District/School Administration Administration
The Board of Education Advisory Councils

Recruitment of Candidates for Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Advisory Councils

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is seeking candidates to serve on the Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Advisory Councils.

The Massachusetts Education Reform Act of 1993 established the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education's Advisory Councils to advise the Commissioner and the Board of Education on matters related to their specific areas of focus for the purpose of enhancing efforts to improve public education and advance student achievement. We are seeking a wide range of diverse constituents including educators, parents, students, business leaders and other community members who have a demonstrated interest in and commitment to excellence in public education in addition to content experience and expertise specific to the interest of the advisory council.

Advisory councils meet four times a year at locations and times determined by their members. Several councils will have openings for the fall of 2009. Members are appointed by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for a term of three years and they serve without compensation.

Nominations will be accepted through August 14, 2009, and recommendations will be made to the Board in September. Interested parties should submit 2 copies of a letter of intent along with a resume to Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D. at the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-54906, (attention: Advisory Councils).

I have included information below on the status of membership on each of the councils, and I hope that you will take this opportunity to consider serving. To learn more about advisory councils, please go to www.doe.mass.edu/boe/sac/.

Massachusetts Advisory Councils to the Board of Education

Adult Basic Education: one vacancy is available for 2009-2010 school year.

Arts Education: vacancies are available for 2009-2010 school year. Persons with knowledge and experience in working with one or more of the Arts disciplines (dance, music, theater, visual arts) are encouraged to apply. Also, an invitation is extended to people of different ages, race and ethnicity, and both men and women.

Community Service-Learning: vacancies are available for 2009-2010 school year. Students, parents, business partners, teachers, school principals and superintendents with interest, experience and/or expertise in community service-learning are invited to apply.

Education Personnel: vacancies are available for 2009-2010 school year. Teachers, community college personnel, and the following associations are encouraged to participate: MA Association of School Superintendents; MA Association of School Committees; and the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts.

Educational Technology: vacancies are available for 2009-2010 school year. Representatives from teacher groups, principals, and business partners are invited to apply.

English Language Learners/Bilingual Education: vacancies are available for 2009-2010 school year. Teachers and administrators from both low-incidence and high-incidence districts are encouraged to apply. Parents are particularly encouraged to apply.

Gifted and Talented Education: vacancies are available for 2009-2010 school year. Interested educators, parents, and particularly minority representatives from the greater Metro Boston area, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Global Education: vacancies are available for 2009-2010 school year. Diverse constituents including educators, parents, students, business leaders and other community members who have a demonstrated interest in and commitment to excellence in public education are invited to apply.

Interdisciplinary Health Education and Human Services: vacancies are available for 2009-2010 school year. School administrators, substance abuse and youth suicide prevention specialists, clergy, parents, community members, representatives of youth-serving organizations are encouraged to apply.

Life Management Skills: vacancies are available for 2009-2010 school year. Policy makers, community leaders, community members, parents, higher education and secondary education professionals are encouraged to apply. Representatives of the business community and public service agencies who are interested in the development of life skills that include financial literacy, health, food and nutrition, and safety are also encouraged to apply.

Mathematics - Science Education: vacancies are available for 2009-2010 school year. Parents, community representative, business representatives, and school administrators with expertise and/or interest, along with Pre-K through college educators in mathematics and science are invited to apply.

Parent and Community Education and Involvement: vacancies are available for 2009-2010 school year. Educators in Pre-K through higher education, parents, students, community and business partners are encouraged to apply. Also an invitation is extended to others who have a demonstrated interest in and commitment to education reform, as well as those with interest and experience in parental and community involvement.

Racial Imbalance: vacancies are available for 2009-2010 school year. Persons with knowledge and experience in working with integration and diversity, cultural proficiency, as well as representatives from districts in the north, west and south are invited to apply. Also encouraged to apply are representatives from organizations that work with these issues, particularly men.

School and District Accountability and Assistance: no vacancies likely for 2009-2010 school year.

Special Education: no vacancies likely for 2009-2010 school year.

Technology/Engineering Education: vacancies are available for 2009-2010 school year. Persons who have expertise and/or interest in this discipline, in particular, parents and community/business representatives are encouraged to apply along with technology education directors, educators and engineering professionals with expertise and or a developed interest in this discipline.

Vocational Technical Education: no vacancies likely for 2009-2010 school year.