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Volume 2

 

Fall 2014
A Letter from 2014-2015 AdvancED Florida Council Chair
Mr. Randall Cook, The School District of Lee County
Mr. Cook
Seventeen years ago I was invited by a very wise high school principal to begin a new journey of learning in education by being a team member for a visit to a high school on the Southeast coast of our beautiful state. I did not know then how much that visit would change my life and my view of what we do in education. It was a great high school in Palm Beach County, and the team was made up of veterans of the SACS CASI process. I came back home and told my wife I had been in a graduate seminar, because of all I learned from that team and from visiting a great school.  At that time the only thing we talked about was the SACS CASI standards; there was no umbrella organization for SACS CASI in AdvancED. We had ten standards to which the school was accountable. Today there is AdvancED and five standards

There have been changes in those seventeen years in our process of raising the bar for schools and school systems. But, what has not changed is the driving focus of this organization to see that our schools and school systems become world-class in all that they do in providing great opportunities for the boys and girls, and the young men and women who come through our schools to leave and go out into the world to achieve their dreams, and to be able to accomplish them because of what they experienced in our K-12 programs, whether public, charter or private.

We live in challenging times for us as a nation and for the students that are being educated in this period of history. Because of the visionary work of AdvancED and the passionate work of so many volunteers that give of their time, it is my strong belief that our schools and school systems are better preparing our students for the world they will face.

Today AdvancED’s influence reaches around the world and every one of us that are involved with this organization are a part of that influence. Before AdvancED took the lead, SACS CASI was on the front line of education in Florida challenging, leading and motivating our schools to settle for nothing less than a quality education for every student. Now as a part of AdvancED we are helping to lead the way educationally on a national and international level.

To every volunteer who goes on reviews, whether as a part of a team visiting an individual school, or as a part of a team visiting a district, we share our deep thanks!! To those of you, whether state officials, or district leaders, or school administrators or class room instructors, who have not been involved in being a part of a team, we invite you to take that step, do the training and become a part of the process. Your life as an educator will be changed for the better, and you will go back to your present position with a greater vision of what a truly great school system can be. I know. It did it for me.
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Quick Links
 
New School Year: Time to Update Demographics!

Every school year superintendents and principals change, schools that were renovated or newly built have new addresses and the number of students attending change.  Be sure to update your school and school system demographics so that the correct staff receive AdvancED accreditation information. Instructions for updating demographics are found on the Accreditation Resources and Tools Web pages for schools and school systems. If you need assistance with locating these pages, please contact Mari Thornton at mthornton@advanc-ed.org.

Also, for those school systems in AdvancED School System Accreditation with new schools that opened this year, be sure to send in an application for each school.

AdvancED Launches Redesigned Website
AdvancED recently launched a redesigned website to provide visitors with an improved online experience. The result is a fresh, new look with streamlined navigation, real-time social media interaction and more concise and relevant information.  The new AdvancED site includes improved location maps for the over 40 AdvancED Managing Offices worldwide using Google Maps and mobile device viewing capabilities.  The new website truly reflects the work and scope of AdvancED from our advocacy efforts to our partnerships.  Please visit the site to see the new look and learn more about AdvancED. 
2014-2015 AdvancED Florida Council

We are pleased to present the 2014-2015 AdvancED Florida Council. The council is made up of educators and administrators from around the state. The council’s responsibilities include providing guidance and leadership to the AdvancED Florida Managing Office and making accreditation recommendations to the AdvancED Accreditation Commission. 

Mr. Randall Cook, Chair, 2014-2015
Social Studies Specialist (6-12), Lee County School District, Cape Coral

Dr. James Brown
Retired Deputy Supt./Consultant, PSTB Consulting, LLC, Tallahassee

Dr. Louis Algaze
Principal, Hialeah Gardens High School, Hialeah Gardens

Mrs. Delores Calloway
Retired, Martin County Schools, Riviera Beach

Mrs. Martha Cieplinski
Marion Virtual School, Ocala

Mr. John Clarke
Teacher , Cardinal Newman High School, West Palm Beach

Dr. Wade Davis
Retired, School District of Osceola County, St. Cloud

Dr. Sandra Dilger
Sr. Educational Program Director, FDOE, Tallahassee

Dr. Barbara Hodges
Executive Director, FCIS, Tampa

Dr. Dennis Holt
Supervisor, Secondary Social Studies & Driver Ed., Hillsborough County School District, Tampa

Dr. George Koonce
Retired, Miami-Dade County School District, Miami

Ms. Kitty McElhaney
Director, Curriculum, Assessment & Accountability, Columbia County School District, Lake City

Ms. Lesa Morgan
Director of Workforce Education, Escambia County Schools, Pensacola

Dr. Kamela Patton
Superintendent, Collier County School District, Naples

Mr. Joseph Rawlings
Principal, New Smyrna Beach Middle School, New Smyrna Beach
 
AdvancED, the home of NCA CASI, NWAC and SACS CASI, is dedicated to
advancing excellence in education worldwide.

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