October 14, 2008
Houston, Texas
The E3 Team gathered with principals and guests in the Sam Houston Ballroom at Brady’s Landing on October 14 for a networking dinner. Principals from five Houston area school districts engaged in discussions on the following topics: 1) How to make up lost instructional time due to Hurricane Ike.
2) What principals need to do to keep up with the new generation of teachers? 3)
How principals can use assistant principals and other support staff to enhance their leadership role in schools.
Summaries from each group’s discussion were presented at the close of the session.
The team and principals were joined by Doris A. Beutel-Guthrie, General Attorney for Union Pacific Railroad Co., Law Department, and Principal Interns from Aspiring Principals Institute (API) and Houston A+ Challenge, two organizations involved in leadership training for high school principals.
May 28, 2008
Grand Island, Nebraska
Dr. Marcia Tate’s workshop entitled “Worksheets Don’t Grow Dendrites” presented at the 2007 Principal’s Partnership Summer Institute continues to have positive impact on schools in Central Nebraska. Two hundred seventy teachers, administrators, and central office staff from eight school districts attended the one-day session.
All school levels were represented at the workshop — elementary, middle school, and high schools. Forty-six of the workshop participants chose to take graduate course credit through the University of Nebraska-Kearney for their participation.
As a result of Dr. Tate’s workshop, workshop participants were to develop brain-compatible learning lesson plans by June 30.
Dr. Kent Mann, principal of Grand Island Senior High School, assisted by Union Pacific’s Principals’ Partnership, provided the planning leadership and support for this very successful activity. This event represents the spirit of a genuine partnership — the sharing of resources between Union Pacific’s Principals’ Partnership and local school principals to create a truly exceptional professional development experience.
May 5, 2008
Elk Grove, California
Glenn Singleton presented the third of a three-part series to Elk Grove and Central Valley principals on the topic of his book “Courageous Conversations about Race: A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools.” This year’s series focuses on achievement in learning and teaching. During the 2006-07 three part series, Singleton’s presentations focused on awareness and principal leadership in closing the achievement gap.
April 30, 2008
Council Bluffs, Iowa
On Wednesday evening, the setting was the beautiful Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and the speaker was Brenda Mainwaring, Director, Public Affairs, Union Pacific Railroad. Brenda shared a wealth of knowledge about Union Pacific’s rich history and concluded with a lofty outline of the corporation's current resources, including an outlook on the future. Omaha area principals were joined by Joe Bateman, Union Pacific VP for the Northern region, Darlynn Meyer, Director Union Pacific Foundation, and Patricia LaBounty, Education Coordinator, UP Railroad Museum.
Again, the E3 team scored a homerun in providing for our principals’ leadership needs.
March 26, 2008
Denver
Denver Networking Dinner for Denver-area principals
March 7, 2008
Chicago
The E3 team partnered with the Chicago Public Schools Office of High School Programs and the Illinois Administrators Academy to present a professional learning opportunity for Chicago-area principals. The seminar, presented by Andrew Platt, author of the Skillful Leader series, was held in the beautiful Standard Club in downtown Chicago. Five principals from suburban Chicago districts joined principals and high school leadership from the Chicago Public Schools for an informative session focused on leadership strategies and protocols for addressing impediments to improved student outcomes.
March 6, 2008
Lehi, Utah
The E3 Team partnered with the A Team to present a professional learning opportunity for regional principals. The seminar was presented by Andy Platt, author of the Skillful Leader series, and was held at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah. Principals from Idaho and Wyoming joined their Utah colleagues for an informative session that focused on leadership strategies and protocols for the evaluation process and, in particular, how to handle mediocre teaching. Dan Harbeke, Union Pacific’s Director of Public Affairs for Utah, Montana and Idaho and pictured above (center), brought greetings to the group and acknowledged the school leaders for the tremendous impact they make daily on the lives of students.
March 5 & 6, 2008
Stockton/Central Valley and Oakland/East Bay, CA
Central Valley and East Bay
The Principals’ Partnership offered two opportunities for California principals in the Stockton/Central Valley and the Oakland/East Bay areas to attend a presentation by Judy Richardson, primary author of the new NASSP publication Making the Mathematics Curriculum Count: A Guide for Middle and High School Principals.
