News Releases
Education leaders discuss challenges to open resources at 2nd OER conference
ATLANTA – Open educational resources could help increase the number of students who can afford and finish college, but the still-evolving practice will have to cross some regional and national hurdles first, a panel said here last week.
Updated dashboard shows latest teacher compensation trends in SREB states
New data shows teacher pay in the South still lags national average
A new interactive tool that helps policymakers explore pay and benefits in the 16 states represented by the Southern Regional Education Board is now live at SREB.org/TeacherCompensationDashboard.
SREB has updated its comprehensive Teacher Compensation Dashboard with the region’s latest available data on salaries, health insurance, retirement, benefits and more.
University Of Kentucky Faculty Member Wins National Mentoring Award
Mentor of the Year, Institute on Teaching and Mentoring
Michael McGlue, professor of stratigraphy and director of graduate studies at the University of Kentucky, was awarded one of three national Faculty Mentor of the Year awards at the annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring in October in Atlanta.
University Of Mississippi Faculty Member Wins National Mentoring Award
Mentor of the Year, Institute on Teaching and Mentoring
Nicole Ashpole, an associate professor of pharmacology at the University of Mississippi, was awarded one of three national Faculty Mentor of the Year awards at the annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring in October in Atlanta.
University Of Wisconsin-Madison Faculty Member Wins National Mentoring Award
Mentor of the Year, Institute on Teaching and Mentoring
Katherine Fu, associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was awarded one of three national Faculty Mentor of the Year awards at the annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring in October in Atlanta.
New SREB Partnership Expands Support for Classroom Teachers in Oklahoma
Oklahoma teachers now have more resources and support in elevating students’ skills in English, math and other subjects as they begin high school.
The Oklahoma State Department of Education is partnering with the Southern Regional Education Board to provide teachers with in-depth workshops for the next two years, emphasizing educators in grades 7-10.
Legislators from Alabama, West Virginia lead SREB Legislative Advisory Council
ATLANTA — State Representative Terri Collins of Alabama was elected the chair of the Southern Regional Education Board’s Legislative Advisory Council on June 26.
Representative Collins, who lives in Decatur, Alabama, was chosen as the council’s new leader at the SREB annual meeting.
She chairs her state’s House Education Policy Committee and serves on the House Ways and Means Education Committee.
West Virginia Governor Jim Justice Elected Southern Regional Education Board Chair
ATLANTA — Governor Jim Justice of West Virginia was elected chair of the Southern Regional Education Board at the annual meeting of the board on June 26.
Governor Justice has focused on strengthening support for students and building stronger connections between two-year colleges and employers in West Virginia.
As SREB chair, he now leads the collaborative work of governors, legislators and state education leaders on SREB’s 80-member board to improve public education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education.
Former North Carolina Senator Howard Lee honored for service to public education
ATLANTA — Howard N. Lee, whose distinguished career has included service as a North Carolina state senator, chairman of the state Board of Education and senior education advisor to two governors, is the recipient of the Southern Regional Education Board’s inaugural Jack Hill Champion of Education Award.
Lee received the award on June 26 at the SREB Annual Meeting.
The award honors state leaders who make important long-term contributions to education and to SREB’s work on behalf of the 16-state region. It also recognizes leaders who share a commitment to civility, cooperation and public service.
Louisiana state Rep. Francis Thompson honored for 48 years of work in education
ATLANTA — Francis Thompson, a state legislator in Louisiana for nearly half a century and a longtime education advocate, is the recipient of the 2022 Jack Hill Champion of Education Award from the Southern Regional Education Board.
Representative Thompson received the award on June 26 during the SREB Annual Meeting in Atlanta.
“For decades, Francis has been a standard-bearer for his dedication to providing a quality education for students across the South,” SREB President Stephen L. Pruitt said. “We’re so grateful for Francis’s many years of service to Louisiana’s students, educators and communities and his many contributions to SREB.”
Schools Honored with 2022 Pacesetter Awards
Awards to be presented at the 2022 Making Schools Work Conference
Sixteen schools won 2022 Gene Bottoms Pacesetter School Awards for their efforts to increase quality instruction and raise student achievement.
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2022 State and District Leadership Awards
SREB recognizes the outstanding leadership efforts of a state and a district that established structures to help schools transform their school and classroom practices and maintain cultures of continuous improvement.
Declines in 2-year college enrollment could impact workforce in South, nation
ATLANTA — While overall education levels of the
South’s population continue to rise, the number of two-year
college students in the region began to decline before the
pandemic, then plummeted nationwide during the crisis — raising
questions for state leaders on the future of the region’s
workforce.
SREB HBCU-MSI Course-Sharing Consortium to Expand Range of Options for Students
Students attending historically Black colleges and universities and other minority-serving institutions can take a wider variety of courses — and stay on track to graduate — through an innovative new partnership.
The Southern Regional Education Board today announced its HBCU-MSI Course-Sharing Consortium, a collaboration designed to help HBCUs and MSIs enable students to stay on the path to on-time graduation.
SREB Doctoral Scholars Program’s leader will receive presidential service award
Ansley Abraham, the longtime director of the Southern Regional Education Board’s Doctoral Scholars Program, will receive the nation’s highest honor for mentors who help to expand the nation’s talent in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Abraham is among the 15 recipients of this year’s Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics and Engineering Mentoring.
SREB, Kentucky will use new federal grant to support career and technical education leaders
The Southern Regional Education Board and the Kentucky Department of Education will use a $2 million, four-year federal research grant to support leaders of career and technical education centers for high school students across the Bluegrass State.
Under the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences grant, SREB will work with Kentucky education leaders to create and evaluate the SREB Career and Technical Education Leadership Academy for center directors in Kentucky.
