NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE CO-SPONSORS NATIONAL STANDARDS REVIEW MEETING AT BROWN UNIVERSITY
On September 17, 2009 Dr. William Preble, Professor of Education at New England College and Ms. Randy Ross, an equity specialist at the New England Equity Assistance Center at Brown University, will co-host a meeting of 40 of New England’s most effective and dedicated educational leaders and equity advocates.
These educators will be reviewing a new set of National School Climate Standards, currently under development for the nation’s schools by the National School Climate Council (NSCC). Dr. Preble has served as one of 60 national reviewers who have assessed previous drafts of the standards. He and Ms. Ross are now working together to ensure that the new National School Climate Standards are an effective tool for promoting social justice and educational equity in our nation’s public schools. New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire is a co-sponsor of this event.
Two of the lead developers of the national standards, Jonathan Cohen, co-founder and president of the Center for Social and Emotional Education and co-chair of the National School Climate Council, and Terry Pickeral, formerly of the Education Commission of the States, will present the background for these Standards and gather feedback from the group. Additionally, Dr. Mary Dilworth, Vice President for Higher Education and Research of the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards, will provide a context of culturally proficient school climate practices. Dr. Susan Redditt, Assistant Professor of Education at New England College will also attend and provide feedback on the standards.
Other attendees at this meeting will include teachers, administrators, professors, consultants, and officials at state and city departments of education from New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Conference organizers hope that when these standards are completed, they will provide a framework for the development of comprehensive strategies to improve school climate, educational equity, and learning in our nation's schools. Dr. Preble has also nominated six outstanding New Hampshire high school students to participate in a similar review process that will take place on-line this fall with students from across the country.
