Minutes of the
June 28 – 29, 2019, Whitefish, Montana
Meeting called to order by Dr. Laurie Barron, President at 8:00 am
Members Present: Laurie Barron, Lisa Parady, Eric King (v), James Harvey (v), Ruben Alejandro (v), Martha Bruckner, (v), David Berliner, Martin Brooks, Bill Mathis, and Jack McKay.
Approval of the Minutes of February 14 HML Board Meeting Motion and the Annual Meeting of February 15, 2019.
Motion by Lisa Parady and Second by Eric King to approve the minutes of February 14 and 15, 2019. Approved.
- Nomination for Vice President:
Motion by Bill Mathis, second by Lisa Parady to nominate Ruben Alejandra as Vice President. Approved.
- Nomination for Director:
Motion by Laurie Barron, second by David Berliner to nominated Beth Houf, Approved.
Beth Houf is the principal of Fulton Middle School in central Missouri. She is the Co-Author of Lead Like a PIRATE: Make School Amazing for Your Students and Staff.
Beth also serves as a facilitator for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Leadership Academy, providing monthly training to state educational leaders. She has keynoted and presented at many conferences, including the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Conference, the Association for Middle Level Education National Conference, The National Principal Conference and many state and local educational venues. Beth was named a Missouri Exemplary New Principal in 2011, the Missouri National Distinguished Principal for 2016 and the NASSP 2019 Digital Principal of the Year.
- Reappointment of Directors:
Motion by Bill Mathis, seconded by Lisa Parady to reappoint the following to a three-year term on the Board of Directors: Martin Brooks, Ruben Alejandro, Talisa Dixon, and Brent Clark. Approved.
- Awards
Outstanding Friend of Public Education.
Motion by David Berliner, seconded by Lisa Parady, that Peter Smagorinsky, the University of Georgia be awarded the “Outstanding Public Educator” Award. Approved and Accepted
Smagorinsky’s research has been unified by a sociocultural approach to understanding literacy teaching and learning grounded in the theory of L. S. Vygotsky. A major strand of his research has been the study of the composing process, including written and artistic compositions, and group discussions oriented to literary interpretation and interpretive texts. These studies have prompted a strand of meta-research focused on the cultural practices involved in the collection and analysis of data. He also began studying teachers’ concept development in their early-career transition from university programs to their first jobs. More recently he has begun exploring issues surrounding mental health as an issue of educational inclusion and diversity; learning processes involved in service-learning; and the discourse of character education. Throughout he has written books and articles on teaching methods, and since 2010 has begun writing short essays on education for the public.
Outstanding Public Educator Award.
Moved by Lisa Parady, seconded by Ruben Alejandra, that Charles Foster Johnson be awarded the “Outstanding Friend of Public Education” award. Approved and Accepted.
Johnson founded Pastors for Texas Children in 2013 with the mission of providing “wrap-around care and ministry to local schools, principals, teachers, staff and schoolchildren; advocating for children by supporting our free public education system to promote social justice for children and advancing legislation that enriches Texas children, families and communities.”
Most prominently, Johnson and his organization have been outspoken opponents of legislative attempts to divert funds from public schools via voucher schemes, believing them to be antithetical to the goal of providing a free publication for all Texas children.
Outstanding Friend of the Horace Mann League.
Motion by Lisa Parady, seconded by David Berliner that Martha Bruckner is awarded the Outstanding Friend of the League Award. Approved and Accepted.
Martha Bruckner, Past President of the League, and currently Executive Director of the Metropolitan Omaha Education Consortium’s Collective Impact Initiative. Before that, Martha was Superintendent of the Council Bluffs Community School, Assistant Superintendent of the Millard Public Schools in Omaha, Associate Professor and Department Chair of the Department of Educational Administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, as well as Past President of ASCD.
- Reports and Recommendations:
5.A Annual Meeting Procedures
- Improve security at the door to ensure all have registered and paid
- Set the registration fee for the luncheon and awards at $75.00
- Seek approval of AASA to have the registration part of the AASA prepay online registration process.
- Change the time of the annual meeting to be consistent with AASA programs, e.g., 12:15 to 2:00 pm.
- Change the order of the agenda for the annual meeting, to ensure adequate time for the speakers.
12:15 Plated Lunch served
12:30 Welcome and Invocation
12:35 Recognition of corporate sponsors
12:40 Outstanding Friend of the League Presentation
12:45 Outstanding Friend of Public Education Presentation
1:15 Outstanding Public Educator Presentation
1:45 Ambassador Awards
1:50 Nomination and the election of Vice President, Director, and Reappointments
1:55 Passing of the Gavel and Adjournment
5.b. Membership and Recruitment Report
Currently, 443 members, deleted from roles in 2019: 20
Reemphasis on all officers and directors providing a minimum of five nominations.
Reemphasis on nominator following-up with each nominee by phone or email.
5.c. Financial Report
Requested that the Executive Director be paid in full for services provided.
5.d. Reviewed Terms of Office for Directors. See page 12 of the agenda packet.
5.e. Update on 100th Anniversary Publication.
David Berliner reviewed plans for the 2022 publication, Public Education:
The Cornerstone of American Democracy (see Attachment #1.)
5.f. Update on State Indicators – James Harvey
Still in early design phases.
