computerdisc-l: Monday Memo - Jan. 8, 2007

["Teresa Jones" <TJones@mde.k12.ms.us>]

This week your will receive application information on the 2007
Mississippi Administrator of the Year award. I encourage you to take
advantage of this excellent opportunity to recognize an outstanding
school administrator in your district! Check your mail, make your
selection and help us give these school leaders the recognition they
deserve. If you have questions, contact Kelli Grant, Mississippi Teacher
Center, at kgrant@mde.k12.ms.us or call 601-359-3631. 
 
Each school district is encouraged to select an outstanding parent to
serve as your district's Parent of the Year. The 2007 Parent of the Year
application form has been mailed to each school district superintendent.
Completed forms are due in the Office of Accreditation no later than
5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 5, 2007. For more information on the Parent
of the Year program, please contact Martin Herrington at 601-359-3764 or
mherrington@mde.k12.ms.us.
 
The MDE through the Office of Leadership and Professional Development
(OLPD) is soliciting written proposals from qualifying vendors for the
development of professional learning modules for administrators in the
state. For more information and to download a copy of the Request for
Proposal go to http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/Grants.htm. The deadline for
submitting proposals is Monday, February 26, 2007. The proposal must be
submitted to: Mississippi Department of Education, Attention: Lorraine
Wince, Office of Procurement, 359 North West Street, Suite 349, Post
Office Box 771, Jackson, Mississippi, 39205-0771. Deadline for receipt
of proposals is on or before 3:00 p.m., Central Standard Time. Questions
and/or correspondence must be received by Wednesday, January 24, 2007,
and submitted to: Mississippi Department of Education, Gwenda B.
Purnell, Special Assistant, Office of Leadership and Professional
Development, P.O. Box 771, Jackson, MS, 39205-0771, or e-mail
gpurnell@mde.k12.ms.us, telephone (601) 359-3954 or fax: (601)
576-3505.

The MDE and MPB have entered into a five-year grant initiative to
provide effective, online professional development that leads to
enhanced knowledge for K-12 teachers and also improvements in teaching
practices. The course content has been developed by the Education
Development Center, a nationally-renowned professional development
provider. These combined efforts should set the stage for increased
achievement in our students. During the grant, there is no charge for
the seven-week online workshops, and CEU credit is available. Go to
http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/olpd/elearn for a list of workshop titles
and instructions on how to enroll. Online workshops will start on
January 22. 
 
Education Services Foundation (ESF) is providing workshops for students
to discuss the various types of financial aid available to help them get
a college education. The presentation will be broadcast on MPB January
25 from 8:10 until 9:00 a.m. and again at 10:40 until 11:30 a.m.
Included in the presentation is discussion on financial aid,
understanding the federal financial aid program, the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms, state financial aid programs for
Mississippi students and saving strategies and ways to cut college
costs. For additional information, contact Lucy Ferron at 601-432-6254
or lucy.ferron@mpbonline.org. 

The deadline for submitting your nominee for Mississippi Teacher of the
Year is January 12, 2007. The awards banquet and symposium honoring all
District Teachers of the Year will be held April 19-20, 2007 in Jackson.
For more information on the Mississippi Teacher of the Year program
contact the Mississippi Teacher Center at 601-359-3631. 

The MDE is seeking proposals for the 2007 Summer Conference which focus
on the methods teachers use to promote student achievement in the
content areas and methods that are sufficiently sustained and linked to
daily classroom practice to accelerate student learning. Application
should be returned by Friday, January 19, 2006. Approval letters will be
mailed by the end of February. For more information the type of
proposals as well as an application may be found at
http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/olpd/summer/index.html. The Summer
Conference will be held June 3-7, 2007 in Tunica. 

The 24th Annual MECA (Mississippi Education Computing Association)
Conference will be held January 29-31, 2007 at the Hilton Convention
Center in Jackson. A special pre-registration fee of $85 will be
available through midnight January 15. Pay the regular registration fee
of $110 from January 16 through midnight January 19 or register onsite
for $125. The registration fee also includes the annual membership fee.
For more information, go to http://www.ms-meca.org. 

The Mississippi Future Educators Association (FEA) State Conference
will be held February 2, 2007, on the campus of the University of
Southern Mississippi. The keynote speaker will be Ben Glenn, the Chalk
Guy, a well-known artist and motivational speaker. Registration forms
are available at http://www.mde.k12.ms.us/mtc. If you have any
questions, please contact the Mississippi Teacher Center at
601-359-3631. The registration deadline is January 5, 2007. 
 
The Project CLEAR Voice survey will be available at
http://www.projectclearvoice.org February 5 - March 5, 2007. Every
licensed employee including principals, teachers, counselors, social
workers and others may complete the online survey from any Internet
connection. Schools that have at least a 40% response rate will receive
a customized survey report. For more information, call the Mississippi
Teacher Center at 601-359-3631.

The Mississippi University for Women's (MUW) Center for Creative
Learning will offer a Grant Writing Workshop on February 9, 2007 from 9
a.m. until 3 p.m. in the Education Building on the MUW campus.
Registration is $25. Lunch will be provided and .5 CEU credit is
available. For more information, call 662-241-6101 or go to
http://www.muw.edu/ccl.


Teresa P. Jones, Program Coordinator
Business and Computer Technology
Mississippi Department of Education 
Office of Vocational Education and Workforce Development
P.O. Box 771
Jackson, MS 39205
Phone: 601-359-3940
Fax: 601-359-6619
Email: tjones@mde.k12.ms.us