1. On the road

On Tuesday, June 19, State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster met with her Collaborative Council, a group of education leaders from across Wisconsin who work to improve education in the state. Burmaster updated the council on Wisconsin's work with the American Diploma Project and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. John Ashley, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards, spoke about school boards' leadership activities for improving student learning. The council also heard updates on the state budget, presented by Assistant State Superintendent Brian Pahnke; on the Wisconsin Quality Educator Initiative, presented by Assistant State Superintendent Debbie Mahaffey and Teacher Education, Professional Development, and Licensing Director Judy Peppard; and on student accountability, presented by Assistant State Superintendent Margaret Planner.

Also that day, Burmaster met with high school juniors from Janesville who are participating in the Tim Cullen Government Internship Program. The students from Craig and Parker High Schools get an eight-week crash course in local, state, and federal government. Most of their time is spent interning with State Sen. Judy Robson, State Sen. Neal Kedzie, State Rep. Brett Davis, and State Rep. Mike Sheridan.

On Wednesday, June 20, the state superintendent participated in a panel at the opening session of the national conference of the American Symphony Orchestra League (ASOL) in Nasvhille, Tennessee. In her opening remarks, Burmaster emphasized the role of the arts in building skills that business leaders have indicated they are seeking in the 21st century, such as problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, adaptability, team building, communication, and the ability to communicate and articulate a vision. Burmaster cited work by Getty Foundation policy adviser Ken Robinson and University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Professor Frances Rauscher, a leading researcher on the relationship between music experiences and intellectual development. Burmaster told attendees that "the facts are in: the arts are not a luxury, they are essential."

On Friday, June 22, Burmaster spoke at the Principal's Leadership Institute in Wisconsin Dells, a professional development and learning opportunity for Wisconsin principals offered by the Department of Public Instruction. Also speaking were Dr. Roland Barth, an author and former Harvard Graduate School of Education professor who was the founding Director of the Principals’ Center and of the International Network of Principals' Centers; and several principals involved in the Wallace Fellows program for transforming urban school leadership in Wisconsin. The Wallace Fellows also facilitated and organized many events at the retreat, which was centered around the Wallace Drivers of Effective Leader Behaviors, a list compiled by the Fellows during their work.

For more information about SEAchange, contact: Benson Gardner at (608) 266-3374.

Last updated on 6/25/2007