5.g. Proposed that an info-graph about the status of publication be co-sponsored by the HML with the NSR. Agreed to collaborate on info-graph if acceptable by the HML Board. (See Attachment #2.).
Motion by Ruben Alejandra, seconded by Eric King to accept the idea of collaborative info-graph with the National Superintendents Roundtable. Passed.
5.h. Update on Corporate Sponsors
Suggested that directors be assigned rows at the AASA Exhibits to collect information about vendors and follow-up with the invitation to become an HML corporate partner.
5.i. Update on Media
Establish a presence on Twitter. Done by Lisa Parady
Hashtag: https://twitter.com/hashtag/HoraceMannLeague?src=hash
5.j. Recruitment Brochure.
Suggested that there be a slight revision on the middle page. Add information about the Annual meeting for 2020. The following is suggested to be inserted into the middle page of the recruitment brochure.
Our Annual Meeting, held in conjunction with AASA is set Friday, February 14, 2020.
Awards:
Outstanding Public Educator: Dr. Peter Smagorinsky, Professor, University of Georgia
Outstanding Friend of Public Education: Rev. Charles Foster Johnson, Director of the Pastors for Texas Children
Friend of the Horace Mann League: Dr. Martha Bruckner, Executive Director, Collective Impact Initiative, University of Nebraska-Omaha
5.k. Update on proposed school site visits
It was suggested that arrangements be made to visit school sites in conjunction with winter and summer board meetings. The conclusion was that it was a good idea and would be beneficial when the meetings are held when there is a special featured program (e.g., Mooresville Schools and technology, Stanford University, and Howard University.).
5.l. Horace Mann Heroes
A proposal by Virginia Cardenas to award educators (teachers) for service to the profession.
A result of the discussion was to modify the idea of recognition.
- It was proposed that a one-year membership in the League be presented to the state level awardees of the national professional association e.g., AASA, NASSP, MSP, and the NAESP.
and
- It was proposed that the HML collaborate with the NEPC and recognizing those schools that meet the NEPC standards for exemplary schools. Bill Mathis provided information about the “Schools of Opportunity” recognition program by National Education Policy Center.
The Schools of Opportunity Recognition Program recognizes public high schools around the nation that are creating remarkable opportunities to learn for all their students.
The Schools of Opportunity project arises out of the reality that existing recognitions strongly favor schools that enroll students who, outside of school, have the richest opportunities. These recognitions favor high schools that are selective or serve students who are affluent. While many of those schools are indeed outstanding, we believe it important to recognize schools that are excellent because they engage in research-based practices that focus on closing gaps in opportunity, regardless of the students they serve.
Providing the highest-quality education means creating rich opportunities to learn by addressing the educational factors that are under the control of schools. Accordingly, this project recognizes high schools that have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to equity and excellence by giving all students the opportunity to succeed. Based on the principles of the Closing the Opportunity Gap book, we recognized schools for engaging in proven practices that close opportunity gaps for student learning. In doing so, we encourage such practices by bringing attention to what good schooling looks like, by showing policymakers alternative ways to ascertain school performance, and by inspiring schools to build capacity and thus improve learning outcomes for all students.
Schools of Opportunity is a project of the National Education Policy Center (NEPC). The mission of the NEPC is to produce and disseminate high-quality, peer-reviewed research to inform education policy discussions.
5.m. Funds for HML Activities.
- Discussion about seeking grants and foundation support for HML activities. David Berliner proposed that a list of the foundation be developed, making contact with those foundations, and seek a major grant to further the activities of the League. Suggestions included a major marketing campaign about improving the image of public education.
5.o. Presentations at national association conventions.
Suggestion made about increasing visibility by proposing panel presentation at nation association meetings. No action taken.
5.p. Update on Corporate Partners
Suggestion to increase number and levels of corporate partnerships. Need contact person for additional corporate partnerships.
5.q. Compensation for officers and directors to attend the summer board meeting.
Discussed and concluded that the current policy of paying up to $250 for travel to attend the summer board meeting, if requested by the board member. Depending on the financial situation and the number attending, one night’s lodging could be provided by the League.
5.r. Executive Director succession in case of emergency.
Contact people, bank accounts, passwords, and annual and monthly activities were provided and reviewed. Primary contacts are the current President, James Harvey, and Steve Rasmussen (based on being near Port Ludlow, WA).
The 100th Anniversary Volume of the Horace Mann League Edited by David C. Berliner and Carl Hermanns
Arizona State University
Published (2022) by Teachers College Press (Not yet binding, but editors interested. Contract to be issued on submission of a final roster of writers). Royalties to HML.
Schedule: Invitations to write for the volume to be sent by the end of summer 2019. Fill-ins for those that don’t accept will occur by end of September. Manuscripts will be due by August 30, 2020, about a year after acceptance.
Our editing will take place in September – November 2020. The manuscript will be turned in to publisher for their editing and preparation in December 2020. Publication will be scheduled for late fall 2021 with a 2022 publication date-the anniversary of the HML.
The request for papers asks for essays, both short (about 10-12 double spaced pages), to full length (40 or so double-spaced pages). Referencing need not -be extensive-these are essays. In its printed book form, this will be more like 5/6-page essays, and up to 20-page essays. Essays are from both educational – practitioners and scholars.