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Michigan Institute for Educational Management
Volume 4
Number 11
MIEM Offers Online Education
MIEM Crystal Award Winners Honored
MIEM and Oakland Schools Are Part of "Your Winning Team"
Schools Beware! ID Thieves Targeting Schools
New Conference Announced for Educational Technology Leaders
November-December 2008 Events... Register Now!
Mark Your Calendar for This Upcoming Conference
I am proud to report that our 22nd Annual Support Staff Conference for Administrative Professionals, which recently took place in Grand Rapids, was both well attended and very well received. More than 330 very focused and committed professionals did an outstanding job of enhancing and learning new skills as well as networking with each other. The Crystal Award winners represented the whole group extremely well.
Congratulations again to Crystal Award winners Julie Harmon of Manton Consolidated Schools for Customer Service, Zahraa Ezat of Walled Lake Consolidated Schoolsfor Student Services, and Vicki Galvin of Redford Union School District for Best Practices. Also, Congratulations to the 26 MIEM School Administrative Professional Certification Program Achievers. We in education are thankful for all of you that support the work we do to help students achieve all that they can.
Being thankful is something that is special at this time of year. I try to thank those on our MIEM team the year round, but it is important as we approach the holiday of Thanksgiving that we take the time to appreciate all those we work with and those on the home front that support us. As you approach a short work week that will be jammed with enough for a full week, take the time to say a big thank you to those that make a positive difference for you.
Also, with this time of year comes that tough Michigan weather. Wouldn’t this be a great time to check out the online learning opportunities that MIEM is providing? Go to our website for all the details.Have a wonderful holiday!
Dan Pappas
Executive Director MIEM
Winter is fast approaching with those beautiful, snow-filled days. Unfortunately, snow brings the hazards of winter driving. Thanks to MIEM’s partnership with Instructional Technology Services winter road conditions won’t have any impact on your ability to continue your professional development. You can still earn MSBO Certification and SAPC credits, as well as university graduate credits through MIEM’s online education portal.
Take advantage of an extensive range of classes for one low fee. Registrants will have access to all modules in one of two series. The first series has nine modules related to Educational Issues with topics ranging from Interpersonal Communications to Working with Parents and School Violence Prevention. The second series, Technology/Office Training Series is made up of 12 modules focusing on Windows Vista, Podcasting, Creating Webquests and Microsoft Excel 2002.
MIEM member districts can have a staff member use this service for $99 each with access to the series for one full year.
From left to right: Zahraa Ezat, Julie Harmon and Vickie Galvin are MIEM's 2008 Crystal Award winners.
The MIEM Crystal Award recognizes and celebrates the outstanding performance, achievements, and contributions of individuals who work in support staff positions within Michigan school districts. This year’s recipients include:
Best Practices: Vickie Galvin, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, Redford Union School District
Vickie is known for commanding a solid understanding of the essential functions of a school district from the classroom to the boardroom. Vickie’s nominator Redford Union School District Superintendent Donna Rhodes states, “Vickie exemplifies best practices in the areas of communication, technology and creativity. Having had the MIEM Certification as a School Administrative Professional when hired, she bought not only the required skill set, but a wealth of contacts and relationships throughout the education community.”
Customer Service: Julie Harmon, Curriculum Secretary, Manton Consolidated Schools
Julie is known for living the Manton Consolidated Schools vision, “Whatever it takes, our students are worth it!” According to Elementary Principal Catherine Smart, Julie’s nominator, “If you have a task that needs to be done and you need accurate information quickly, Julie is the go to person.” Julie has that special skill of taking district data and putting it in a form that teachers, parents, administration and the board of education can understand. Julie wears many hats at Manton. She manages the Odyssey of the Mind program, tracks teachers’ professional development activities and always has an open door for students. It’s not surprising to note that Julie is a detail person. Her work on a daily basis with assessment, curriculum, and professional development moves Manton Consolidated Schools closer to achieving their district goals.
Student Services: Zahraa Ezat, a Para-Pro Educator and ELL Classroom, Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
Zahraa is an integral part of the English As A Second Language (ELL) program at Walled Lake Central High School. Carolyn Brown, Counselor at Walled Lake Central High wrote, “The number of ELL students enrolling at our high school has increased annually. Many of our new families are refugees from Iraq. Therefore, along with determining a schedule for these students, we must address their emotional needs. Most of these children have experienced the horror of war and many have been out of school for a period of time.” Zahraa speaks Arabic and translates for school staff and families. Her work is immeasurable in bridging the gap between school and home for new students.
The Crystal Award is sponsored by:
November 24, 2008
The Michigan Institute for Educational Management (MIEM), in cooperation with Oakland Schools, will be offering nine required School Administrative Professional Certification (SAPC) classes in 2008-2009. In addition, two other required classes, "Marketing Your School" and "The Leader in You," are conveniently offered online.
School Law for the Building Level Secretary • 9:00 am-12:15 pm
Learn about the legal requirements of administering medicine to students, parental rights and the rights of non-custodial parents, FERPA and the confidentiality of student records, student enrollment and residency issues, FOIA, and record keeping procedures.
Presenter: Meg Hackett, Attorney, Thrun Law Firm, P.C.
Crisis Management/Safety Issues • 1:00-4:15 pm
Participants will learn techniques and apply them through role play when identifying and addressing safety/security concerns of both students and staff, including: promoting and maintaining a positive school climate; how to respond in an emergency; collaborating with law enforcement, first- responders and local agencies; non-violent intervention strategies/conflict
resolution/mediation; dealing with aggressive students; managing stress in a dangerous situation.
