ASAR UPDATES

6-6-14

  • From the ASAR office–Please be sure to use the ASAR website to access all forms, documents, ASAR updates and celebrations
  • From the ASAR Office – Retirement celebrations

Lori Ayers(June 18th) – For more information contact Christina Coniglio(461-3280)

Debbie Rider(June 11th) – For more information contact John Rowe (262-2130)

  • From HCI

2014 TEACHER TRANSFER DAYS

Please note that Teacher Transfer Day for Elementary Tenure Area Only is scheduled for June 17, 2014. It will be held at Wilson Foundation Academy, 200 Genesee Street, in the school cafeteria.

Schedule:

4:00-4:30 View Posted Positions

4:30-6:30 Voluntary Transfer Process

Teacher Transfer Days for the remaining tenure areas are expected to be held between June 19th and June 25th. Please continue to check this Bulletin for further information.

  • From the desk of Rebecca Boyle

SAVE THE DATE…. SAVE THE DATE….

ASAR End of Year Celebration – June 30th - more information will be coming soon.

  • From the desk of Brian O’ Connor - Purchasing

Dear P-Card Cardholders/Approvers,

Attached is our newsletter the “P-Card Buyline”. We hope you find this useful information.

  • From the APPR Team

It has come to our attention that some teachers have “lost” previously entered data when returning to LinkIt to enter more scores. We looked into this issue and determined that, by following the original instructions, teachers were creating new bubble sheets each time they returned to LinkIt. This caused previously entered data to disappear.

Attached are instructions on how to edit performance based assessment scores in LinkIt and, if you did create extra bubble sheets, how to delete them.

Thank you for your patience through this new process.

  • From the ASAR office – Vacation cash-in

Anyone cashing in days for the 2013-2014 should complete the Vacation Cash-in form found at asarrochester.com. Forms should be sent to the following individuals by June 1st:

Colleen Clark – Civil Service

Susan Maxwell – Certificated

  • From the APPR Team

We have received several questions regarding what students must receive a post-assessment. Please note that all students must take the applicable post-assessment (or Regents) even if those students are not part of a teacher’s 50% for SLO purposes. This is because these assessments are part of the students’ final grade, and should be administered across courses in the District to ensure equitable grading procedures.

Please see the attached guidance memorandum from the Deputy Superintendent of Teaching & Learning, issued at the end of the first semester, related to the weighting of post-assessments for further information.

  • From the ASAR office – Thinking about retirement

Never sure when it’s the right time. If you are thinking about retirement, please schedule time to meet with Tim Wagner to discuss your options. Tim can be reached at 262-2130, 406-3348 or email .

  • From the desk of Jim Viola, SAANYS

SAANYS has recently received a number of inquiries regarding the release of student test performance data. On June 2, Kevin Casey, Don Nickson and I met with Commissioner King and Deputy Commissioner Slentz and requested clarification. This morning we received the following information.

What student information may be released district-to-district for “records requests” when families re-locate? Is responding to a records request the same as sending a student transcript?

Response: A response to a request for records does not constitute a transcript. “The legislation specifically allows scores to be transferred to the state or other school districts.” Therefore, student performance of 3-8 common core-aligned tests, or other tests, may be shared with other districts based on a records request.

For students taking both a common core-aligned Regents examination and a 2005 NYS standards-aligned Regents examination, which score or scores must be entered in a student’s transcript?

Response: “If the student takes both the Common Core and the old test, both scores should be reported to the State through SIRS, but the district decides what to do on local transcripts, etc. For example, they can certainly decide to include only the higher score on local transcripts.”

We hope that you will find this information helpful. We will continue to keep you updated.

