SAM Friday Update

Visionary leaders united in providing, advocating, and creating education excellence for Montana students!

SAM Launches Members Only Area of Website

We are excited to announce that the members only area of the new SAM website it open.  You should have received an email yesterday titled School Administrators of Montana - "Members Only" Area that contained your unique login credentials.  If you did not receive the email, are unable to log in, or have questions; please contact Kim (samks@sammt.org) or Marcus (sammm@sammt.org) at the SAM office.

Dr. Laurie Barron Represents Montana on Good Morning America

Evergreen Superintendent, Dr. Laurie Barron, made Montana proud this week when she appeared on Good Morning America to share her experience working with the Greenlights Grant Initiative, an organization led by Matthew and Camila McConaughey that assists schools in securing funding for various programs. Laurie discussed the process of applying for a mental health grant with the help of the initiative. She described the importance of connecting families and students to the mental health resources they need in schools and how the grant could help her district continue to provide necessary support to the students and staff at the Evergreen School District. Thank you, Laurie, for you continued dedication to improving the well-being of students and staff in your district and for your tireless efforts to support the education of all MT students!

SAM Monthly Webinar Follow-up

We had a great turnout for the first webinar of the 2024-25 SAM Webinar Series!  The webinar resources are housed in the new SAM Online Learning center accessible to all SAM members.  Once you log in to the SAM website, you will be  on the Members Only area.  Click on Resources >Online Learning > Courses >2024-25 SAM Monthly Webinars.  You will not only find the resources from the 9-12-24 webinar, but  we will continue to add resources as webinars are completed.  Here is a quick video to help you find this area of the website: Locating SAM Webinar Resources.  Experiencing difficulties?  Contact Kim at the SAM Office (samks@sammt.org)

9-12-24 Webinar Resources:

• Webinar Recording 
• Link to Rob's  Presentation:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/11BxR-B5eoUG8DRCjjqU5Fb--bZ7CyabX/view?usp=sharing
  • Link to Examples for TEACH ACT:
    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vQpGax_5bilVKqLsLYYxe3z4-i8XpiK1O2dSoa8eJ5PSEDaxQqGamcCLm4jEbyiUB5tOzjvtR8pkEcB/pubhtml?gid=750563178&single=true
  • Link to Class 1 Districts with % for TEACH ACT
    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vTPcm9skOR2XQzD1_Ju-YJpe34DNnvPQmfxDvmxX-akNA9yLzUlbC2gyP3HcdGs3czXE7IP9X3akBk8/pubhtml
• Link to John's Presentation (MT School Insurance Alliance Overview):   
  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x6p-cU6XC5kdRyr-R6zCtN73dkuK2zTJ/view?usp=sharing

Evaluation and Renewal Unit Certificate:  Do you want to receive an OPI Renewal Unit Certificate for your participation in the webinar?  Did you miss the live webinar but want to earn renewal unit credits for watching the video?  Follow this link and submit the short evaluation. Your certificate will be generated and emailed to you upon completion of the evaluation form: SAM Webinar 9-12-24 Evaluation and Renewal Unit Certificate

Be sure to mark your calendar for the second Thursday of each month.  SAM Webinars are intended to be relevant, just-in-time, and hot topics in education. Mark your calendars for the second Thursday of each month from 10:00 - 11:00 AM.  Connect to the webinars on the SAM Zoom meeting room:  https://us06web.zoom.us/j/3923446729

Schedule for the Fall:

• October 10: Artificial Intelligence - practical tips from the administrator's desk
• November 14: Reinvesting and recommitting to IEFA implementation in our schools
• December 12: CTE and Work Based Learning opportunities (TENTATIVE)

SAM Professional Learning Opportunities:

Last Chance:  Register Now to Attend the MASS/MCASE/MACSS Fall Conference Registration

The MASS/MCASE/MACSS Fall Conference is scheduled for September 23-24, 2024, at the GranTree in Bozeman! This event promises to be an outstanding learning opportunity, featuring educator and author Thomas Murray.  Beth Lewis from Arizona Save Our Schools will share insights on the challenges Arizona has faced with universal school vouchers and Oregon Superintendent Heidi Sipe will present her innovative work on boosting student attendance. Register now to connect and learn with your fellow educators.

Follow this link to review the conference schedule on the conference landing page.  

