents that are of use to administrators. Most access our on-line guidebooks - one for adult education administrators in general and another for leaders of small schools - as well as our guidebook on "Shaking the Money Tree."

Finally, many administrators are involved in pioneering new initiatives. Examples include participating in site-based study circles, developing learning communities for professional development, engaging in site-based action research, or participating in national pilots such as STAR.

Wendi Maxwell
California Department of Education

Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment] PD for Administrators
From: jeff fantine fantine at ohio.edu
Date: Mon Feb 13 17:22:57 EST 2006

Wow! I used to enjoy being in Ohio, but after participating in this PD Systems discussion, I think I would like to move to California (and I'm sure for some other reasons besides their seemingly awesome PD system). Please forward to me any job opportunities.  :)

-J

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