Each principal participant received an autographed copy of the publication. Richardson provided an overview of the publication and shared implementation strategies with the principals. With the demands for greater mathematics achievement at all high schools, participating principals were pleased with the timeliness of the topic and the insights they received from Richardson, who is currently the Associate Director for School Improvement for NASSP and has served as a high school principal in Washington, D.C.
At the Stockton activity, Wesley Lujan, the recently appointed Director of Public Affairs, Union Pacific, Western Regions, welcomed principals and brought greetings from Union Pacific.
February 18, 2008
Houston
The beautiful Houston City Club was the setting for a networking dinner bringing together high school principals from Channel View, Deer Park, Galena Park, Houston, Pasadena and Spring school districts to hear Judy Richardson, author of Making the Mathematics Curiculum Count, present an overview of the publication. Each principal received an autographed copy of the book. The E3 Team consultants gave an update of The Partnership activities and the 2008 Summer Leadership Institute. Mr. Joe Adams, Union Pacific's Vice President for Public Affairs, Southern Region, also extended his greetings.
February 7, 2008
Ontario, CA
The Principals’ Partnership, a program of the Union Pacific Foundation, was recognized for service to California’s high school principals by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) at its delegate assembly meeting in Ontario. ACSA is the umbrella organization for all school administrators in California and includes superintendents, principals, directors, professors and others involved in school leadership. It is the largest state organization of school leaders in the nation. The Principals’ Partnership has worked on leadership development in California for four years and currently serves nearly 200 high school principals across the state.
January 16, 2008
Chicago
Chicago Mid-winter High School Mini-Conference
Chicago Public Schools, Office of High School Programs.
Location: Oak Lawn Hilton from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Principals’ Partnership, a program of the Union Pacific Foundation, sponsored a full-day conference for Chicago Public School high school principals focused on improving student achievement and promoting academic success. This conference, planned and organized by the CPS Office of High School Programs, is an annual event in which high school principals share strategies and information on programs that work in their schools. This year’s conference theme was “Raising Expectations.” UP Representative Tom Zapler spoke to the principals at the opening breakfast, applauded their continued exemplary leadership and shared information about Union Pacific recruitment of high school graduates.
January 10, 2008
Denver
The E3 team of consultants kicked off the New Year by hosting a networking event for the Denver-area principals. The Broker Restaurant was the setting for a Meet the Author evening featuring Judith Richardson, NASSP’s principal author of Making the Mathematics Curriculum Count. Principals had the opportunity to enhance their leadership focus in the area of numeracy, given the critical need for improvement.
January 7, 2008
Elk Grove, CA
Glenn Singleton presented the second of a three part series to Elk Grove and Central Valley principals on the topic of his recent book “Courageous Conversation about Race: A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools.” This year’s series focuses on achievement in learning and teaching. During the 2006-07 three part series, Singleton’s presentations focused on awareness and principal leadership in closing the achievement gap.
November 28, 2007
Chicago
E3 Team consultants greeted the Chicago high school principals at the Marriott Midway Hotel on Chicago’s Southwest side. The reception and dinner that followed provided Chicago principals with a relaxing networking opportunity. It was also an occasion to introduce Chicago’s large cadre of new principals to the Partnership and details about the summer institute. The principals and consultants were joined by Union Pacific official Tom Zappler; together, they encouraged principals to continue to take advantage of the numerous supports and opportunities the Partnership offers. In addition to the networking, principals had the opportunity to connect with one another around CPS leadership issues and shared with E3 Team consultants additional ways that the Partnership could continue to support their leadership and school improvement efforts.