Follow this link to register and for room block information:  2024 Fall Conference Registration Form  

 2024-25 SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program Registration

SAM is continuing the long standing tradition of providing a low cost 1-1 coaching/mentoring model with the SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program (LPLP).  If you are new to your position OR if you would benefit from a mentor, this is the right program for you. LPLP provides each person with an experienced mentor that will provide support through 1-1 conversations and check-ins throughout the school year. Remember that leadership can be a lonely job. The LPLP mentor can be a great resource for quick guidance or a confidential ear to provide a sounding board in difficult situations. Register now for this opportunity to work with a mentor for only $750 for the entire 2024-25 program year.  Follow this link to register:  2024-25 SAM LPLP 1-1 Leadership Coaching & Mentoring Registration Form

MCEL Registration is Open
 

MCEL 2024 is scheduled for October 16 - 18 at the Missoula Hilton Garden Inn. Follow the link to review the conference schedule and to register:  https://mcel.org/home.  All SAM members are invited to attend the annual SAM Membership Meeting on Friday, October 18 at 8:00 AM.   

Nominations are Open for SAM and Affiliate Awards

Nominations are now being accepted for the following awards and scholarship.  Who will you nominate to be recognized for their outstanding dedication to the education of the children in their school/district?  

• G.V. Erickson Award -  Nominations are open until Friday, September 27, 2024: The G.V. Erickson Award is given to a member of the School Administrators of Montana who has made the greatest contribution to the betterment of education in Montana; something that G.V. did throughout his career. This is the most honored award a Montana school administrator Montana can receive.
• Erdie Memorial Scholarship - Applications will be accepted until Friday, September 27, 2024:  A Dr. Jay Erdie Memorial Mentor Scholarship in the amount of $1000 will be awarded annually to a deserving educator. The purpose of the scholarship is to train and mentor new Montana school administrators. The scholarship will be awarded to a school administration candidate who plans to begin and/or complete his/her administrative credentials and intends to work in a Montana school district. Once the candidate has secured a position and notified the SAM office, a trained mentor will be provided through the SAM Leaders Professional Learning Program to assist during his/her first year on the job.
• MASS Outstanding School Board of the Year Award - Applications will be accepted until Friday, September 27, 2024: The purpose of the award is to recognize and focus attention on the dedicated and ethical service rendered by school boards to the children of Montana.  Nominations for the MASS School Board Awards may be submitted by any Montana Superintendent of Schools. The MASS Executive Board recommends that each of the nine regions submit a nomination. Two Outstanding School Boards in Montana will be chosen. The winners will be announced at the annual MCEL meeting in October.
• AASA Conference Incentive Award - Applications will be accepted until Friday, September 27, 2024:  The Montana Association of School Superintendents Incentive Award Program is intended to provide a special opportunity for MASS members to attend the AASA National Conference on Education (NCE) that will be held in New Orleans, March 6 - 8, 2025.
• MASSP Assistant Principal of the Year - Applications will be accepted until Friday, October 11, 2024:  This award recognizes outstanding school leaders who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students.  The program honors high school assistant principals who have demonstrated excellence in the areas of personal excellence; collaborative leadership; curriculum, instruction and assessment; and personalization.  To be eligible, the nominee must be an active assistant principal and have been an active assistant principal for at least three consecutive years.

Information from Education Partners

Your are Invited:  State of Mind to Visit 20+MT Communities and will Conduct Free Student & Staff Sessions

September is Suicide Prevention Month, highlighting the crucial need for mental health awareness and open dialogues that inspire healing and understanding.  Statewide theatre and public dialogue tour, State of Mind, is a groundbreaking initiative that seeks to redefine how Montana addresses mental and behavioral health challenges. Developed by the University of Montana’s Co-Lab for Civic Imagination, the initiative amplifies youth voices, challenges mental health stigma, and strengthens community connections.

Kicking off this September and running through May 2025, State of Mind will visit over twenty primarily rural communities across Montana. The tour features emotionally engaging performances designed to spark reflection and new perspectives on mental health and suicide prevention. In addition to the performances, State of Mind will conduct free student workshops and professional development sessions for educators, administrators, and local health providers.  And, if you’re in Missoula on September 19, join our kick-off event at 5pm at Missoula Public Library!

Want to know more?  Visit the State of Mind website at https://www.umcivicimagination.com/copy-of-state-of-mind

MFPE Schedule of Benefits and Retirement Meetings

MFPE has scheduled several meetings around the state during September and October for members to learn about benefits and retirement.  Follow this link to review the schedule: MFPE Benefits & TRS Meeting Schedule