CAS is pleased to announce the return of the Connecticut Core State Standards Leadership Community of Practice. This five-session professional development series, sponsored jointly by the Connecticut State Department of Education and CAS, is designed to help participants:

• build upon the most advanced current thinking about preparing all students for success in college, career, and life;
• examine supports that are in place to aid in successful implementation; and,
• share successes and challenges with colleagues from other districts.

Whether you were part of last year's practice group or are a newcomer, you are most welcome to join us this year. The series is offered at no charge to school and district leaders. 

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Is there an extraordinary individual who has given his/her time, energy or expertise to your school? Has a local business provided services or resources which have resulted in positive experiences for your students? If so, please consider submitting a nomination for the CAS Distinguished Friend of Education Award. The winners will be honored at the annual Volunteer Recognition Banquet to be held on March 15, 2017.

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The next session of the 2016-17 Principals’ Leadership Series (PLS) will feature Diane Dugas, educational consultant and former superintendent, who will examine leadership practices that foster teacher growth and learning. The PLS, a year-long, five-session workshop series, is a professional learning opportunity for experienced school leaders which addresses key topics in the changing scope of their leadership duties. Join us on January 17th to learn new ways to help the adults in your school meet the complex teaching demands of the 21st Century. Register for any or all of the remaining sessions now!

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CAS is proud to sponsor the exclusive launch of Visible Learning^plus in Connecticut! School leaders are invited to join us for a 3-day foundational series centered around the work of John Hattie and “visible learning.” This unique series is designed to develop efficacy, build capacity and foster growth mindsets in schools and districts.

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Two new resources — a report by the RAND Corporation and a guide from the Council of Chief State School Officers — can help states and districts take advantage of the ESSA rules allowing the use of Title I and Title II funds to develop training and support programs for principals and other school leaders. Because the funding streams are contingent upon evidence of effectiveness, the RAND report is useful in that it examines the evidence behind various leadership-focused activities and describes the law's evidence framework.

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Every school in Connecticut is blessed with parents and other volunteers who contribute to its success. Here's an opportunity to honor those individuals! Join us on March 15th at the Aqua Turf for the 17th Annual Volunteer Recognition Banquet. This event is designed to provide principals with a forum for giving public recognition to those volunteers who have made their schools better places to learn and work. Registration is open!

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Are you considering making a career leap to district leadership? The Executive Leadership Program through UConn’s Neag School of Education is a one-year program designed to provide aspiring superintendents and district leaders with the background and knowledge necessary to successfully meet the challenges of district leadership in the 21st century. Interested educators are invited to attend an upcoming information session.

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The Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, in partnership with the Seedlings Foundation, is excited to offer a unique opportunity to enhance emotional intelligence skills and learn how to create system-wide structures to infuse Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). Seedlings is a 3-day leadership development institute for superintendents, directors, and network heads designed to increase their knowledge of SEL as a pathway to becoming stronger leaders of change in their education community. The 2017 Seedlings Institute will take place July 10-12, 2017, at Yale University. Click here for details and application information.

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Register now for the 18th Annual Elementary Arts Banquet coming in February! This festive event is designed to recognize elementary students who have demonstrated outstanding artistic ability in performing or visual arts as well as citizenship and cooperative skills. Each elementary school is invited to select two students to be honored.

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For the past two years, the Connecticut State Department of Education, in partnership with CAS and the RESC Alliance, has hosted the Moving from Compliance to Coherence Conference, which has provided a forum through which educators from across the state can share their promising practices. This is a conference for educators, by educators! The third annual conference will be held on March 9, 2017, and will feature practitioners who have developed or implemented systems for providing effective feedback to increase student and adult learning.

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