  • From the desk of Debbie Rider

Finding Your Dream Job
Aim at the sun, and you may not reach it; but your arrow will fly far higher than if you aimed at an object on a level with yourself. – F. Howse
The important lesson for people considering what they want to do in their lives is this: seek work that you truly enjoy. Start by asking yourself what you would do if money weren’t an issue.
Most people find their dream job by doing two things: 1) establishing a high-performance reputation and 2) networking extensively.
Nothing trumps your track record in creating future job opportunities. But, your performance reputation must extend beyond being considered competent and reliable. In addition, it is important to be known for having one or more unique capabilities such as being a creative problem solver, a strategic thinker, or a performance turnaround specialist. Look for opportunities where you can demonstrate such skills. Also, do not neglect the importance of looking and acting like someone on the way up. Outplacements specialists Lester Minsuk and Phillis Macklin advise clients to dress like the top people in the organization.
Unfortunately, in the present “dog-eat-dog” business world being a high performer is often not enough to ensure continuity of employment. You need an extensive network of quality business and social contacts to help you should you become a causality of a merger, downsizing, or a policy disagreement with your boss. Throughout your career make it a priority to cultivate strong relationships with the influential people you work with and then stay in touch with them if you or they change employers.
In addition, join an active professional organization. This will serve the dual purpose of helping keep up-to-date in your field and providing an ideal way to network outside your company.
It has been my experience that managers and executives often discount the value of becoming active in professional and trade organizations as a means of networking within their industry. This is a serious mistake as a high percentage of mid-level and upper-level jobs are secured from personal contacts outside your firm.
Do not limit yourself to just networking at work and in professional organizations. Apply the same approaches in social networking. Some great places to network off the job are in places of worship and in community work. Also, do not miss the opportunity to network while watching your kids play sports or participate in other school activities.
Besides networking in person, do so online. Establish your personal profile on social sites such as LinkedIn that are used extensively by company recruiters and search firms to find professionals, managers, and executives. The value of a site such as LinkedIn is that people can leverage their networking far beyond what they can do by handing out business cards and making personal contacts. This is because you can use the website to join various kinds of affinity clubs such as one for your university, industry, and interest area(s). The networking leverage comes from linking these groups to your personal profile.
Social sites also enable you to network without appearing to be shopping for a new job. Even if you are not looking, it is advisable to keep your profile current and to join various groups since most corporate recruiters and “head hunters” prefer to look at candidates who are currently employed. You never know when a more exciting job opportunity might come your way.
In all your networking activities have a strategy for what you want to accomplish. Determine in advance who might be helpful to you in your career, and then find ways to meet and get to know them. Offer to help them without implying that you expect anything in return. If you maintain this attitude you will not be guilty of using them strictly for your own benefit. Remember that life has a way of paying back those who help others.
As a side note, never “burn your bridges” when leaving an employer for any reason. Even if you are terminated, do not leave in a huff or say harsh words because you are disappointed or feel hurt. Instead, depart with grace and dignity. Such an attitude will help preserve the relationships you worked so hard to cultivate. You will need favorable references to help you obtain a new job, and the most important references are those from your previous employer.
Of course, networking is of little value unless you have the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in your dream job.
To sum it up, the best overall advice to find your dream job and keep it is to 1) develop expertise in a needed area, 2) be a top-notch performer, and 3) network extensively.

From Leadership Development

  • From the desk of Carlos Leal

This information is specific to certificated employees only, so please disregard this email if it does not apply to you.

The information is also posted at PD Credits  175/75 Hour Requirements.

Below you will find an explanation by union designation of the process for reporting professional development hours to the NYSED TEACH system in order to maintain NY State Certification.

If you have any questions please contact Michael Conover at .

175/75-hour NY State Certification Requirements:

Administrators (ASAR)

  • If you hold a Professional Certificate, you are required to complete 175 hours of continuing professional development (PD) every 5 years to maintain your certificate. Your first 5-year reportable PD cycle begins the July 1st after the effective date of your Professional Certificate.(Re:
  • If you hold an Initial Certificate, your PD hours do not need to be reported to the New York State Education Department (NYSED) until you receive your Professional Certificate; you do not need to read any further.
  • If you hold a Permanent Certificate, the PD requirement does not apply to you; you do not need to read any further.

For the 2013-14 school year, all of the PD you complete qualifies for credit toward the 175-hour State Certification Requirement, which includes the hours you complete for the TIF program (if applicable). To qualify, all approved PD must be listed on your AVATAR transcript by June 13, 2014. At the end of June 2014, the district will upload all of the earned 2013-14 credits from your AVATAR transcript to the NYSED TEACH System. [Note: In the TEACH System, ‘2013’ represents the hours reported for 2013-14.]

  • Articles/Links of Interest(please hit control and click to open articles)…

1.TIF link:

2.AVATAR link:

3.Engageny:

4.EngageRochester:

5.ASAR website:asarrochester.com

6.RCSD District Calendar 2014-2015:

7.Diplomas Count 2014: Discover How Educators Are Spurring Success Beyond Academics