New report examines dual enrollment programs in SREB states
A new report from the Southern Regional Education Board examines dual enrollment programs across the South and explores how states and school systems can address common challenges in offering college courses to high school students.
Dual Enrollment: Common Issues Across SREB States details how dual enrollment works differently in each state, while highlighting common elements of the programs across the 16 SREB states.
Rises in Teacher Compensation in the South Not Enough to Ease Many States’ Shortages
ATLANTA — Teacher raises of up to 10% in recent years likely aren’t enough to help curb teacher shortages in many Southern states, as the cost of health insurance, inflation and the demands of teaching during the pandemic take a toll on the workforce.
New report aims to bring free textbooks to more dual enrollment students
Open Education Resources for Dual Enrollment
Open educational resources can open the door to dual enrollment for students who want a head start on college but cannot afford the high cost of college textbooks.
To help states and colleges create and use more open classroom materials, a new report from the Southern Regional Education Board and the Midwestern Higher Education Compact offers case studies and recommendations.
SREB Doctoral Scholars Program founding director to receive lifetime achievement award
Ansley Abraham, the founding
director of SREB’s acclaimed program to increase the number of
underrepresented Ph.D. graduates and college faculty of color,
will be awarded the 2021 Arthur A. Fletcher Lifetime Achievement
Award.
The award will be given by the American Association for Access, Equity and Diversity during the association’s 47th Annual National Conference and Awards Ceremony in October.
Statement on the death of Representative John “Bam” Carney
Kentucky State Representative Bam Carney, former chair of the Southern Regional Education Board Legislative Advisory Council, died July 17, 2021.
The legislators, educators and staff members who work together as the Southern Regional Education Board are deeply saddened by the death of John “Bam” Carney of Campbellsville, Kentucky, a leader in education and an advocate for students.
EDUCATION LEADERS WILL SPEAK ON NATIONAL PANEL ON ‘UNFINISHED LEARNING’
A panel of education leaders at this week’s Southern Regional Education Board Making Schools Work Conference will discuss their states’ and school systems’ plans to address students’ unfinished learning.
SREB President Stephen Pruitt will moderate the online panel on Wednesday, July 7, at 1 p.m. ET. Panelists will discuss their plans to provide new levels of support for students this fall and how they’re re-envisioning education in the long term.
Educators gather online for annual school improvement conference
More than 1,600 educators nationwide will gather online this week for a national school improvement conference to share strategies to address unfinished learning, improve access and equity for each student, and raise the quality of instruction when school opens this fall.
The Southern Regional Education Board Making Schools Work Conference is taking place July 6-9.
Governor Carney of Delaware Elected to Second Term as Chair of Southern Regional Education Board
Dr. Smith of Kentucky is vice chair, Senator Plymale of West Virginia re-elected treasurer
ATLANTA — Governor John Carney of Delaware will serve a second one-year term as chair of the Southern Regional Education Board. He was re-elected on June 11 in a virtual meeting of the Board’s Executive Committee.
Governor Carney leads the collaborative work of governors, legislators and state education leaders on SREB’s 80-member Board to improve public education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education.
Faculty diversity doesn’t match student demographics, reports show
ATLANTA — The rates of Black, Hispanic and other
underrepresented college faculty members are not keeping pace
with the changing student demographics in many states, according
to the Southern Regional Education Board’s 16 new state profiles and regional data
on faculty diversity.
Only about 9.2% of full- and part-time faculty members were Black
and 5.1% were Hispanic at public four-year institutions in the
16-state SREB region in 2017-18, the latest year with federal
data available.
Costs of four-year college rose sharply for low-income families even before pandemic
ATLANTA — The lowest-income families in many Southern states
saw major five-year increases in the share of their income
required to send a student to a public four-year university — and
the pandemic could make the situation worse.
Go Alliance Academy
Effective January 2021, SREB has transitioned the Go Alliance Academy to College Success Arizona. Please contact Shaylinn Aleman, CSA coordinator of membership services, for information.
Go Alliance Academy strives to increase the postsecondary success of all students by providing timely and relevant professional development to school counselors and by helping colleges of education transform the ways future counselors are trained.
Higher Ed Compacts Come Together to Help Students Succeed with Open Educational Resources
State leaders, postsecondary education institutions and education leaders are working across state lines to promote the adoption of open educational resources (known as OER) to help millions of students access high quality learning materials that are free to use, customize and share. OER are free for students, and they make it easy for faculty to personalize lessons and textbooks to engage students with fresh, relevant content.
New dashboard equips SREB states with data to improve pay, support for teachers
As state leaders prepare for the 2021 legislative sessions, a new teacher-compensation dashboard from the nonpartisan Southern Regional Education Board provides policymakers and educators with a trove of information on 16 states’ pay and benefits for teachers.
Analysis: Millions need more education, training as COVID-19 tilts industries toward automation faster than expected
ATLANTA — About 18 million workers in the South
originally projected to become unemployable by 2030 now could
face that reality by 2025 as the COVID-19 crisis speeds up
employers’ reliance on automation, a new Southern Regional
Education Board analysis shows.
“This dangerous trend was already on the horizon, but COVID-19
makes it the next exit off the highway,” SREB President Stephen
L. Pruitt said.
States should expand business-education partnerships, connect more students with high-demand careers
States need to make partnerships among employers and schools far more routine so that more students can learn about and gain experience in high-wage careers, a new Southern Regional Education Board report shows.
Teacher Pay Needs Long-Term Changes; Actions Today Can Help Retain Teachers
Teacher compensation needs broad changes to bring salaries in line with other professionals. And even while state revenues lag during the pandemic, states and schools can take immediate steps to support educators and keep teacher shortages from worsening.
Those are among the findings of a new Southern Regional Education Board report, showing that states should continue to raise teacher pay and improve benefits and other types of support.
