by Holly Lekas, OACOA President

The OACOA Executive Committee meets later this week and the focus of our session will be to review the results of the just-completed OACOA member survey.  Our intention is to use the information from the survey to help develop “communities of interest” that will better serve our diverse membership.  I’ll let you know what we learn and what our next steps will be.

Serving our members is the key aim of our Executive Committee and our organization.  Along with COSA, we provide a number of services and supports for central office leaders.  Just a few of the ways OACOA and COSA serve members include:

• Advocacy.  At the legislature and throughout state government, OACOA and COSA offer a strong and respected voice for school funding, on education policy and issues, and on behalf of school leaders.  We also collaborate regularly with other statewide education organizations, business groups, and state and federal agencies.  At present, we are involved in the November ballot measure campaigns.
• Professional Development.  COSA offers more than 30 excellent professional development opportunities each year.  One highlight is the OACOA/OASE Winter Conference at Salishan, this year featuring Michael Fullan.
• Legal Assistance.  As COSA and OACOA members, you have access to legal assistance in times of professional challenge.
• Special Projects.  COSA and OACOA are currently involved in a number of special projects on behalf of central office and other school leaders, including the State Reporting/Paperwork Reduction Task Force that aims to streamline state reporting, and in supporting implementation of the new high school diploma which has resulted in the Administrators Toolkit: 10 Tools to Help Implement the Oregon Diploma.
• Professional Consultation.  At members’ request, COSA and OACOA will review employment contracts, assist with state agencies, and consult on professional matters.

We hope to that development of “communities of interest” for OACOA members will enhance our ability to serve you.  I’ll keep you posted.

by Craig Hawkins, Communications Director

8:46 a.m.
I'm writing to you "real time" today from the OASE Funding Coalition and Off The Record meetings at the Salem Chemeketa Eola Viticulture Center.  I'll be updating this blog throughout the day -- and, if you have comments or questions, post them in the comment form below and I'll do my best to respond promptly.

The meeting of the Steering Committee of the Funding Coalition is up first this morning, from 9-11 a.m.  The meeting is chaired by OASE Past President Jim Keene, superintendent of Pendleton School District.  Here's the Funding Coalition agenda.

9:05 a.m.
The OASE Funding Coalition was created for the purpose of developing a consensus among superintendents in working with the legislature on matters of school funding.  All superintendents are members of the Funding Coalition; the 40-member steering committee is representative of the metro/rural, small/large and geographic makeup of the school districts in our state.

by Dr. Sara Johnson, Director of Human Resources, Lincoln County School District

It takes a great deal of energy and focus to get our schools up and going at the beginning of the year!  Jim Collins, in Good to Great, writes that the fly-wheel will hit a breakthrough point, and momentum will kick into our favor.  Are you there yet as we bring September to a close?  Can you feel the lessening of the gravitational pull?

There are some great books hitting high levels this month.  Take a look when you get the time and keep professional reading on your priority list.

Three-Minute Classroom Walk-Through : Changing School Supervisory Practice One Teacher at a Time by Downey, English, Frase, Poston, Steffy

I have been excited about this book since it came out in 2004.  It structure and importance to the Management by Walk About technique many principals use in their schools.  However, I believe the book is a good starting place and after reading it, you will want to create your own individual school plan to maximize your classroom walk-through experience.  There are some excellent tools available to administrators now, both paper/pencil and electronic.  A principal can collect important, valid data with each visit to a classroom.

Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire : The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56 by Rafe Esquith

It really happened one day in Rafe’s classroom – he caught his hair on fire!  How could that happen?  This teacher’s commitment is combustible and you will find this book inspiring – guaranteed.  I have used excerpts form the book to start staff meetings and to communicate an understanding of the importance and difficulty of a teacher’s work.  Read the book then give it to one of your teachers!

From Good Schools to Great Schools : What Their Principals Do Well by William A. Streshly, Susan Penny Gray, Marge Hobbs

If you liked Good to Great, by Jim Collins, for business, you will like Good Schools to Great Schools for principals.  This book makes a very nice conversion from the concepts in the foundational book to an education application.  The author is not Jim Collins – but he builds off Collin’s work.  The author outlines the essentials for Great School, and introduces the reader to principals who have accomplished remarkable things in schools.  There is much to glean from this book.  It is probably more appropriate for the elementary principal than the middle or upper levels.

Learning by Doing : A Handbook for Professional Learning Communities at Work by Richard DuFour, Robert Eaker, Rebecca DuFour



Principal's Companion: Strategies and Hints to Make the Job Easier by Pam Robbins, Harvey B. Alvy, Kent D. Peterson

This book gives a strong overview of the work of the administrator.  It is a “how-to” manual on being an effective administrator.  You will find this book useful to have on your shelf as a resource.

Strengths Finder 2.0 : A New and Updated Edition of the Online Test from Gallup's Now, Discover Your Strengths by Tom Rath



The Flip Side: Break Free of the Behaviors that Hold You Back by Flip Flippen, Chris J. White, Chris J. White, Chris J. White




100 Ways to Motivate Others: How Great Leaders Can Produce Insane Results Without Driving People Crazy by Steve Chandler, Scott Richardson



Leadership Gold : Lessons I've Learned from a Lifetime of Leading by John C. Maxwell




Make Today Count : The Secret of Your Success is Determined by Your Daily Agenda by John C. Maxwell

When you use the links above to purchase a book at Barnes and Noble, you will receive a 20% discount.

Sara Johson is a former Oregon Principal of the Year and a regular reviewer of professional books for education publications and websites. Share your comments, questions and suggestions with Sara and other Book Blog readers in the comment form below.

by Heather Knight, M Ed.

Welcome to COSA's new resource blog for leadership coaches and mentors.  We hope this site will be particularly helpful to leadership coaches who are participating in the COSA New Leader Mentor Certification, but we encourage everyone to use, post, and share resources and helpful hints.  You can use this blog to interact with your colleagues and other cohort members to problem solve and share experiences.  I look forward to reading your contributions and questions, and encourage all of you to post topic ideas.  Each month a new resource topic will be shared.  We hope to post examples of helpful tools and have you add to them.  This is your site, so let the sharing begin!!

This month's topic:  What successes have you experience in using deep listening and powerful questioning?  What has been the greatest challenge?  Please post your thoughts in the comment form below.

Also, as you utilize this blog, please feel free to query me.  You can post any questions or problem cases in the comment form below and I will respond.

And, don't be shy.  If you've got a great question or particularly effective strategy you’ve used -- share it here!

Heather Knight is co-president of Powerful Teaching and Learning Into Practice LLC.  Access the PTL Blog here.  Heather and PTL partner with COSA in providing the COSA Mentor Certification Program and the Extraordinary Leaders 360 program.