Dear Colleagues,
1. As always I hope this email finds you well. I have been mulling over how to approach this edition as I meet with so many of you on the MSAA Ring Central Gatherings. You put on your courageous faces, but your jobs have never been harder! Couple that with the refrain we keep hearing about a long dark winter - it is a real challenge to remain upbeat and not beat!
2. To that end, I have included two articles form ASCD's Educational Leadership December 20 /January 21 Magazine on protecting your mental health. Both are very good reads. I believe they will help you recalibrate and think about yourselves. I have also included an inspirational Ted Talk on how to fix a broken school. It is an inspiring talk and reminds us of good practices, even if your school is not broken! And the final article is from Edutopia and gives us some good insights on how to help and support new teachers.
3. It is my hope that these readings are saved for Winter Break and that they will lend additional support to you in addition to the supports you have in your districts. Please know that here at MSAA, we are always here to support you!
4. I also want to call your attention to the outstanding work being done by the joint MSAA/MIAA Equity, Diversity Inclusion Committee. Please see the update below from Mike Rubin and Kathleen McSweeney
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DEIC) within the Massachusetts School Administrators Association (MSAA) and the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) remains committed and diligent to our mission. Our most recent initiatives include the development of two public services announcements.
The first PSA virtually introduced members of the DEIC to our constituents.
The second PSA, that once again included DEIC members, encouraged schools/students to start a DEI Club. The DEIC has formatted and suggested the steps and activities to starting such a club.
In November, Michael Rubin, MSAA Liaison, Kathleen E. McSweeney, MIAA Liaison and Dr. Dwayne Thomas, President, Thomas Leadership Solutions, LLC and Chair of the MIAA/MSAA Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee made a presentation at the Annual Massachusetts Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Conference entitled: The Tools Necessary To Start “Must Have Conversations” and How To Keep Them Going Within Your School.
Also in November, we partnered with Attorney General Maura Healey’s office in the newly released “Guidance on Schools’ Obligations to Prevent and Address Bias and Hate Incidents”.
The DEIC provided a supporting statement pertaining to the release.
Upcoming events/initiatives include:
● Continued work with the MIAA Sportsmanship Committee on the design and implementation of a “Discriminatory Reporting Form”.
● MSAA Urban Committee Best Practices Summit, JANUARY 8, 2021
● DEI Youth Summit, JANUARY 19-21-2021
● Grant writing (Boston Foundation Grant and The National Federation of State High School Associations
We encourage membership to frequently check out the DEI webpage found on both the MIAA and MSAA sites as new, informative, and inspirational materials are frequently added and updated.
5. A few reminders below:
a. The MIAA Sportsmanship Essay/ Multimedia Contest deadline has been extended to February 5, 2021. Information can be found below.
CONTEST GUIDELINES:
PARTICIPANTS Contest is open to students in grades 9-12 at MIAA Member Schools ESSAY ENTRIES Must be typed, double spaced, and contain no more than 500 words MULTIMEDIA ENTRIES Must be a video that is no longer than 3 minutes
PRIZES:
First Place ($400) and Runner-Up ($200) prizes will be presented in two categories (essay and multimedia) Contest winners will present their entries as honored guests during the 27th Annual MIAA Sportsmanship Summit. First Place and Runner-Up essay entries will be published in a compilation entitled “Sportsmanship: A Game Plan for Life, Volume XX First Place and Runner-Up multimedia entries will be available on the MIAA website
CONTEST DEADLINE AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
All entries must be received by 12:00 pm on Friday, December 4, 2020 All entries, essay and multimedia, must be emailed to educationalathletics@miaa.net See directly below for the pdf flyer link.
b. Soul of Leadership Still Open
There are still seats available in both new cohorts of "The Soul of Leadership: Courage, Presence and Integrity," The deadline to register has been extended and the program will now begin in January. Here is a link to an updated flyer:
Soul of Leadership Flyer 2020-21.This unique program gives school leaders the opportunity to reflect on their lives and work through contemplative and reflective practices drawn from the Center of Courage and Renewal and the fields of mindfulness, social and emotional learning, neuroscience, and the arts. Over the past two years, MSAA has partnered with Courage and Renewal Northeast to offer this experience to more than 50 principals from all levels and representing a wide range of districts across Massachusetts.
If you have questions about the program, please contact Rick Rogers (rickrogers409@gmail.com).
If you have questions about registration and membership, please contact Vickie Ellison (vellison@msaa.net).
c. MASS CUE is hosting a Virtual Conference February 9 - 12 Click here to register and for more information.
Closing Message from Bill Gaine
On behalf of MSAA and Executive Director, Bill Gaine: Stay safe, stay strong, and take time for yourself.
Warm Regards,
Beth
Beth Wittcoff
MSAA Assistant Executive Director
MSAA Matters Newsletter
Middle Level and Elementary Committee Liaison
Ring Central Gatherings