State Legislators Launch Study Group
Will Examine High-Performing, Equitable and Efficient Education Systems Around the World
Sixteen legislators and eight staff embark on year-long project that will culminate in a major report that will provide a framework for state education systems to achieve at the highest level.
Progress on Education, Challenges Ahead
2020 State Progress Reports: A Turning Point
States are making advancements in education but need to focus more urgently on areas such as early reading and math to prepare more students for postsecondary education and success in the workplace, according to new reports from the Southern Regional Education Board.
Schools Honored with 2020 Pacesetter Awards
Awards to be presented at the 2021 Making Schools Work Conference
Twenty-three schools won 2020 Gene Bottoms Pacesetter School Awards for their efforts to increase quality instruction and raise student achievement.
- Download Asbury High School
- Download Bethel-Tate Middle School
- Download Choffin Career and Technical Center
- Download Deer Park Junior/Senior High School
- DeKalb County Technology Center
- Download Easley High School
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2020 State and District Leadership Awards
SREB recognizes the outstanding leadership efforts of a state and a district that established structures to help schools transform their school and classroom practices and maintain cultures of continuous improvement.
Governor Carney of Delaware Elected SREB Chair
Johnson of Oklahoma is vice chair, West Virginia's Plymale treasurer
June 29, 2020 — Governor John Carney of Delaware was elected
to serve as chair of the Southern Regional Education Board at the
organization’s executive committee meeting Friday. He succeeds
Governor Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas.
Governor Carney will lead the collaborative work of governors,
legislators and state education leaders on SREB’s 80-member Board to improve public education at
every level, from early childhood through doctoral education.
Data, Definitions Limit What We Know About Dual Enrollment
SREB publishes comprehensive review of research
States need better data to measure whether dual enrollment programs are realizing their promise, says a review of existing research published by the Southern Regional Education Board this week.
To determine return on investment and improve dual credit programs, states will need to clarify their goals, be sure policies support them, and collect data that connects students’ K-12 and postsecondary experiences.
Senator Locke of Virginia Is New Chair of SREB Legislative Council
State Senator Mamie Locke of Hampton, Virginia, was chosen
as chair of the Southern Regional Education Board Legislative
Advisory Council at a meeting of the group last week.
A Virginia state senator since 2004, Senator Locke chairs the
senate rules committee and is a member of the education and
health, finance and appropriation, rehabilitation and social
services, and general laws and technology committees. She also
chairs the finance and appropriations higher education
subcommittee and the education and health higher education
subcommittee.
On Racial Justice and Equity
A statement from the Southern Regional Education Board
The Southern Regional Education Board stands with black people and their allies around the South and across the nation in condemning racially motivated violence and racism in all its manifestations.
Ahmaud Arbery in south Georgia. Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. George Floyd in Minneapolis. The most recent names on a long list of black lives that mattered. That still matter.
This moment must be the impetus for change.
College Costs a Heavy Burden for Low-Income Families
How affordable is college in your state?
The rising cost of college hits low-income families hardest, slowing progress toward states’ educational attainment goals and the workforces their economies need. The latest SREB college affordability profiles tell the story of affordability in each state.
Higher Education Recovery Task Force Launches
A new Higher Education Recovery Task Force will convene higher education leaders from the 16 Southern Regional Education Board states to address the challenges facing colleges, universities and students during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery.
K-12 Education Recovery Task Force to Serve 16 States
Leaders from 16 states will serve on a new regional Education Recovery Task Force to help states determine the best strategies for reopening K-12 public schools, providing each student with the support they need, and planning for a possible COVID-19 resurgence and future emergencies, the Southern Regional Education Board announced today.
Statement on the death of Senator Jack Hill
from SREB President Stephen L. Pruitt
State Senator Jack Hill of Georgia, a longtime Southern Regional Education Board officer and member, died on April 6, 2020.
“Senator Jack Hill was a gem, a true Southern gentleman and an unwavering statesman. For decades in Georgia, he was an instrumental education leader for education—collaborating, befriending and mentoring colleagues across the political spectrum. As the longtime chair of the Senate budget committee in Georgia, he insisted that the state’s students came first on more occasions than many people knew.
Keep Next Year’s Teachers on Track
Immediate and longer-term policy actions for student-teachers
With colleges and schools closed for COVID-19, state leaders will need to act quickly to keep 60,000 teacher-candidates on track to graduate and enter the workforce in Southern states next year. SREB convened college of education and K-12 leaders from five states to discuss barriers and share ideas, and a new brief recommends short-term policy changes.
GA Online Courses for Students, Teachers Available in All States
OER Courses Grades 6 -12 and Training for Teachers on Remote Learning
Available in All States
Georgia’s OER Online Courses, Grades 6 -12, and Free Training for Teachers on Remote Learning
Georgia Virtual’s OER (open educational resource) digital course content for middle grade and high school students and training courses for teachers are freely available to educators in all states thanks to the Georgia Department of Education and its Georgia Virtual Learning program.
Math for Elementary Students and Their Teachers
How to improve math instruction for young students
SREB’s Early Math Matters: Factoring in Teacher Knowledge and Practice shows why math is so critical for young students and recommends ways to improve math instruction in elementary schools.
Why Early Matters: The Snowball Effect
Aligning Strategies to Improve the Teaching Profession
Teacher Workforce: A Top Issue in 2020
February 24, 2020 — Every state in the SREB region is struggling to find qualified candidates to teach the next generation. How can states reverse these trends?
SREB Nursing Council to Sunset June 30
70 years of Leadership in Nurse Education in the South
The Southern Regional Education Board and its Council on Collegiate Education for Nursing announced today that the Council’s programs will conclude June 30, 2020.
Open Education Resources Can Reduce Cost, Improve Quality
Collaborating to Scale Digital Learning Materials
K-12, college and university leaders are working across state lines to reduce barriers faced by students and to empower faculty with access to a wide range of instructional materials.
