American Association Of School Administrators - 1995 Annual Report

School Administrator, March, 1996

1995 ANNUAL REPORT

Reshaping for an Even Brighter Future

Paul D. Houston

1995 will stand out in the 130-year history of the American Association of School Administrators as a time of renewal, reshaping, and readying the organization for an even brighter future.

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

* Improving the condition of children and youth;

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

* Connecting schools and communities; and

* Enhancing the quality and effectiveness of school leaders.

Second, AASA has reorganized to forcefully pursue 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 products and services for its members and school leaders everywhere.

Fourth, and most difficult, AASA has dealt with financial concerns, typical for our changing times, resulting in a downsizing of our staff from 65 to 38 and calling upon some staff to assume added but temporary responsibilities. Because of these and other efforts, AASA is now in sound financial condition.

Children at the Fore

Since I joined AASA as executive director in March 1994, one expectation of our members and Executive Committee has been front and center--take the message of children and education to the American people. Specifically, I have spoken in nearly all 50 states, taken our message to other nations, done innumerable newspaper interviews, and appeared regularly on national and local television and radio news, 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.

On Capitol Hill, AASA has provided ongoing help to legislators and members of the executive branch of government as decisions are made affecting Title I programs for the disadvantaged; special education (IDEA), school lunch, and school-to-work programs; and a proposed Education Reform Consolidation Grant. The funding of federal education programs has been a continuing concern in light of raging budget 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 out the critical need for funding. AASA also has followed a number of state issues that are gaining national prominence, such as charter schools.

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

Special Programs

1995 has been a year of rethinking for our National Academy for School Executives. NASE has presented outstanding programs that have reached more than 1,000 school leaders in virtually every part of the nation. Major initiatives included a popular and highly effective program offered by NASE in collaboration with the Harvard Graduate School of Education. In October, NASE convened a group of 25 leaders, representing state associations of school 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 offered in partnership with state associations and other regional groups and will focus on leadership and transforming educational organizations.

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

AASA's 127th annual National Conference on Education, Feb. 10-13 in New Orleans, addressed issues such as 21st century schools, community building, school finance, and racism.

Special sessions included a Town Meeting on Violence; The Search for Common Ground: A National Discourse, featuring Secretary of Education Richard Riley; and a debate on privatization, featuring privatizer Christopher Whittle and skeptic Alex Molnar. Among general session speakers were Margaret Wheatley, author of Leadership and the New 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 property tax as a primary support for public education, and dissolving the comprehensive high school. The theme for the conference, established by 1994-95 AASA President Roland "Goldie" Haun, was "Dream the Impossible Dream for All of America's Children."