If you are not one of the 215 districts participating in the Illini Cloud, this video is for you. The Illini Cloud is a cooperative effort among Illinois Schools to provide a lower cost Cloud for data storage and recovery. Mr. Jim Peterson, Chief Technology Officer of the Illini Cloud describes the benefits of joining the Illini Cloud. A good overview of cloud services available for your districts software is presented.

Growth models provide a simple and powerful analytic framework for superintendents and other educational leaders to align individual student, program and personnel performance. This session will provide a case study of how a local school district developed and implemented a local growth model to: set individual student growth targets; incorporate student achievement into teacher evaluations; document return on investment for programs and interventions; and support leadership and board governance. In addition, the session will focus on the importance of strong leadership and professional development of administrators as a key component of using growth models to enact and evaluate change.

Benjamin Fenton will present a brief summary of some of the key research around principal standards and principal evaluation and then provide an overview of the recommendations made to ISBE from the PEAC around principal evaluation. He will also share what it means in practice for those who will be serving as evaluators. To close the session, he will share a few thoughts about successful implementation at the district level, based on his organization's work implementing new principal evaluation models in multiple cities.

Superintendents and the Common Core: Ensuring a Smooth Transition

The role of leadership in transitioning to common core, and what all superintendents need to know
A roadmap for success
Assessment and the PARCC Consortium

Mr. Dick Spohr, Illinois Principals Association New Principal Mentoring Project Director tells us about PERA changes for evaluation of principals this year. He also talks about requirements that superintendents need to be aware of as the law is implemented now and in the future.

Catch up on the first three days of the 2011 General Assembly veto session and see what is likely to occur in the last three days. Rep. Roger Eddy talks about budget issues, transportation reimbursement and pension discussions in this very informative video. A good review for superintendents and some things to watch out for in the next session!

Superintendent Matt Seaton of Red Hill School District provides a look at what his administrative team and staff have done to incorporate the Common Core into instruction in the district. This is an ongoing process that the district has embraced. Other districts may find usefut tips on starting this process.

Superintend Jennifer Garrison provides an update on the climate and culture changes that are occurring in Sandoval School District. Sandoval is the only rural district in Illinois to receive the federal School Improvement Grant. This video provides insight into the changes in staff, students and community as they begin the second year of the changes.

Dr. William Phillips continues the discussion of district reorganization in IL with emphasis on what exists now and what might be possible in the future. This is one part of the discussion that is occuring as the legislature and Lt. Governor Simon review options for making IL schools more efficient.

Dr. William Phillips highlights the attempts that have been made to reorganize Illinois school districts over the past 26 years. The methods that are available to consolidate/reorganize districts are outlined. Incentives and dis-incentives are also pointed out for viewers. This video is very relevant in light of the commission that has been created to study the issues.