McClellan of Virginia Chosen as SREB Legislative Advisory Vice Chair
State Senator Jennifer McClellan of Virginia was elected vice chair of the Southern Regional Education Board Legislative Advisory Council at the group’s annual meeting in Atlanta.
Pruitt Delivers Address at International STEM Summit
SREB President Stephen L. Pruitt delivers a distinguished lecture on integrated STEM education Friday at the First Integrated STEM Leadership Summit in the Philippines.
Tuskegee University Dean Wins Workforce Diversity in Nursing Award
Constance Hendricks, dean of the
Tuskegee University School of Nursing & Allied Health, was
awarded the Mary Elizabeth Carnegie Award at the SREB Council on
Collegiate Education for Nursing annual meeting in November
in Atlanta, Georgia.
University of Nevada-Reno Faculty Member Wins National Faculty Mentor of the Year Award
Kelly Cross, an assistant
professor of chemical engineering at the University of
Nevada, Reno, was awarded one of six national Faculty Mentor
of the Year awards at the 26th annual Institute on
Teaching and Mentoring in October in Atlanta,
Georgia. The Institute is the nation’s largest annual
gathering of underrepresented Ph.D. students and college faculty
members of color.
Penn State Faculty Member Wins Faculty Mentor of the Year Award
Michael Eracleous, a professor in
the department of astronomy & astrophysics at Pennsylvania State
University, was awarded one of six national Faculty
Mentor of the Year awards at the 26th annual Institute on
Teaching and Mentoring in October in Atlanta,
Georgia. The Institute is the nation’s largest annual
gathering of underrepresented Ph.D. students and college faculty
members of color.
Georgia Tech Faculty Member Wins National Faculty of the Year Award
Martha Grover, a professor and associate chair for graduate studies in the Georgia Tech School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, was awarded one of six national Faculty Mentor of the Year awards at the 26th annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring in October in Atlanta, Georgia. The Institute is the nation’s largest annual gathering of underrepresented Ph.D. students and college faculty members of color.
Georgia College Faculty Member Wins National Faculty Mentor Award
Stephanie McClure, a professor of
sociology at Georgia College, was awarded one of
six national Faculty Mentor of the Year awards at the 26th
annual Institute on
Teaching and Mentoring in October in Atlanta,
Georgia. The Institute is the nation’s largest annual
gathering of underrepresented Ph.D. students and college faculty
members of color.
Purdue University Faculty Member Wins National Faculty of the Year Award
Levon T. Esters, an associate professor of agricultural sciences education and communication, was awarded one of six national Faculty Mentor of the Year awards at the 26th annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring in October in Atlanta, Georgia. The Institute is the nation’s largest annual gathering of underrepresented Ph.D. students and college faculty members of color.
Delaware State University Faculty Member Wins National Mentor of the Year Award
Mukti Rana, a professor of engineering and director of the Optical Science Center for Applied Research, was awarded one of six national Faculty Mentor of the Year awards at the 26th annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring in October in Atlanta, Georgia. The Institute is the nation’s largest annual gathering of underrepresented Ph.D. students and college faculty members of color.
$5.3M Federal Grant Will Help STEM Majors Become Georgia Middle Grades Teachers
Residency partnership among SREB, Georgia College and local school districts
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded the Southern Regional Education Board a $5.3 million, five-year Teacher Quality Partnership grant to create a residency-based teacher preparation program with Georgia College & State University.
World’s Largest Faculty Diversity Event Convenes in Atlanta Oct. 24-27
Institute on Teaching and Mentoring helps scholars of color complete the Ph.D. and succeed as faculty members
A Farewell to Cheryl Blanco
SREB bid a fond farewell this week to Cheryl Blanco. After more than a decade of service to the organization, she is looking forward to more family time while continuing to work on higher education issues.
Institute on Teaching and Mentoring Is an Effective Faculty Diversity Strategy
NSF-Funded Evaluation Report
The Institute on Teaching and Mentoring is an important complement to university training in doctoral programs, according to a National Science Foundation-funded study of its participants. The report affirms the annual event’s effectiveness in increasing the diversity of faculty on U.S. campuses.
SREB Launches Dual Enrollment Initiative
Working with states to address equity, cost and the student experience
The Southern Regional Education Board has launched a multi-year initiative to help states address growing concerns about dual enrollment, including cost and equity.
With an advisory panel of members from schools, universities, agencies and legislatures across the SREB states, the project will explore how dual enrollment can:
Stevie Lawrence Will Lead SREB Postsecondary Work as Vice President
Stevie L. Lawrence II will join the Southern Regional Education Board September 4 as vice president for postsecondary education. In this role, he will lead SREB’s postsecondary programs, such as the Academic Common Market, Doctoral Scholars Program, education data services and state authorization reciprocity agreements. He will also be charged with developing additional initiatives to support postsecondary state offices and institutions.
Postsecondary Trends Threaten Workforce Needs
Fact Book Documents Challenges to Education Attainment Goals
Postsecondary attainment continues a slow climb in the South,
according to the 2019 Fact Book on Higher
Education.
Population and college enrollment trends are beginning to slow at
a time when advancing technology and artificial intelligence are
shifting the workplace to demand higher-level skills. And
affordability remains a stubborn challenge to students and
families and to states trying raise state education attainment
levels to grow their economies.
John Lee to Join SREB as Vice President for Development, Policy Analysis
John Michael Lee Jr. joins SREB August 26 as vice president for development and policy research. In this role, he will lead a new development office to raise funds to expand SREB services and explore new opportunities to support states. He will also lead SREB’s policy analysis office, which researches education topics from pre-K through postsecondary and the workforce, and direct informational technology.
