Horace Mann League’s Summer Board Meeting
June 17-18, 2011, Chicago, Marriott O’Hare Hotel
Meeting called to order at 1:00 pm, by Vice President Joe Hairston.
Members in attendance: Joe Hairston, George Garcia, Steve Rasmussen, Evelyn Holman, Martha Bruckner, Carol Choye, Nancy DeFord, Charles Fowler, James Harvey, Eric King, Gary Marx, Stan Olson, Spike Jorgenson, Julie Underwood, and Jack McKay.
Motion by Eric King, seconded by Carol Choye, to approve the Minutes of the 2011 Winter Board Meeting of February 18, 2011, Denver. Passed.
Motion by Steve Rasmussen, seconded by Spike Jorgensen, to approve the Minutes of the 2011 Annual Meeting of February 18, 2011, Denver. Passed.
1. Updates on the Horace Mann League Strategic Plan:
Educational Index.
Gary Marx, on behalf of the sub committee, reviewed the progress relating to defining the areas and standards to follow in developing the educational index. The discussion led to some agreement that the index would be related to the individual state’s efforts (inputs and outputs) to meeting the beliefs of Horace Mann, e.g., (a) equity of funding of educational opportunities for all students, (b) the quality of preparation of educators, (c) the clarity and efforts of the state to fund public education because public education is the cornerstone of a democratic nation, (d) the state’s policy makers support public education as an independent public service, essential to the continuing growth of individuals, communities, and our nation, (e) the state’s policy makers and leaders view public education as their paramount responsibility to support, respect, and be responsive to the professional wisdom within the educational community, and (f) federally funded programs are encouraged to meet the special needs of students, however the implementation and accountability are the responsibility of local educational agencies.
Further, the HML Index is intended to reflect how the “nation” is doing relative to the principles enunciated by Horace Mann, and those that reasonably emanate from them in modern times. States or counties or local districts might want to compare themselves to the national data, but we won’t be trying to gather any state-by-state data. The committee will be drawing down data from other institutions, agencies, researchers who regularly gather the data themselves.
Some suggested standards may be:
- All students are engaged in broad and rich educational experiences that promote academic achievement, nurture personal growth and talent, and prepare for effective life as citizens in our democratic society and changing world.
- Equal educational opportunity is the great promise of American life. Effective schools recognize that the strength of the U.S. democracy lies in its diversity. All children must have access to the means they need for educational success.
- Every classroom is staffed with an effective teacher.
- Schools are led by administrators and teachers who establish a meaningful and shared vision, create professional learning communities that support collaboration and mutual problem solving, and create a climate that support exploration and change.
- Student learning is demonstrated and evaluated through multiple forms of valid and reliable authentic assessment practices.
- Effective schools engage parents as partners in the education of their children and engender support for their surrounding communities.
2. Recruitment and Retention of HML Members.
George Garcia, on behalf of the committee, reported that the revised dues structure was effective in that those members that were retiring from the profession were maintaining member in the League. All board members have a responsibility to identify, each year, twenty potential members to nominate for membership in the League. As an additional step in recruitment, efforts should be made to encourage individual members of the League to nominate at least one member per year to become a member of the League. The Executive Director will follow-up on the suggestion.
3. Building Coalitions,
Nancy DeFord, on behalf of the committee, reported that a sub committee of the board (Martha Bruckner, James Harvey, Gary Marx, and Jack McKay) met with Gene Carter of ASCD to explore ideas about how two organizations might work together on issues and projects of mutual interest. Following up on the success of the one panel presentation at the ASCD San Francisco, two panel presentations are proposed for the ASCD Conference in 2012 in Philadelphia. Future possibilities for collaboration might include the “educational index” and a distinguished lecture series.
Additional suggestions to building and strengthen coalitions includes utilizing the services of PDK, particularly with the annual survey. Other suggestions included links to other association blog sites from the HML blog.
