Asked & Answered Mike Mertens, AAEA Assistant Executive Director
The question was, "since the LEARNS Act says that a school district board of directors shall submit a copy of the current contract of employment of the school district superintendent to DESE, to whom specifically should I send it?" Since the LEARNS Act also says, on page 40, that the superintendent's current contract should be published on the school district website, DESE has concluded that this action meets the intent of the law and a copy does not need to be sent to the Commissioner. The Standards Assurance unit at DESE will check for this when checking districts' websites for other required postings.
If you have questions for Mike, email him at m.mertens@theaaea.org.
Character Connection Creating a Positive Classroom Culture: Simple Actions for Student Success Submitted by Brooklynn Taylor, Marketing Coordinator, Capturing Kids’ Hearts Research shows students are more likely to succeed when they feel comfortable and connected. While there are many ways educators can foster a safe and welcoming environment, here are three actions your team can start doing today to engage students better. Action 1: Greet Students at the Door Have educators meet students at the door with a smile and a friendly greeting. Students might want to give their teacher a handshake, a high-five, or a fist bump. This simple gesture allows the educator to set a positive tone for the day and deepens the student-teacher relationship. Action 2: Share Good News Set aside time at the start of class for a few students to share positive news. Students’ good things don't need to be elaborate. For example, they may share something as simple as receiving a text from a friend or earning a good grade on a test. This helps deepen personal connections. Action 3: Encourage and Celebrate Challenge your team to be intentional about giving affirmations. If they see something positive, share it! Remember the adage, “we see what we seek.” Meaning, if we’re looking for good in our classrooms, we’ll find it! Encourage educators to give their students compliments in front of the class and write emails to students’ families bragging about the positive behaviors they’ve seen. To learn more about the Capturing Kids’ Hearts® Process, visit ckh.org. 6