November 27, 2007
Kearney, NE
The E3 Team of consultants hosted a networking breakfast for Partnership high school principals in Nebraska. The breakfast was held in conjunction with the Nebraska State Association of Secondary School Principals State Convention at the Kearney Holiday Inn. The breakfast was also attended by the new Executive Director, Michael S. Dulaney, J.D., Ph.D., and Dan E. Ernst, Ed.D., associate executive director. Kelly Coash-Johnson, training and development director, assisted in arranging the breakfast and introducing to team to the state officers. The breakfast provided an excellent opportunity for the team to present the mission and activities of the Partnership to the new executive director and new principals. The E3 Team also gained valuable information about the leadership needs of the high school principals and the association as they make plans to comply with state and local mandates. Plans were also finalized for upcoming activities in central Nebraska.
November 26, 2007
Kearney, NE
E3 Team consultants hosted a networking breakfast for Nebraska principals attending the state conference. Principals discussed ongoing leadership development needs and shared concerns about new state legislation that will impact education in the state.
November 12, 2007
Omaha
E3 Team consultants hosted a networking luncheon for the high school principals of the Omaha Public Schools. The luncheon was held in the beautiful, historic district office, a former high school building. In addition to the principals and consultants, Union Pacific officials Darlynn Myers, Director of Community Support, and Brenda Mainwaring, recently appointed Director of Community Relations, were present, and shared with the principals information about opportunities for students and teachers. In addition to a delicious lunch and the opportunity to connect with each other around OPS leadership issues, principals had the chance to share with consultants and UP officials ways that the Partnership could continue to support their leadership and school improvement efforts.
October 23, 2007
Salt Lake City
A strong showing of Utah principals gathered in downtown Salt Lake City to network with their high school colleagues. A special treat for the evening was a presentation by Ferrie Bailey, Union Pacific Field Recruitment Manager for Utah, Arizona and Nevada. The principals learned about the many employment opportunities for graduating high school students. Ferrie also offered her services to the high schools for career fairs and assemblies, as a means of assisting students with making post high school career decisions.
October 9, 2007
Sheridan, WY
In conjunction with the Wyoming Association of Secondary Principals state conference, Partnership principals attended a informative presentation by Dr. Gary Smit on the topic of “Ethics in School Leadership.” Dr. Smit’s presentation highlighted the role of the principal in establishing an ethical school culture and honoring the public trust.
October 4, 2007
Stockton/Central Valley, CA
Mallard’s Restaurant was the setting for dinner with the Stockton/Central Valley high school principals and the E3 Team consultants. Before dinner, principals engaged in a leadership conversation titled “Are We There Yet?” facilitated by E3 team consultant Janice Ollarvia. The focus of the conversation was progress toward effective high school improvement, both in Stockton and nationally. The conversation continued over dinner, as principals networked and were reminded of upcoming leadership events and opportunities, including the 2008 summer institute.
October 3, 2007
Oakland/East Bay, CA
E3 Team consultants had the opportunity to meet with principals from the Oakland,/East Bay school districts. Principals met at a local restaurant, where they engaged in a leadership conversation entitled “Are We There Yet?” facilitated by E3 team consultant Janice Ollarvia. The focus of the conversation was progress, locally and nationally, toward effective high school improvement. During a networking dinner, principals reconnected with each other, and discussed upcoming leadership events and opportunities, including the 2008 summer institute.
September 19-20, 2007
Houston
The Principals’ Partnership presented two opportunities for Houston area principals to network and to hear Dr. Irving Jones, “Leading Learning in an Age of Accountability: Secondary Principals as Leaders of Learning.” The presentation was interactive and focused on the how to’s in high school principal leadership. Dr. Jones currently serves as executive director of secondary education in the Richmond City Public School division in Virginia. He was the 2002 Outstanding High School Principal for Virginia and the 2003 NASSP/MetLife National Principal of the Year. Partnership principals from Houston area school districts met in the beautiful Sam Houston room at Brady’s Landing for dinner and the opportunity to hear Dr. Jones on September 19. Houston ISD principals met at the district administrative building for the presentation and dinner on September 20. This was an excellent introduction of the Partnership for the new Houston ISD principals and for team members to meet district-level administrators. Partnership principals from other Houston areas school districts met in the beautiful Sam Houston room at Brady’s Landing for dinner and the opportunity to hear Dr. Jones.