Mark Savel

*See Artifact 1

Indicator

The administrator has knowledge and understanding of effective
communication.
The administrator believes in, values, and is committed to inclusion of
all members of the school community.
The administrator facilitates processes and engages in activities
ensuring that the vision and mission are communicated through the use of
symbols, ceremonies, stories, and similar activities.
The contributions of school community members to the realization of the
vision are recognized and celebrated.


Gakona School services a diverse population of students from Gulkana
Village, Gakona Village, and the surrounding caucasian community. The
area is quite large and other than the post office, the school is the
only connective tie. Three years ago surveys indicated the school was
distant and information was not shared well. There were several
directions I sought with this barrier. Not only is every member of all
communities personally invited either by phone or mail to all school
activities, my family and I also attend community events. Parent
letters are sent home weekly. The ice rink was flooded and yard lights
replaced for the first time in many years. The students carol the
entire community at Christmas, etc. With all these things, plus more,
there still seemed to be an outpour of "uninformed" community members.

The solution...we developed a school/community newspaper which is
published monthly. Copies are placed at the post office in addition to
hand delivery to folks in the villages. Furthermore, the Copper Valley
Weekly (Copper Basic Paper) devotes a page to our school in which we
place excerpts from our paper. It is a fairly simple format. Students
are the reporters in addition to my section and any other staff member.
The community is informed. We know they are informed because we publish
close to one hundred copies every month. With a school population of
17, that figure is quite substantial. It has been a very useful tool to
promote school/community relations and keep the vision going.

Community like and deserve to be informed. It is the responsibility of
the administrator to ensure community members feel a part of the school
successes and trials.


Indicator

The administrator has knowledge and understanding of the principles of
developing and implementing strategic plans.
The administrator believes in, values, and is committed to continuous
school improvement.
The administrator facilitates processes and engages in activities
ensuring that the vision and mission are communicated through the use of
symbols, ceremonies, stories, and similar activities.
The administrator facilitates processes and engages in activities
ensuring that the needed resources are sought and obtained to support
the implementation of school mission and goals.

Reading Incentive Program

*See Artifact 1.2

The reading incentive program actually has numerous components.
Students have monthly goals to read 15 minutes nightly. Each month is a
theme of Jack reaching the Beanstalk or the salmon swimming upstream.
Students are rewarded with either a Pizza Hut Personal Pan pizza or a
MacDonald's All American Meal, book of their choice, and an ice cream
social for those completing the goal.

There are numerous reading incentive programs promoted by businesses.
Artifact 1.2 includes information about the Pizza Hut Book-It Program,
MacDonald's All American Meal, local business contribution, and Troll
reading club. These are all great school-wide programs that provide
rewards at no cost to teachers or schools.

A further goal is to promote summer reading. Students will make a
summer reading goal of x number of books or pages. Once their goals is
reached and the goal sheet mailed to me, I will send them a prize in the
mail. I haven't ventured into the support aspects of that yet. It will
most likely be the "Savel Reading Goal Reacher."

Students are highly motivated to read each month and reach the goal.
The incentives can encourage school-wide reading. In larger schools,
teachers could share in the thematic approaches and incentives. There
are a lot of reading incentive programs available for administrators to
seek for their schools.

Open House and other school hosted events
Hosting and facilitating various parent and community meetings
Analyzing testing data and implementing into instruction
Creating and distributing the Gakona Gossip
Organizing and maintaining student portfolios
Coordinating and scheduling parent volunteers
Encouraging and promoting good attendance
Progress reports and conferences
Special education meetings
Creating and implementing a Reading Incentive Program
Monthly awards program
Hosting and coordinating after school programs
*See Artifact 1.3