Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
Encyclopedia
The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, or ASCD, is a membership-based nonprofit organization founded in 1943. It has more than 175,000 members from over 100 countries, including superintendents
, principals, teacher
s, professors of education, and other educators. While ASCD was initially founded with a focus on curriculum and supervision, the association now provides its members with professional development, educational leadership, and capacity building. Its mission is to develop programs, products, and services essential to the way educators learn, teach, and lead.
's Society for Curriculum Study and Department of Supervisors and Directors of Instruction merged in 1943. ASCD became totally independent of the NEA in 1972.
ASCD is governed by a 21-member Board of Directors, which includes the association's executive director and is chaired by the association's president. A Leadership Council of elected and appointed ASCD members also provides guidance. Valerie Truesdale, superintendent of Beaufort County School District in Beaufort, South Carolina
, took office as ASCD's current president in March 2008.
Some experts like David Magnani, an education policy consultant, believe it could take significant effort to convince lawmakers of the need for the broader definition of achievement and accountability that the Whole Child Initiative promotes. Despite such concerns, the initiative has gained momentum and thousands of parents, educators, community leaders, and policymakers have sought more information from the initiative's website. In addition, dozens of partner organizations, such as the American School Health Association
, Developmental Studies Center
, and the National School Boards Association
, have signed on in support of the initiative.
, Understanding by Design
, and What Works in Schools are the focus of much of its professional development offerings.
OUTSTANDING YOUNG EDUCATOR AWARD
ASCD recognizes the value of young professionals who make a positive difference in education every day.
The OYEA program celebrates the next generation of teachers and administrators who demonstrate outstanding leadership. ASCD seeks candidates who exemplify a passion for excellence in
educating the whole child;
demonstrating leadership;
improving student engagement, achievement, and learning; and
contributing to the education profession.
The winners for OYEA are :
2011 - Brad Kuntz and Luis Torres
2010 - Micheal Powell and Brian Nicholas
2009 - Bijal Damani, India and Marc Cohen
Superintendent (education)
In education in the United States, a superintendent is an individual who has executive oversight and administration rights, usually within an educational entity or organization....
, principals, teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
s, professors of education, and other educators. While ASCD was initially founded with a focus on curriculum and supervision, the association now provides its members with professional development, educational leadership, and capacity building. Its mission is to develop programs, products, and services essential to the way educators learn, teach, and lead.
History and governance
ASCD formed when the National Education AssociationNational Education Association
The National Education Association is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become...
's Society for Curriculum Study and Department of Supervisors and Directors of Instruction merged in 1943. ASCD became totally independent of the NEA in 1972.
ASCD is governed by a 21-member Board of Directors, which includes the association's executive director and is chaired by the association's president. A Leadership Council of elected and appointed ASCD members also provides guidance. Valerie Truesdale, superintendent of Beaufort County School District in Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort, South Carolina
Beaufort is a city in and the county seat of Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. Chartered in 1711, it is the second-oldest city in South Carolina, behind Charleston. The city's population was 12,361 in the 2010 census. It is located in the Hilton Head Island-Beaufort Micropolitan...
, took office as ASCD's current president in March 2008.
Whole child initiative
In March 2007, ASCD launched its Whole Child Initiative to ensure all children are healthy, safe, engaged in learning, supported by caring adults, and academically challenged. The public-engagement and advocacy campaign encourages schools and communities to work together so that each student has access to a challenging curriculum in a healthy and supportive environment. ASCD contends that "current educational practice and policy focus overwhelmingly on academic achievement. This achievement, however, is but one element of student learning and development and only a part of any complete system of educational accountability."Some experts like David Magnani, an education policy consultant, believe it could take significant effort to convince lawmakers of the need for the broader definition of achievement and accountability that the Whole Child Initiative promotes. Despite such concerns, the initiative has gained momentum and thousands of parents, educators, community leaders, and policymakers have sought more information from the initiative's website. In addition, dozens of partner organizations, such as the American School Health Association
American School Health Association
The American School Health Association is a professional association. It claims a membership of 2,000 members in 56 nations, more than half of whom practice in K-12 schools or administer health education or health services programs in school districts or state departments of education.Founded in...
, Developmental Studies Center
Developmental Studies Center
' is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Oakland, California that was founded in 1980 by current president Eric Schaps. DSC develops and disseminates literacy and community-building programs for use in elementary schools, and literacy, mathematics, and science enrichment programs for use in...
, and the National School Boards Association
National School Boards Association
The National School Boards Association, or NSBA, is a nonprofit organization operating as a federation of state associations of school boards across the United States. Founded in 1940, NSBA represents 95,000 local school board members who govern 14,890 local school districts serving more than 47...
, have signed on in support of the initiative.
