November 19, 2024

It’s happened. The holidays are approaching, and the CEO has announced their retirement. While this news may create a whirlwind of emotions and a list of urgent questions, AESA’s Executive Search Services are here to guide you seamlessly through this critical transition. 

With decades of expertise in educational leadership and a proven track record, AESA understands the complexities of selecting leaders who align with your organization’s values and vision. Our comprehensive, customized search process ensures that your search is tailored specifically to your agency’s needs. From the initial consultation to final placement, we manage every step to deliver candidates who are not only highly qualified but also a cultural fit for your organization. 

Ready to start your search? Reach out to John Bass, AESA Chief Operating Officer, at jbass@aesa.us to discuss how AESA can make your leadership transition smooth and successful. 

The AESA staff and consultants are hard at work to ensure this year’s Annual Conference is both informative and captivating. It’s shaping up to be an incredible event filled with learning, networking, and inspiration!

If you haven’t registered yet—it’s not too late! We always welcome last-minute attendees. Sign up now to secure your spot!

Already registered? Be sure to download the Whova mobile app and create your personal agenda. It’s a great way to stay organized and help us manage breakout session capacities.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Please Note: To have access to the app, you must be registered for the conference.

This year’s AESA Silent Auction is bringing a touch of nostalgia and excitement with an exclusive offering of collector’s cards featuring legendary sports icons. Each player is represented by two unique cards, and they’ll be auctioned in three separate sets.

Here’s what’s up for grabs:

• Tom Brady: Two cards commemorating the GOAT of professional football.
• Pete Rose: Two cards highlighting the achievements of baseball’s all-time hits leader.
• Hank Aaron: Two cards celebrating the life and career of one of baseball’s greatest legends.

Not only will you have the chance to own a piece of sports history, but your bids will directly support AESA’s mission of empowering educational service agencies nationwide. The funds raised from the Silent Auction contribute to programs that strengthen education and drive meaningful change.

If collector cards aren’t your thing, don’t worry—our Silent and Live Auctions are packed with fabulous items you won’t want to miss! We'll share more items in the coming weeks leading up to the big events.

For more information about the AESA Foundation Silent and Live auctions, please contact Tina Viletto at tvilletto@aesa.us.

The Regional Educational Lab Program will have representation at the AESA Annual Conference next month. In the meantime, they wanted to share a new literacy-focused resource just released: A Practitioner’s Guide to Improving Literacy Outcomes for Students by Using Evidence to Strengthen Programs and Practices.

This resource builds on REL Southeast’s Literacy Roadmap, and was developed to help TA providers at the state, ESA, or district level support the implementation of evidence-based literacy practices. It is based on the U.S. Department of Education’s Non-Regulatory Guidance for using evidence to improve teaching and learning that includes a five-step, continuous improvement cycle. Each step includes freely available, high-quality literacy resources developed by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), many of which the REL Program created.

November 12 was an exciting night for Congress as each chamber moved bills important to AESA and educators across the country; Secure Rural Schools and the Social Security Fairness Act. Although they are not quite past the finish line, these actions are very promising. Read more here.

On November 14, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released a new resource, Frequently Asked Privacy-Related Questions About Filing a Complaint with OCR. Responding to privacy-related questions frequently raised by individuals who file complaints and/or contact OCR for technical assistance, this resource provides helpful details about how information – including the identity of a complainant – will be used by OCR when OCR investigates a complaint. The resource also provides information on civil rights protections for individuals who submit a complaint of discrimination or participate in an investigation.

For more information on how OCR evaluates, opens, investigates, and resolves complaints, please see OCR’s Case Processing Manual. For more information on the prohibition against retaliation, please see OCR’s Retaliation webpage.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined last week's insightful Zoom session with Dr. Joseph Goins, CEO of Pathway2Careers (P2C). The turnout was fantastic, and the discussion sparked meaningful dialogue about bridging classroom learning with real-world careers.

If you couldn’t make it or would like to revisit the conversation, we’ve got you covered! You can now access the recorded session!