4. Update on Corporate Partners.
Jack McKay, on behalf of Mark Edwards reported that the following corporations are partners with the League”
Apple Computer
Blackboard
Promethean
Pearson paid on 1/6/11
Discovery paid on 2/23/11
Synovia paid on 1/24/11
Spectrum K12 (Will purchase up to $2,000 of the book, On the Art of Teaching, by Horace Mann to be distributed to members and potential members.)
6. Update on Publications.
Jack McKay reported that there have been three newsletters published so far this year (promotion of the annual meeting, follow-up of the annual meeting, and summer special on the irony of federal educational policies (NCLB).
7. Update on the Horace Mann League blog
Good feedback on the blog. Board members were encouraged to send links of informative articles.
8. 2011 Revenues and Expenditures Update
Jack McKay reported on the “year to date” revenues and expenditures and the certificate of deposit.
9. Update on Horace Mann League homepage.
Jack McKay reported that the original HML website is now becoming an archive of activities, bylaws, strategic plans, awards and recognitions, terms of officers and directors, membership information and application, and minutes and photos.
10. Update on the sale of “On the Art of Teaching”.
Jack McKay reported that the following school districts and foundations have purchased the book:
Baltimore County Schools
Plano Independent School District
Issaquah School District
Bay Shore Joint Unified School District
Evelyn Blose Holman Education Foundation
New Business
1. Awards
1. Recommendation for Outstanding Public Educator
Freeman Hrabowski, President of the University of Maryland, Baltimore.
2. Recommendation for Outstanding Friend of Public Education
Jack Jennings, President of the Center on Education Policy
3. Recommendation for Friend of the Horace Mann League
Spike Jorgensen, Past President of the HML
2. . Nominations Committee Report:
1. Nominations for Vice President of the Horace Mann League
Gary Marx, Director of the Horace Mann League
2. Reappointments of the following for a three-year term: Stan Olson, Eric King, Nancy DeFord and Evelyn Holman.
Nominations for Directors
There are two vacancies (Vice President and John Monahan)
Suggested for consideration (Two names were removed from the original list at the request of the nominator.)
| First | Last | State | Some background | Nominator |
| Susan | Buffett | NE | President of the Buffett Foundation | Bruckner |
| Gene | Carter | VA | Exec. Dir. ASCD | Choye |
| Joe | Davis | ME | Superintendent in Maine | Jorgensen |
| Jere | Hockman | NY | Mt. Kisco Supt. | Choye |
| John | Jackson | President of the Schott Foundation | Underwood | |
| Jack | Jennings | DC | President of Center of Education Policy | Marx |
| Dwight | Jones | CO | Clark Co. Supt and former CO Comm. | Garcia |
| Alicia | Kiner Linden | Principal Booker T. Washington School | Harvey | |
| Steve | Ladd | CA | Supt. Elk Grove CA | Harvey |
| Bill | Mathis | ME | Writer, former supt. In ME | Jorgensen |
| Wendy | Puriefoy | DC | President Public Ed. Network | Underwood |
| Tom | Rogers | NY | AASA | Fowler |
| Dennis | Smits | OH | Dept. of Education Ohio | Marx |
| Mike | Usdan | NY | President of Institute of Ed. Leadership | Marx |
| Don | Viegutt | WI | ASCD officer Supt. | DeFord |
List will be forwarded to each board member. Each board member will select up to four. (Voting by officers and directors will be done by July 1, 2011)
3. Schedule for Annual Meeting
- The Outstanding Friend and Outstanding Public Educator will be equal in time. Possibly a format where the two awardees make opening remarks and then interact with each other when responding to questions from the moderator.
- To save time, it was suggested that the “Ambassador Awards be listed in the program, but not have the presentation.
- Change to another kind of award than the fountain pen, e.g., crystal of some type.
- Other suggestions?
4. Motion to adjourn the meeting at 10:15 am. Passed.
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