Presenter: Thomas Mynsberge, Critical Incident Management
Why do thieves target schools? Your schools manage the personal, medical, financial, and business information of their entire communities. This confidential and sensitive information comes in the form of student records, employee files, vendor records, statements, invoices, receipts, etc. It is managed by faculty, staff, administration, volunteers, vendors, parents and students. While we have done a great job securing our technology, case studies show that more than seventy percent of incidents are low-tech.
You may not realize that the confidential and sensitive information in your care has more than operational value. In the event of an information loss or breach, unprepared schools are subject to fines, penalties, and class action lawsuits. (Those in your communities that become victims will be subject to much worse.)
Due to the serious nature of this issue, MASA, MASB and MSBO has partnered with Identity Theft Loss Prevention, LLC in a state-wide campaign to prepare Michigan schools in making the reasonable effort required by law to detect, prevent, and mitigate loss resulting in identity theft. Sign up now for the following Compliance and Awareness Process Workshops.
MIEM and the Michigan Association for Computer Users in Learning (MACUL have announced their partnership in hosting a new conference: the Educational Technology Leadership Conference (ETLC) for educational technology leaders.
This conference will combine the former Michigan Educational Technology Conference & Expo and the Educational Technology Coordinators Conference.
“MACUL is extremely proud to partner with MIEM on this groundbreaking opportunity to benefit those who administer and support school technology programs,” said MACUL Executive Director Ric Wiltse. “By combining the MACUL and MIEM conferences aimed at technology coordinators, both organizations will be able to better meet the needs of our members,” Wiltse stated.
School Law for the Building Level Secretary
November 24, 9:00 am-12:15 pm
Location: Oakland Schools
Learn about the legal requirements of administering medicine to students, parental rights and the rights of non-custodial parents, FERPA and the confidentiality of student records, student enrollment and residency issues, FOIA, and record keeping procedures.
Crisis Management/Safety Issues
November 24, 1:00-4:15 pm
Location: Oakland Schools
Participants will learn techniques and apply them through role play when identifying and addressing safety/security concerns of both students and staff, including: promoting and maintaining a positive school climate; how to respond in an emergency; collaborating with law enforcement, first responders and local agencies; non-violent intervention strategies/conflict resolution/mediation; dealing with aggressive students; managing stress in a dangerous situation.
Differentiated Leadership
December 2, 9:00 am-3:45 pm
Location: Macomb ISD
The diversity of students in our classrooms is increasing; the need to shape curriculum and instruction to maximize learning for all students more urgent than ever. Sixteen years of transforming a district culture to plan for each learner’s success has produced successes to celebrate and failures from which to learn. The presenter will provide an introduction to the goals and principles of differentiation • including common misconceptions • and share descriptions of practical systemic strategies • including teacher support and curriculum integration • all interspersed with actual experience. Although a basic introduction to differentiation will be briefly provided, prior reading on the subject will allow the group to proceed to the discussion of implementation more rapidly.
Everything You Need to Know About Identity Theft
December 2, 8:00 am-noon
Location: Kent ISD
IDentity Theft LOSS Prevention, LLC has teamed up with MSBO, MASA and MASB to present information on the demands of safeguarding personal, financial, medical and business information in school districts. This workshop is designed to address identity theft compliance requirements, and to assist school districts in making a reasonable effort to safeguard information systems. It is a behavioral, operational, and technological approach to assess and reduce the risk of fraud, theft, or loss during the collection, handling, storage, communication, transmission, transfer, and destruction of confidential and sensitive information in the workplace.
Everything You Need to Know About Identity Theft
December 3, 8:00 am-noon
Location: Wayne RESA
IDentity Theft LOSS Prevention, LLC has teamed up with MSBO, MASA and MASB to present information on the demands of safeguarding personal, financial, medical and business information in school districts. This workshop is designed to address identity theft compliance requirements, and to assist school districts in making a reasonable effort to safeguard information systems. It is a behavioral, operational, and technological approach to assess and reduce the risk of fraud, theft, or loss during the collection, handling, storage, communication, transmission, transfer, and destruction of confidential and sensitive information in the workplace.
Environmental Health & Safety
December 3, 8:45 am-noon
Location: MELG Building, Lansing
Major state and federal regulations and how they are blended with each other and their impact on facilities.
Facility Planning, Design and Construction
December 3, 12:45-4:00 pm
Location: MELG Building, Lansing
Principles in the planning and designing of educational facilities, options in methods of construction management, selection of design
and construction professionals, and bonding process; including laws, bidding requirements and recordkeeping.
(Take this class and receive credit for both Facility Planning & Bonds and Facility Design & Construction for Facilities Director Certification)
Payroll And Related Personnel Issues Webinar
December 10, 8:45 am-noon
Location: At Your Desk
Know the laws and regulations related to the payroll function, including state and federal payroll laws and regulations, pertinent tax regulations, employee retirement plans, practical aspects of completing a payroll, and electronic check deposits.
Purchasing Webinar
December 10, 12:45-4:00 pm
Location: At Your Desk
Learn the basics of performing the purchasing function, including: related Michigan laws, the structure of a purchasing operation, electronic and cooperative purchasing, bidding, reviewing contracts, lease-purchase options, and “partnerships.”
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER ONLINE
SB-CEUs
SB-CEUs will be offered pending approval. In order to receive credit, you must be on time, stay until the end of the program, and complete an online evaluation.
February 23-25, 2009
Location: Kensington Court Hotel, Ann Arbor
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