NDE Administrators’ Forum: a brief history

The Administrator forum started in 2005, as a means to invite feedback and contributions to the how-to guide, written by Leslie James, for implementing and sustaining a PLC; and to share resources on the topic of professional learning communities.

Administrators shared their questions, expertise and stories. Finally the "Learning By Doing" handbook came out from Solution Tree in 2006 which took care of this need.

We continued the forum because people liked the networking opportunity and we were able to increase knowledge about other Nevada Department of Education initiatives like "Assessment FOR Learning". To continue the Forum paid for through Title II-A funds we have to document it is "high quality professional development" that is actually impacting knowledge, skills, and behavior of administrators to support teaching instruction and the bottom line of impact on student learning.

Now we are thinking "outside the box“ ready to explore an opportunity to tap further into your genius because the only thing that really limits people (including teachers and students) is their beliefs. A recap as to how we came up with the idea of reflective writing and sharing discoveries from tapping that genius within...

We took your feedback regarding the "lack of time" factor caused by dealing with "pressing matters" as a reason for not being able to contribute more actively on the Forum.

We put the challenge out to "think outside the box" by posing a new question:

"What if time for reflection was actually considered a 'pressing thing' for all members of the Administrator Forum?"

From this prompt came the idea of Forum members reflecting and writing on the "pressing thing" that is on our minds, to see where that takes us.

Think about it. Space for written reflection leads to connecting ideas, new discoveries and innovation.