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About CSCAE
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Reports from the Field Training New Adult Ed Administrators Mary Smith, a hypothetical new adult education administrator, walks into her new principal's job with a great deal of administrative experience but little background in adult education. In her first week on the job, she must submit the yearly A22 report, compile an annual budget based on ADA projections, approve a new EL Civics list of objectives, and evaluate a potential ESL teacher's credential. Where does she find the information needed to successfully complete these crucial tasks? Right now, the solution is probably a hit 'n miss combination of attending conferences, networking, seeking the council of experienced colleagues, and trial and error. However, there may soon be a better answer for Ms. Smith and the approximately 100 or more new California adult school principals and directors who each school year step into a job that K-12 administrative experience and advanced degrees really don't prepare them for. Adult Education 101, a new administrative development workshop presenting an overview of administrative topics, including budgeting, personnel, and data collection, was recently field tested in Sacramento, through the Sacramento Regional Resource Center. Joan Polster, Director of Adult Education at Sacramento City USD, hosted the day and a half workshop, which was attended by 30 new or nearly-new principals, vice principals, and program supervisors, some with adult education experience of less than a few months. The training focused on practical questions, small group discussions, and lots of opportunities for networking. As Kevin O'Brian, a new administrator at Eureka Adult School, whose background is elementary and middle schools, put it, "Adult education is a whole different world and I was not the only one (at the workshop) who didn't know the acronyms. We felt free to ask dumb questions." Contact: Kathleen Jain, Bay Area Regional Resource Coordinator, 510-644-6130 or Trish Kerns, Sacramento Regional Resource Coordinator, 916-264-3746.
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