In North Carolina, Rural Schools Come Together to Keep More Students on Track for Graduation
Teachers and leaders from Bladen, Beaufort and Stanly county school districts in North Carolina convened in Raleigh this week to delve into systemic challenges that students, teachers and leaders face in rural communities. The goal: increase the number of middle grade and high school students who are on track for graduation, as measured by indicators such as state assessments, grade point average and passing grades in core classes.
Benedum Foundation Awards Grant to Marshall University-SREB Partnership
Expanding Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics in Huntington, WV
The Marshall University Foundation has been awarded a $50,000 planning grant from the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation to expand science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics opportunities in Huntington, West Virginia, and to update a statewide high school STEM program. The grant was developed by Marshall University engineering and art programs with the SREB Advanced Career program and the Office of Career and Technical Education at the West Virginia Department of Education.
Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee Educators Win National Readiness Awards
Preparing students for college-credit courses
Educators from Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee, and schools in Arkansas and Mississippi, in were honored this week with the Southern Regional Education Board’s Readiness awards. These national awards recognize outstanding teachers and leaders offering SREB’s Readiness Courses, which help underprepared students succeed in high school and postsecondary programs without the need for remediation.
State and District Leadership Awards
SREB recognizes the outstanding leadership efforts of a state and district that established structures to help schools transform their school and classroom practices and maintain a culture of continuous improvement.
The Ohio Department of Education and the Syracuse City School District in New York won the State and District Leadership Awards at SREB’s Making Schools Work Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.
Schools Honored at the Making Schools Work Conference
2019 Gene Bottoms Pacesetter School Awards
Ten schools were recognized at the Making Schools Work Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, for their efforts to increase quality instruction and raise student achievement.
The Gene Bottoms Pacesetter Awards recognize schools that implement one of SREB’s Making Schools Work school improvement frameworks and are achieving success in increasing student graduation rates, readiness for college or careers, and credential attainment.
How did each each school achieve the award? Download the releases below for details.
- Download Anderson 5 Career Campus
- Download Buckeye Valley Middle School
- Download Grant Career Center
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- Download Nicholas County Career and Technical Center
- Download Northland Career Center
- Download Pioneer Career Technology Center
- Download St. Marys Middle School
- Download Steubenville High School
- Download Susquehanna County CTC
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Educators Win 2019 Literacy and Math Awards at National Conference
These teachers, trainers, schools and districts were honored for using powerful literacy and math practices at SREB’s College- and Career-Readiness Standards Networking Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. Download the full release to find out how they won.
3,000+ Educators Convene in Baltimore
SREB Making Schools Work Conference July 10-13
The nation’s premier professional learning event for K-12 education, SREB’s annual Making Schools Work Conference attracts thousands of teachers, counselors, principals, technology center directors, and state and district education agency personnel.
Rural Georgia Schools Partner to Improve
Burke, Emanuel, Jefferson county districts work with GLISI and SREB in networked improvement community
In Georgia, three rural school districts are coming together to find local solutions to improve student achievement. Together, Burke County, Emanuel County and Jefferson County schools serve more than 11,000 students. SREB and the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement are partnering to support this new networked improvement community with technical assistance, coaching and more.
Improving Educator Feedback and Support
Lessons From 8 States
A new report from SREB recaps the impact of technical assistance
grants to help states improve their educator effectiveness
strategies.
With new and better training on observations, administrators
improved as instructional leaders and teachers began to receive
more instructional support. Scaling support to reach all school
leaders proved challenging.
SREB and GLISI Enter New Partnership
The Southern Regional Education Board and the Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement have joined forces in a strategic two-year partnership to support the use of improvement science for three rural district partners.
“School leadership matters, and we’re pleased to be working with GLISI to help teachers and principals get better at finding and improving solutions,” said SREB President Stephen Pruitt.
Report Urges Action to Narrow 2030 Skills Gap
States can retool adult education to prepare vulnerable workers
New report urges leaders to look a decade ahead and prepare their states for changes that threaten to leave millions unemployed and millions of jobs with no one to fill them.
How affordable is college in SREB states?
SREB college affordability profiles detail state-level data
Tuition, financial aid and other measures that drive college affordability vary from state to state. To help policymakers evaluate and improve affordability in their states, SREB provides affordability profiles specific to each of its 16 states.
New in this year’s reports: charts showing the changing percentages of tuition and fees versus state appropriations from 2006 to 2016.
Each report details state-specific data including:
States Saved $8.3 Million on Tech Buying
Savings by state, fiscal year 2018
SREB states saved $8.3 million in technology purchases in fiscal year 2018. Schools, universities and agencies in each of the 16 SREB states are eligible for discounts through SREB collaboration with the Midwestern Higher Education Compact.
Carney of Kentucky and Smith of Louisiana Elected as SREB Legislative Committee Officers
State Representative John “Bam” Carney of Kentucky was elected chair of SREB’s Legislative Advisory Council at the group’s annual meeting in Louisville this month. State Representative Patricia Smith of Louisiana was chosen as vice chair.
Sloan Foundation’s Elizabeth Boylan Honored with Frank Abbott Award
Elizabeth S. Boylan, director of the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation’s programs on STEM higher education, was honored with the 2018 Frank Abbott Award at the Institute on Teaching and Mentoring in October in Arlington, Virginia.
Since joining Sloan in 2011, Dr. Boylan has been responsible for the attendance of more than 1,000 Sloan scholars at the Institute and leads the design of a number of sessions at the event.
University of Arkansas Faculty Member Wins National Mentor of the Year Award
Ana Julia Bridges, an associate
professor in the University of Arkansas department of
psychological science, was awarded one of two national Faculty
Mentor of the Year awards at the 25th annual Institute on
Teaching and Mentoring in October in Arlington, Virginia. The
Institute is the nation’s largest annual gathering of
underrepresented Ph.D. students and college faculty members of
color.
