1. Congratulations to Dr. Rob Jackson, Buncombe County Schools, who was named the 2023 Peak Performer by Western Carolina University College of Education and Allied Professionals.
2. This week’s “District Spotlight” comes from Dr. Julia Thompson, Roanoke Rapids Graded Schools (Region 1): Heart Safe Project ADAM - On October 12, 2022, Roanoke Rapids Graded School District became the first school district in North Carolina to achieve Heart Safe designation through Project ADAM.
Our partnership with Project ADAM began in February 2022, when one of our middle school students suffered a sudden cardiac arrest while on the playground. Although we are thankful for the quick response of trained first responders on campus and the rapid response time of our local emergency services, this event showed us that cardiac emergencies happen at all ages, and it is important that we are prepared and ready to respond appropriately. This tragic incident led RRGSD to the Duke-affiliated Project ADAM. Focused on educating schools and communities with the knowledge to recognize and respond to sudden cardiac arrest occurring on school campuses, Project ADAM is an amazing program with strategies that when implemented can help improve the safety of students and staff.
Our entire school district is committed to the success of this program. Since March 2022, we have added eight additional automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) to our school campuses, meeting the specifications of getting an AED to a victim in three minutes or less. To ensure that our employees have the knowledge and skill level necessary to provide care to an individual experiencing a cardiac event, our district leaders implemented a policy that requires all employees to be CPR and First Aid certified annually, accomplished in partnership with our local fire department and community college.
Through the guidance of Project ADAM affiliates, Roanoke Rapids Graded School District has developed a district-wide Cardiac Emergency Response Plan and formulated Cardiac Emergency Response Teams (CERT) at the individual school level. These teams have devised abbreviated school-based plans that are posted next to phones throughout all school buildings and shared with local emergency responders. To ensure that all team members and staff know how to respond in an emergency situation, practice drills have been implemented district-wide.
Obtaining a Heart Safe designation as a school
district takes time and while we hope to never have to utilize this acquired
training, we find it comforting to know that our district employees are trained
with the knowledge and skills needed to provide lifesaving measures to
students, staff, and visitors. You can email me at thompsonji.co@rrgsd.org with any questions.
3. NCSSA and WRESA are excited to announce the 2023 Summer Leadership Conference, “Reaching Higher”. The conference will be held June 21-23, 2023 at the Biltmore DoubleTree in Asheville, NC.
The NCSSA Summer Leadership Conference will begin at 2:00 PM on June 22 and conclude with the DPI Quarterly meeting at noon on June 23. The keynote address, entitled "Training Camp: What the Best Do Better Than Everyone Else", will be delivered by Jon Gordan. We will also hear district highlights from four Superintendents on Friday morning. I encourage you to make your room reservations as soon as possible.
The WRESA State Leadership Conference will focus on leading our schools so that students can aim higher to excel and achieve their goals. The keynotes will be Troy Kemp and Debbie Silver and the detailed agenda will be added in the months to come. Please click on the link below to register:
4. From Jessica Swencki, Deputy Director, myFutureNC: What you need to know about the "Better FAFSA" - FAFSA simplification has been years in the making. "Better FAFSA" is on its way next fall, and with it some significant changes that college access professionals will need to know to help students complete a FAFSA. Join us for this extended session with Morra Lee Keller of the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) and Kathy Hastings McDonald, NCSEAA's interim deputy director of outreach and communications to get an overview of what’s coming and how to prepare. The Zoom meeting will be on Wednesday, May 17 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. You can click on the link below to register.
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/8116808968969/WN_C8l6xp8fTBCbHrdX42rnvA
MyFutureNC, GEAR-UP and NCSEAA will be hosting a Financial Aid Summit on June 20-21 at Wake Tech Community College at no cost to participants. Please click on the following link to register by May 5: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u3H-3pVoiymAboOrea2tdWLCnkHX3jn9/view?usp=sharing
5. The community college Presidents’ and Superintendents’ convening will be held February 28-29, 2024 at the Grandover Resort in Greensboro.
6. From Dr. Joe Ferrell, Richmond County Schools: I would like your feedback on the following: Please share any ideas you have developed/implemented in your district to address the post-COVID student attendance issues we are all facing. Please click on the link below for your response.
7. I have attached the following:
· NCASA 60 Second Legislative Update
· Information regarding the RAVE Panic Button Project for NC Districts (at no cost)
· Information regarding Appalachian State University’s Virtual/Hybrid Online School Psychology Training Program
· Updated NCSSA 2023-2024 Calendar of Events
Have a good week. Please let me know if you have any questions.
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