Are You Ready to Dream Big?
If you are like me, this time of year signals the true beginning of the new year! There is something about September that moves me to re-center and re-focus. I head to the office supply store to peruse the latest in back-to-school supplies and begin to plan and dream about the possibilities of the upcoming year. It is an open and blank slate full of fun, engaging and potentially challenging work.
This year, part of my dream is to do something really big, bold, and fierce as an organization. Towards the end of September, we will be launching a ‘Dream Big’ social fundraising campaign, with a goal of raising $200,000, to expand the work of SRI in three specific ways: 1) supporting educators with scholarships to attend SRI professional learning events and the annual Winter Meeting; 2) supporting affiliates through learning grants to bring new work or expand on existing work in their local communities; and 3) working with schools and districts to bring the work of SRI to their local communities. This is an ambitious goal and we need help! If you are interested in learning more about this campaign and joining us as part of our fundraising team, please email me, kthierer@schoolreforminitiative.org. I will be hosting some webinars in the next two weeks to share more information about the fundraising campaign, and how we are hoping to enlist the help of our affiliates and community. I’m ready to Dream Big this year and I hope you can join us!
-Kari
Support SRI Using Amazon Smile
When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon donates 0.5% of the purchase price to School Reform Initiative! It is easy and costs the end user nothing! All you have to do is designate SRI as the organization you’d like to support. Bookmark the link http://smile.amazon.com/ch/27-0219518 and support us every time you shop!
Board Election Volunteers Needed
In preparation for our annual board election, we are seeking SRI affiliates to serve on the board election nominating committee. This is a committee of 5 or 6 members who are interested in supporting the upcoming SRI board election by serving on the nominating committee. Tasks include:
- Helping identify potential candidates within the SRI community
- Working with the board of directors to finalize materials and job description
- Supporting candidates as they complete their application materials
- Supporting the election by helping with messaging and encouraging affiliates to vote
SRI affiliates serving on this committee are not eligible to run for election as board members in the current board election cycle. This is a short-term committee with work beginning in September, and ending by December with the culmination of newly elected board members. The time commitment requires a few hours each month by phone/video, with some potential off-line work. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please email Kari, kthierer@schoolreforminitiative.org, by Friday September 11th. We are hoping to start our work in the next few weeks.
Ron Walker Named as Black Male Achievement Innovator
Congratulations to our friend, and SRI partner, Ron Walker on his selection as a Black Male Achievement Innovator. Mr. Walker is the Executive Director of the Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color (COSEBOC) and has been a long-time SRI supporter. The national Black Male Achievement Innovators are leaders whose program models demonstrate improved outcomes for Black men and boys and who have spread their work at the national level. SRI is proud to partner with COSEBOC as they work to “connect, inspire, support and strengthen school leaders dedicated to the social, emotional and academic development of boys and young men of color.”
Reflection from an SRI Summer Seminar Participant
“I learned that authentic teacher-driven professional learning communities are a means for us to really improve adult learning and thus directly improve student learning.”
SRI Facilitators nationally have been very busy this summer providing a variety of learning opportunities on SRI principles and practices. With so much energy and buzz coming from all over the country as these sessions are wrapping up and those educators heading back to their schools, we are excited to share a blog post by one seminar participant.
Christina Kostaras attended a session in Boston, MA and used her blog to share her reflection on the experience, as well as on the need for more collaborative planning time. Check it out!
Do you have news to share? Interesting things happening in your area? Please let us know so we can share with our community! Email Chris, chris@schoolreforminitiative.org.
Thank you,
Kari Thierer, Heidi Vosekas, and Chris Jones
on behalf of School Reform Initiative