Cornell Faculty Member Wins National Mentor of the Year Award
Chris Fromme, an associate
professor at Cornell University in Ithica, N.Y., was awarded one
of two national Faculty Mentor of the Year awards at the
25th annual Institute on
Teaching and Mentoring in October in Arlington, Virginia. The
Institute is the nation’s largest annual gathering of
underrepresented minority Ph.D. students and college
faculty.
Promises Kept in Oklahoma
SREB review of financial aid program
Oklahoma’s Promise is an effective college scholarship program that meets its goals and helps the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education increase education attainment in the state, according to a report from the Southern Regional Education Board. The report cited Oklahoma’s Promise as “an example of how a state can invest valuable resources in its students and see a strong return on that investment.”
How States Prioritize Readiness in School Accountability Plans
New reports detail ESSA plans, with a focus on college and career readiness
How are states’ new school accountability plans focusing on college and career readiness?
Many SREB states went above and beyond the basic requirements of the Every Student Succeeds Act, which addresses readiness but does not require a comprehensive approach. An SREB analysis of state plans across the South identifies five ways states prioritize readiness for all students, statewide. They used the law’s flexibility to:
A 25-Year March Toward Faculty Diversity
Institute on Teaching and Mentoring, Oct. 26-28 in D.C.
The nation’s largest gathering of Ph.D. students and faculty members from minorities underrepresented in higher education. A new National Science Foundation-funded study shows that the Institute is an important complement to university training in doctoral programs.
With School Network, SREB Will Seek Math Solutions
Birmingham-area schools focus on 8th and 9th grade math
Twelve schools in Jefferson County, Alabama, are working together to improve 8th and 9th grade math through a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant to the Southern Regional Education Board.
West Virginia Moves Ahead on Graduation Rates
"Looking Closer" State Progress Reports 2018
West Virginia continues to improve public education on several key measures, according to the 2018 state progress reports from SREB. The reports detail demographic trends, student data from early childhood to postsecondary education, and the state’s implementation of key policies. Full release >
Virginia Moves Ahead on K-12 Reading, Math
"Looking Closer" State Progress Reports 2018
Virginia continues to improve public education on several key measures, according to the 2018 state progress reports from SREB. The reports detail demographic trends, student data from early childhood to postsecondary education, and the state’s implementation of key policies. Full release >
Texas Moves Forward on Math, Attainment
"Looking Closer" State Progress Reports 2018
Texas continues to improve public education on several key measures, according to the 2018 state progress reports from SREB. The reports detail demographic trends, student data from early childhood to postsecondary education, and the state’s implementation of key policies. Full release >
Tennessee Moves Ahead on Graduation Rates
"Looking Closer" State Progress Reports 2018
Tennessee continues to improve public education on several key measures, according to the 2018 state progress reports from SREB. The reports detail demographic trends, student data from early childhood to postsecondary education, and the state’s implementation of key policies. Full release >
South Carolina Moves Ahead on Grad Rates
"Looking Closer" State Progress Reports 2018
South Carolina continues to improve public education on several key measures, according to the 2018 state progress reports from SREB. The reports detail demographic trends, student data from early childhood to postsecondary education, and the state’s implementation of key policies. Full release >
Oklahoma Moves Ahead on Pre-K, Access to ACT
"Looking Closer" State Progress Reports 2018
Oklahoma continues to improve public education on several key measures, according to the 2018 state progress reports from SREB. The reports detail demographic trends, student data from early childhood to postsecondary education, and the state’s implementation of key policies. Full release >
North Carolina Moves Forward in Reading, Math
"Looking Closer" State Progress Reports 2018
North Carolina continues to improve public education on several key measures, according to the 2018 state progress reports from SREB. The reports detail demographic trends, student data from early childhood to postsecondary education, and the state’s implementation of key policies. Full release >
Mississippi Moves Forward in Reading, Math
"Looking Closer" State Progress Reports 2018
Mississippi continues to improve public education on several key measures, according to the 2018 state progress reports from SREB. The reports detail demographic trends, student data from early childhood to postsecondary education, and the state’s implementation of key policies. Full release >
Maryland Moves Forward on Graduation Rates
"Looking Closer" State Progress Reports 2018
Maryland continues to improve public education on several key measures, according to the 2018 state progress reports from SREB. The reports detail demographic trends, student data from early childhood to postsecondary education, and the state’s implementation of key policies. Full release >
Louisiana Moves Forward in College Enrollment
"Looking Closer" State Progress Reports 2018
Louisiana continues to improve public education on several key measures, according to the 2018 state progress reports from SREB. The reports detail demographic trends, student data from early childhood to postsecondary education, and the state’s implementation of key policies. Full release >
Kentucky Moves Ahead in Reading, Graduation
"Looking Closer" State Progress Reports 2018
Kentucky continues to improve public education on several key measures, according to the 2018 state progress reports from SREB. The reports detail demographic trends, student data from early childhood to postsecondary education, and the state’s implementation of key policies. Full release >
Georgia Moves Forward In College Persistence
"Looking Closer" State Progress Reports 2018
Georgia continues to improve public education on several key measures, according to the 2018 state progress reports from SREB. The reports detail demographic trends, student data from early childhood to postsecondary education, and the state’s implementation of key policies. Full release >
Florida Moves Ahead in Pre-K, Graduation Rates
"Looking Closer" State Progress Reports 2018
Florida continues to improve public education on several key measures, according to the 2018 state progress reports from SREB. The reports detail demographic trends, student data from early childhood to postsecondary education, and the state’s implementation of key policies. Full release >
Delaware Moves Forward on Graduation Rates
"Looking Closer" State Progress Reports 2018
Delaware continues to improve public education on several key measures, according to the 2018 state progress reports from SREB. The reports detail demographic trends, student data from early childhood to postsecondary education, and the state’s implementation of key policies. Full release >
Arkansas Moves Forward in Pre-K, Graduation
"Looking Closer" State Progress Reports 2018
Arkansas continues to improve public education on several key measures, according to the 2018 state progress reports from SREB. The reports detail demographic trends, student data from early childhood to postsecondary education, and the state’s implementation of key policies. Full Release >
Alabama Moves Forward in Reading, Graduation
"Looking Closer" State Progress Reports 2018
Alabama continues to improve public education on several key measures, according to the 2018 state progress reports from SREB. The reports detail demographic trends, student data from early childhood to postsecondary education, and the state’s implementation of key policies. Full release >
Access: The Web and the Law
10 Issues in Education Technology for Policymakers
Making digital content accessible is a critical issue not only for schools and colleges to pursue their mission to reach and teach all students, but because it’s the law.
