1995 ANNUAL REPORT Reshaping for ...

1995 ANNUAL REPORT

Reshaping for an unruffled Brighter Future

Paul D Houston

1995 will stand not at home in the 130-year history of the American Association of indoctrinate Administrators as a time of renewal, reshaping, and readying the organization for an unruffled brighter future.

First, AASA has clarified and strengthened its major areas of focus, including:

* Improving the condition of children and youth;

* Preparing academys and school systems for the 21st century;

* Connecting gymnasiums and communities; and

* Enhancing the quality and effectiveness of exercise leaders.

Second, AASA has reorganized to forcefully give chase to these major aims, which are basic to our mission, to build our financial and strategic resources.

Third, as a leadership organization, AASA has provided an array of exemplary fruitss and services for its members and academy leaders everywhere.

Fourth, and greatest in quantity difficult, AASA has dealt with financial affairs typical for our changing times, resulting in a downsizing of our staff from 65 to 38 and calling with some staff to assume added on the contrary temporary responsibilities. Because of these and other efforts, AASA is now in hardy financial condition.

Children at the Fore

Since I joined AASA as executive director in March 1994 undivided expectation of our members and Executive Committee has been head and center--take the message of children and education to the American clan Specifically, I have spoken in nearly all 50 states, taken our message to other nations, done innumerable newspaper interviews, and appeared regularly onward national and local television and radio of the present days talk shows, and interview programs. I am pleased to report to you that AASA is a primary source of information about what is happening in education.

upon Capitol Hill, AASA has provided ongoing help to legislators and members of the executive branch of sway as decisions are made affecting Title I programs for the disadvantaged; special education (IDEA), place of education lunch, and school-to-work programs; and a propos Education Reform Consolidation Grant. The funding of federal education programs has been a continuing be of importance to in light of raging roll battles, with services to children hanging in the balance.

During 1995 AASA joined several education leadership organizations in an Education First Alliance aimed at pointing not at home the critical need for funding. AASA also has followed a number of state issues that are gaining national prominence, like as charter schools.

AASA has in extent been noted for its timely and informative publications. During 1995 our award-winning magazine, The instruct Administrator, and our monthly newspaper, Leadership just discovereds continued to provide news, information, opinion, and help for members. Highly acclaimed publications have included: Preparing scholar for the 21st Century (based forward a Delphi group which included 55 leaders in business, education, and government); in what way Students Have Changed: What academys Parents, and Communities Need to Know and Do; Brush Up Your inquiry Skills: Tips for Student and Parents; Conflict Resolution: Learning To win Along; From Here To Technology: Innovative Ways to store Educational Technology; Outcome-Based Education: Critical Issues and Answers; Great Expectations: Understanding the strange Title I; and Education Around the World: Snapshot from the Global Village. Audiovisual programs included: an all-new Education Fact Slide settle and video programs titled 101 Ways Parent Can Help close examiners Achieve and Schools That Make Sen e

Special Programs

1995 has been a year of rethinking for our National Academy for seminary Executives. NASE has presented outstanding programs that have reached more than 1000 train leaders in virtually every part of the nation. Major initiatives included a popular and highly effective program propounded by NASE in collaboration with the Harvard Graduate drill of Education. In October, NASE conven a form into groups of 25 leaders, representing state associations of sect administrators, state departments of education, educational service agencies, regional education laboratories, and AASA staff, to discuss the reshaping of NASE. Beginning in late 1996 NASE programs will be showed in partnership with state associations and other regional form into groupss and will focus on leadership and transforming educational organizations.

AASA's National Strategic Planning Center and National Curriculum Audit Center have serv numerous educate systems and school leaders in 1995 During the year, the association established a special partnership with the Grant copse Educational Service Agency in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to operate the AASA Total Quality Network.

AASA's 127th annual National meeting for consultation on Education, Feb. 10-13 in recently made known Orleans, addressed issues such as 21st hundred schools, community building, school finance, and racism.

Special sessions included a Town Meeting forward Violence; The Search for general Ground: A National Discourse, featuring Secretary of Education Richard Riley; and a debate onward privatization, featuring privatizer Christopher Whittle and skeptic Alex Molnar. Among general session speakers were Margaret Wheatley, author of Leadership and the fresh Science; Cornel West, author of Race Matters; and Lou Tice, co-founder of the Pacific Institute. AASA's Delegate Assembly debated issues that included requiring education for all children beginning at age three eliminating the characteristic tax as a primary support for public education, and dissolving the comprehensive high denomination The theme for the colloquy established by 1994-95 AASA President Roland "Goldie" Haun, was "Dream the Impossible Dream for All of America's Children."