Programs, products, and services
ASCD has worked with a number of education experts to develop professional development programs, online courses, and publications to help educators learn, teach, and lead. Differentiated instructionDifferentiated instruction
Differentiated instruction involves providing students with different avenues to acquiring content; to processing, constructing, or making sense of ideas; and to developing teaching materials so that all students within a classroom can learn effectively, regardless of differences in...
, Understanding by Design
Understanding by Design
Understanding by Design, or UbD, is a tool utilized for educational planning focused on "teaching for understanding". The emphasis of UbD is on "backward design", the practice of looking at the outcomes in order to design curriculum units, performance assessments, and classroom instruction...
, and What Works in Schools are the focus of much of its professional development offerings.
OUTSTANDING YOUNG EDUCATOR AWARD
ASCD recognizes the value of young professionals who make a positive difference in education every day.
The OYEA program celebrates the next generation of teachers and administrators who demonstrate outstanding leadership. ASCD seeks candidates who exemplify a passion for excellence in
educating the whole child;
demonstrating leadership;
improving student engagement, achievement, and learning; and
contributing to the education profession.
The winners for OYEA are :
2011 - Brad Kuntz and Luis Torres
2010 - Micheal Powell and Brian Nicholas
2009 - Bijal Damani, India and Marc Cohen
Authors
There are a variety of notable authors associated with ASCD, including the following:- Rick Allen
- Thomas ArmstrongThomas ArmstrongSir Thomas Armstrong was an English organist, conductor, educationalist and adjudicator. He had a substantial influence on British music for well over half a century. From 1955 to 1968 he was principal of the Royal Academy of Music...
- Karen Boyes
- Tim Bennett
- Graham Watts
- Mark Boynton
- Christine Boynton
- Ronald S. Brandt
- Susan M. Brookhart
- Jacqueline Grennon Brooks
- John L. Brown
- Emily F. Calhoun
- Kathy Checkley
- Robert W. Cole
- Kathleen Conn
- Arthur L. Costa
- Richard L. Curwin
- Charlotte Danielson
- Jonathan C. Erwin
- Douglas FisherDouglas FisherDouglas Fisher or Doug Fisher may refer to:* Douglas Fisher , British sailor & Fourth Sea Lord* Doug Fisher , British actor* Doug Fisher , Canadian politician and columnist...
- Nancy Frey
- John G. Gabriel
- Mark F. Goldberg
- Steven J. Gross
- Judie Haynes
- Jane D. Hill
- Jane D. Hill
- Thomas R. Hoerr
- Robyn R. Jackson
- Heidi Hayes JacobsHeidi Hayes JacobsDr. Heidi Hayes Jacobs is an author and internationally recognized education leader known for her work in curriculum mapping, curriculum integration, and developing 21st century approaches to teaching and learning....
- Eric JensenEric JensenEric Jensen is a Canadian former professional race car driver from Toronto who competed in the Champ Car Atlantic Series series and Indy Lights series from 1997 to 2005. During that time he made 40 Atlantics starts, usually on a part-time basis, making his most season starts in 2003 and finishing...
- David W. JohnsonDavid W. JohnsonDave Johnson is a former member of the Ohio Senate. He represented the 18th District, which encompassed much of Northeastern Ohio. He served from 1975 to 1976.-References:...
- Roger T. Johnson
- Alfie KohnAlfie KohnAlfie Kohn is an American author and lecturer who has explored a number of topics in education, parenting, and human behavior...
- Linda Lambert
- Giselle O. Martin-KniepGiselle O. Martin-KniepGiselle O. Martin-Kniep is an American educator, researcher, program evaluator, and writer. As the president of Learner-Centered Initiatives, and the CEO of Communities for Learning: Leading Lasting Change previously called the Center for the Study of Expertise in Teaching and Learning...
- Robert J. Marzano
- Debra Pickering
- Grant Wiggins
- Jane E. Pollock
- W. James Popham
- Alfred S. Posamentier
- Diane RavitchDiane RavitchDiane Silvers Ravitch is an historian of education, an educational policy analyst, and a research professor at New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Previously, she was a U.S...
- Douglas B. Reeves
- Pam Robbins
- Richard Sagor
- Marge Scherer
- Mike Schmoker
- Harvey F. Silver
- Marilee Sprenger
- Cindy A. Strickland
- James H. Stronge
- Richard W. StrongRichard W. StrongRichard W. Strong was an American education expert, former teacher and author. He co-founded the Institute for Community and Difference. Strong consulted the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and dozens of school district across the United States, as well as teacher and...
- Bob Sullo
- Karen Tankersley
- Carol Ann TomlinsonCarol Ann TomlinsonCarol Ann Tomlinson is an English educator, author and speaker. She is best known for her innovative work with Differentiated instruction education techniques...
- Carol Ann TomlinsonCarol Ann TomlinsonCarol Ann Tomlinson is an English educator, author and speaker. She is best known for her innovative work with Differentiated instruction education techniques...
- Judy Willis
- Patricia Wolfe