The U.S. Department of Education estimates that 13 percent of public school students, and 11 percent of postsecondary students, have disabilities. To do their best work they need access to all the information and resources their fellow students have. Federal law has been working to see that they do, most recently with new web content standards that went into effect in January.
Arkansas, Alabama And Missouri Educators, South Carolina School Win National Readiness Awards
Leadership in preparing students for success in high school and after
Three educators and a South Carolina high school were honored this week with Southern Regional Education Board awards. These recognize outstanding teaching and leadership with SREB Readiness Courses, which help underprepared students succeed in high school and postsecondary studies. The winners were honored at SREB’s Readiness Courses Institute in Orlando, Florida.
Educators Honored at High Schools That Work Conference
Gene Bottoms Pacesetter School Awards
School districts, school principals and state agencies in Alabama, Kentucky, Texas and other states were recognized at the 32nd Annual High Schools That Work Staff Development Conference in Orlando for their efforts to transform education locally.
James E. “Gene” Bottoms Pacesetter School Awards recognize schools that use HSTW Key Practices to transform teaching and learning and motivate students to succeed in college, careers and life.
Educators Win 2018 Literacy and Math Awards at National Conference
These teachers, trainers, schools and districts were honored for their outstanding literacy and math practices at SREB’s College- and Career-Readiness Standards Networking Conference July 9, 2018 in Orlando, Florida.
Orlando Hosts Thousands of Educators for SREB Conferences July 9-14
Teachers, Leaders Convene to Help Students Graduate Ready for College, Careers
About 3,500 teachers, principals and other K-12 educators from states across the nation gather in Orlando next week at conferences hosted by the Southern Regional Education Board.
Pruitt Succeeds Spence as SREB President
Stephen L. Pruitt has succeeded David S. Spence as president of the Southern Regional Education Board. The former Kentucky commissioner of education is the sixth president in SREB’s 70-year history.
Spence was named president emeritus by the Board and will remain active at SREB for several months during the transition.
Governor Edwards of Louisiana Re-Elected Chair of the Southern Regional Education Board
Chancellor Johnson of Oklahoma is vice chair
LAC officers are Senator Millar of Georgia and Representative Carney of Kentucky
Atlanta, Georgia — June 26, 2018 — Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana was re-elected to serve another one-year term as chair of the Southern Regional Education Board. He was re-elected at the organization’s annual meeting in Boca Raton, Florida, on Sunday.
Puerto Rico Joins Distance Ed Agreement
SARA collaboration among states expands online options for students, reduces costs for institutions
Puerto Rico was approved by the Southern Regional Education Board to join the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
Stephen Pruitt Selected as Next President of the Southern Regional Education Board
Dave Spence Plans to Retire This Summer
Stephen L. Pruitt will serve as the next president of the Southern Regional Education Board. The former Kentucky commissioner of education and senior vice president for Achieve joins SREB in July.
Gene Bottoms, Leader of School Improvement, Retires from SREB
Dale Winkler Named SREB Vice President for School Improvement
After a 61-year career of making school work for students, Gene Bottoms has retired from his role leading school improvement programs for the Southern Regional Education Board.
And after a two-year transition period, Dale Winkler now takes on those responsibilities as SREB vice president for school improvement.
“Gene Bottoms is a giant in the world of improving education for all students,” said SREB President Dave Spence. “What he has built will help students, teachers and states for decades to come.”
Putting TEACHERS Behind the Steering Wheel
Educator Effectiveness Spotlight
We partnered with leaders and educators from three school districts in Oklahoma to find out what happens when teachers are actually the ones behind the steering wheel. Here’s what we learned about empowering teachers to lead their own professional development.
10 Critical Issues in Educational Technology
To improve education, address critical technology issues now
SREB’s Educational Technology Cooperative has launched a 10 Issues in Education Technology initiative to help policymakers focus on the tech issues most critical for education across K-12 and higher ed today.
College Attainment Continues to Climb, Slowly
Trends are promising. Affordability is a challenge.
Despite recent declines in undergraduate college enrollment, trends in high school graduation and K-12 enrollment look promising for continued gains in education attainment rates, according to the latest Fact Book on Higher Education from the Southern Regional Education Board.
In the SREB region:
SREB President Search
The Executive Committee of the Southern Regional Education Board has launched a search for the organization’s next president, to succeed Dave Spence, who will retire in summer 2018.
Identify Students with Dyslexia Early, and Use Proven Strategies to Teach Them
States, schools can help more children learn to read well
Dyslexia affects at least one in 10 people. But only 5 percent of
them are identified so that schools can help them learn to
overcome their difficulties with reading and writing.
A new policy brief from the Southern Regional Education Board
urges states and schools to identify students with dyslexia and
intervene early to help more children meet reading
benchmarks.
Interactive Reports Distill New School Accountability Systems in SREB States
What's in your state's plan?
SREB has published interactive reports on school accountability plans in 16 states. With a focus on college and career readiness, state profiles distill complex information about each state’s plan to help policymakers understand and compare accountability measures.
