MASA Announces Leadership Team Expansion, Welcomes Dr. Brian Davis

MASA today announced the growth of its leadership team with the addition of Dr. Brian Davis as the new Associate Executive Director for Professional Learning. 

Davis’ role, which formally begins on July 1, 2021, will focus on the development and implementation of several MASA programs, including mentor coaching, the Horizon Leadership Academy, the New Superintendents Leadership Academy, and the growth of the Association’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. 

“We are so excited to welcome Brian to the MASA team – he is a phenomenal leader and brings a wealth of knowledge and ideas for how we can continue to support our members and their professional growth,” said MASA Executive Director Dr. Tina Kerr. “He is also a familiar face for our members, having served most recently the MASA Executive Board and as a mentor coach to new superintendents. He will be a great addition to our staff as we continue to work toward re-engaging the educator pipeline, rethinking the future of education in Michigan, and supporting the work and professional growth of our members across the state.” Read more here.

Seeking Candidates for One-Year Appointment to MASA Board

With the recent announcement of Dr. Brian Davis retiring from Holland Public Schools and joining the MASA team, there is now an opening for a one-year Director position to complete his term on the Executive Board for the 2021-22 school year. (The appointee would then have the option of running for the typical three-year Director term during MASA’s annual spring election in 2022.)

Members interested in serving in this role are asked to complete this interest form no later than Friday, May 7 at noon. The Executive Board will review the submission of each interested individual and vote on an appointment.

Questions? Please contact Chelsey Martinez at cmartinez@gomasa.org.

Start Your Journey to an Admin Cert This Month

The next cohort of the Horizon Leadership Academy starts at the end of the month! Complete the Horizon Leadership Academy in 2021 and ensure that your Administrator Certificate is in compliance with state law. 

Completing Horizon Year 1 will earn participants a Central Office Enhancement on their current Administrative Certificate and 60 SCECH credits. 

The Horizon Leadership Academy Year 1 focuses on strengthening leadership skills and strategies for superintendents, aspiring superintendents, central office administrators and building administrators. Learn more about the program here.

EPIC's Year Two Read by Grade Three Survey

EPIC at Michigan State University has launched their year two Read by Grade Three survey! The survey is now open to K-5 superintendents, principals, teachers and literacy coaches or interventionists/specialists through the following link.

Any eligible participant who completes the approximately 25-minute survey will be awarded 5 State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) and will be automatically entered for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card. Please note that participation is voluntary, and all survey responses will be kept strictly confidential. Your Personal Identification Code (PIC) is needed in order to complete the survey and be awarded SCECHs.

Last year, 19,000 educators responded to EPIC’s year one Read by Grade Three survey and the responses were used extensively in their report, available here: https://epicedpolicy.org/rbg3-year-one-report/. This report is now being used by policy makers and practitioners as they grapple with the tremendous challenges of this school year and the future of the Read by Grade Three Law.
 
If you have any questions about the survey, please do not hesitate to contact EPICrbg3@msu.edu.

Summer Literacy Program Guidance Doc

Clarification - Funding for Summer Programming Grant

New PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 Flexibility

College Board and MDE have agreed to allow additional flexibility for schools administering the PSAT™ 8/9 for grades eight and nine, and the PSAT™ 10. Please note that this is different from guidance recently released in Spotlight and in the Coordinator Manuals.

• Schools may hold onto their primary PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 testing materials to use throughout the entire April 27–May 7 makeup testing window. Makeup materials for PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 wouldn't need to be ordered.
• Coordinators will have enough return materials to make two returns. Plan to make one return after your first few days of testing and the remainder after all testing is complete.
• If schools have already returned their PSAT 8/9 and PSAT 10 testing materials, you must use the makeup survey link below to order makeup test materials to use from April 27–May 7.

Updated SAT Makeup Guidance

Due to the anticipated increase in the number of high schools not administering the SAT® with Essay on April 13, College Board will automatically send makeup purple SAT with Essay test books to be used on April 27 to all schools established for the SAT with Essay.

• The number of purple test books sent for April 27 will be the same as the number of purple test books sent for April 13.
• If your school doesn't need the test books, decline receipt of the shipment when UPS attempts to deliver, beginning on April 23.
• No makeup survey submission is required unless a school needs additional blue or lime SAT with Essay test books for the April 27–29 makeup accommodated testing window.
• Schools may also use the May 18 contingency test date to test students who weren't able to test on April 13 or April 27. Information about requesting test materials for May 18 will be included in an upcoming Spotlight on Student Assessment and Accountability online newsletter.
• Purple test books for use on April 13 must not be used for any other test date or scores will be invalidated.

Michigan Sports Turf Managers

The next cohort of the Horizon Leadership Academy starts at the end of the month! Complete the Horizon Leadership Academy in 2021 and ensure that your Administrator Certificate is in compliance with state law. 

Michigan Sports Turf Managers Association (MiSTMA) is growing! The group is offering free memberships to anyone who is interested in sports turf management. Please feel free to share this information with people involved with the maintenance of your fields. MiSTMA will be offering a monthly email newsletter, industry information, and in person meetings again hopefully this fall. Sign-up here.

• Women in Leadership Virtual Conference – THIS WEEK April 22-23
   
• Superintendent Administrative Professionals Workshop w/ MASB – April 28
   
• School ADvance: New Administrator and Refresher Training – April 29
   
• So, You Want to Be A Superintendent? Calling All Aspiring School District Leaders – May 5