Superintendents and Professional Development: Voices from the Field

The primary task of the educational leader is to assure high quality learning environments for all students. Research (Gordon, 2004; Sparks, 2007) supports the proposition that effective professional development contributes to instructional improvement by building educator capacity. Much of the research on professional development focuses in principal leadership in improving instruction (Blase & Blase, 2004). But district level administrators, especially the superintendent of schools, also have a role to play in school improvement. Standards for the preparation of school leaders specify competencies for superintendents that include the design and implementation of professional development programs based on sound research, best practices, district-and school-level data, and other contextual information (National Policy Board, 2002). The National Staff Development Council\u27s Standards (2001) also describe a comprehensive set of activities to improve student learning that apply to both campus and district level personnel. But while the research on the instructional leadership role of principals is extensive, comparatively little is said about how superintendents meet their own responsibilities in this area (Dufour, 2000; Hirsch, 2009; Firestone, Manquin, & Martinez, 2005)

Rural and Small School Principal Candidates: Perspectives of Hiring Superintendents

This article reports the results of an inquiry into the dynamics of principal selection in rural school districts in two mid-American states with high numbers of rural schools. The study focuses on two questions: (1) are rural school districts experiencing a shortage of qualified applicants for vacant principal’s positions; and (2) what professional and personal characteristics do superintendents seek in selecting principals for rural schools? Data for the study were collected through a review of the relevant research literature and interviews with superintendents of rural school districts. The study confirmed that rural school districts in these two states are in fact not experiencing a shortage of qualified principal applicants and delineates specific professional and personal characteristics superintendents seek in the principals who lead rural schools

Spirituality and 21st Century School Leadership

The current status of educational reform issues related to general education and special education provides the opportunity for the creation of a system that encompasses the goals of both groups in a cohesive manner. Previously, these issues have been addressed separately; however, recent research identifies a progression of change in the focus of ideas in both general education and special education. The first two phases of school reform focused initially on raising standards and then on teacher empowerment and site-based management. The current phase of school reform focuses on the instructional needs of the individual student and rejects the premise that instructional needs warrant a dual system of education. Rather, current efforts are characterized by general education and special education sharing responsibility for the learning of all students as evidenced by the Response to Intervention initiative (Allington, 2009). These emerging insights pave the way for collaborative efforts when addressing the learning needs of increasingly diverse students

Senior Recital: Jason Kaplan, saxophone

This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree Bachelor of Music in Performance. Mr. Kaplan studies saxophone with Sam Skelton.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1264/thumbnail.jp

Senior Recital: Connor Osburn, horn

This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree Bachelor of Music in Performance. Mr. Connor studies horn with Tom Witte.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1257/thumbnail.jp

Senior Recital: Katie Riess, trombone

This recital is presented in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree Bachelor of Music in Performance. Ms. Riess studies trombone with Wes Funderburk.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1194/thumbnail.jp

Multi-element isotopic analysis of hot particles from Chornobyl

Microscopic fuel fragments, so-called “hot particles”, were released during the 1986 accident at the Chornobyl nuclear powerplant and continue to contaminate the exclusion zone in northern Ukraine. Isotopic analysis can provide vital information about sample origin, history and contamination of the environment, though it has been underutilized due to the destructive nature of most mass spectrometric techniques, and inability to remove isobaric interference. Recent developments have diversified the range of elements that can be investigated through resonance ionization mass spectrometry (RIMS), notably in the fission products. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the application of multi-element analysis on hot particles as relates to their burnup, particle formation in the accident, and weathering. The particles were analysed with two RIMS instruments: resonant-laser secondary neutral mass spectrometry (rL-SNMS) at the Institute for Radiation Protection and Radioecology (IRS) in Hannover, Germany, and laser ionization of neutrals (LION) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) in Livermore, USA. Comparable results across instruments show a range of burnup dependent isotope ratios for U and Pu and Cs, characteristic of RBMK-type reactors. Results for Rb, Ba and Sr show the influence of the environment, retention of Cs in the particles and time passed since fuel discharge

Jazz Combos

Kennesaw State University School of Music presents Jazz Combos.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1389/thumbnail.jp

Dr. Bobbie Bailey & Family Performance Center Anniversary Celebration

The School of Music is proud to welcome back to campus several of our esteemed alumni for a special recital as part of the Bailey Performance Center 10th anniversary celebration! The School of Music celebrates the opening of the Bailey Performance Center with featured performances by the KSU Wind Ensemble Brass and Percussion, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Singers, University Chorale and Chamber Singers Alumni Choir, along with pianist Robert Henry, soprano Jana Young, and more!https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1969/thumbnail.jp

Volume 01

Introduction from Dean Dr. Charles Ross Three Decades of Digging: Undergraduate Archeology at Longwood by Jessica Fields and Stephanie Neeley Interactions of Allelopathy and Heat Stress in Plants by Derek W. Hambright and Mary E. Lehman Inertial Electrostatic Confinement D-D Fusion Device: Construction and Simulation by Andrew R. Grzankowski Shackled Nim by Zachary Johnson Development of GC-MS and Chemometric Methods for the Analysis of Accelerants in Arson Cases by Boone M. Prentice A Comparison of Image Analysis Methods in cDNA Microarrays by Ashley M. Swandby Perceived Sexual Activity of Short and Long-Term Relationships by Victoria Morgan and Katie Williamson Elderly Male Communication by Kristine G. Bender Three Poems: “Adam and Eve and an Orange Tree”, “The Name of Everything Before Dying”, and “The ‘Poet Voice’” by Katelyn N. Romaine There\u27s Nothing Like Dancing, After All : Marriage and Gender in the Dance Scenes of Jane Austen\u27s Novels by D. Nicole Swann Two Poems: “Age Nine with Mother” and “The Apple That Crawls Away From the Tree” by Jessica Fox Untitled by Mike McAteer Room 9 by Alex Grabiec Two Photographs: “Gracie” and “Emily” by Laura Nodtvedt Bowling Lanes Night by Nick Costa Two Paintings: “Can and Kettle” and “Scarecrow” by Rachel Wolfe Exploring Henrik Ibsen\u27s “Perr Gynt” by Zack Dalton Creative Writing Scholarship at Longwood University Music Scholarship at Longwood – Senior Recital Arianne K. Burrus Longwood University Theater – Peer Gyn