Texas Surpasses 100 SARA-Approved Institutions
“Texas is always happy to be the first; especially in initiatives that are good for both students and institutions,” said Rex Peebles, assistant commissioner of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. As the 48 states and territories in SARA work towards getting institutions SARA-approved, Texas announced that it is the first state to reach 100 institutions approved. Pennsylvania at 93 institutions, and Illinois at 84, remain a close second and third.
New report recommends state actions on reading in the early grades
Far too few students read proficiently by 4th grade
Only a third of students in SREB states read at or above grade
level by the end of third grade — leaving two thirds at
risk of not graduating high school on time or succeeding in
college.
Florida Joins Distance Ed Agreement
SARA collaboration among states expands online options for students, reduces costs for institutions
The state of Florida was approved by the Southern Regional Education Board to join the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (SARA)
FIU Professor Receives National Award for Mentoring Graduate Students of Color
Dr. Dionne P. Stephens, an assistant professor of psychology at Florida International University in Miami, was presented one of two national Faculty Mentor of the Year Awards on Oct. 28 at the nation’s largest gathering of underrepresented minority Ph.D. students and faculty.
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY ASSISTANT DEAN RECEIVES NATIONAL MENTORING AWARD
Dr. Stephanie Danette Preston, interim associate dean for graduate student affairs and assistant dean for graduate educational equity at Pennsylvania State University, was presented one of two national Faculty Mentor of the Year Awards on Oct. 28 at the nation’s largest gathering of underrepresented minority Ph.D. students and faculty.
Simmons Professor Wins National Award for Support of Ph.D. Students of Color
Dr. Stacy Blake-Beard, a professor at the Simmons School of Management in Boston, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award on Oct. 28 at the nation’s largest gathering of underrepresented minority Ph.D. students and faculty.
S.C. State professor presented national award for her work with Ph.D. students of color
Dr. Sheila Witherspoon, an associate professor of counselor education at South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, was presented one of three national Extra Mile Awards on Oct. 28 at the nation’s largest gathering of underrepresented minority Ph.D. students and faculty.
NASA OFFICIAL PRESENTED NATIONAL AWARD FOR WORK WITH PH.D. STUDENTS OF COLOR
Dr. Roosevelt Johnson, deputy associate administrator of NASA, was presented one of three national Extra Mile Awards on Oct. 28 at the nation’s largest gathering of underrepresented minority Ph.D. students and faculty.
TEMPLE UNIVERSITY VICE PROVOST PRESENTED NATIONAL AWARD FOR WORK WITH PH.D. STUDENTS OF COLOR
Dr. Zebulon Kendrick, the vice provost at Temple University in Philadelphia, was presented one of three Extra Mile Awards on Oct. 28 at the nation’s largest gathering of underrepresented minority Ph.D. students and faculty.
Nation’s largest gathering of minority Ph.D. students
Institute addresses shortage of faculty members of color
WHAT
The nation’s largest gathering of minority Ph.D. students, graduates, and college faculty members. Led by the Atlanta-based Southern Regional Education Board’s Doctoral Scholars Program, the conference brings together more than 900 Ph.D. students and graduates from minorities underrepresented in higher education.
Commission Calls for Data Systems to Improve Teacher Preparation
States can take the first step now to learn what works
Building strong data systems on teachers’ education and early careers may be the single best way to improve teacher preparation, says a report from the Southern Regional Education Board Teacher Preparation Commission.
Study Shows 3 High-Impact Strategies for States
Aligning Classroom Materials to State Readiness Standards
How have schools managed the massive shift of aligning classroom
teaching materials to their states’ college- and career-readiness
standards?
New reports from the Southern Regional Education Board detail how
states approached the challenge and recommend strategies to focus
on as the work continues.
Educators Honored at High Schools That Work Conference
Excellence in Action Awards
School districts, school principals and state agencies in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, West Virginia and other states were recognized at the 31st Annual High Schools That Work Staff Development Conference in Nashville for their efforts to transform education locally.
Mississippi, Arkansas Educators Win National Readiness Awards
Outstanding leadership in improving college readiness for high school students
Four educators were honored this week for their work to help underprepared students succeed in high school and postsecondary studies. Mary Zluticky of Horn Lake High School in Mississippi, Phil Wesson of Sheridan High in Arkansas, and Marla Davis and Jean Massey of the Mississippi Department of Education won SREB awards.
Educators Win 2017 LDC, MDC Awards at National Conference
These teachers, trainers, schools and districts were honored for their implementation of the Literacy Design Collaborative and Mathematics Design Collaborative frameworks at SREB’s College- and Career-Readiness Standards Networking Conference July 10, 2017, in Nashville, Tennessee.
Governor Edwards of Louisiana Re-Elected SREB Chair
Senator Elliott of Arkansas is vice chair
LAC officers are Representative Baker of Alabama and Senator Millar of Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia — June 30, 2017 — Governor John Bel Edwards of Louisiana will serve a second one-year term as chair of the Southern Regional Education Board. He was re-elected at the organization’s annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Sunday.
Kentucky’s New Nursing Career Pathway
A Clearer, Faster Route to Credentials and Degrees
Educators, employers create a seamless pipeline from
high school to high-demand health careers
Atlanta, June 19, 2017 — A new nursing pathway in
Kentucky will accelerate high school students’ attainment of
industry-approved certifications, licensures and credentials,
culminating in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
Switching Gears
Jefferson County Schools Implements New Strategies to Improve Instructional Practices & Student Success
How do schools transition from failing — or simply getting by — to thriving? What does it take to get truly different results for students? With a mission of preparing more students to succeed in college and the real world, education leaders are beginning to face the tough realization that they must evaluate what they’ve done in the past and make some fundamental and intentional changes to get better results for students of all backgrounds.
