New Information About the AEROx from Peter Hi All! We hope you are safe and well. The AEROX Virtual Conference is just 17 days away! We have an amazing lineup of speakers from all over the world. This year’s speakers probably represent the widest array of perspectives we’ve ever had. For example, we have presentations on Race & Covid, Teaching Challenges in Africa, A Family’s Story about their Journey to Self – Directed Education, Why Young People Should Design the Future of Education, and How to Put on Local Events to get the word out about learner-centered alternatives, and much more! We have recently added two student panels to the agenda and new workshops, which will be added to the website soon. There will also be plenty of time for networking and impromptu sessions. This year especially we can really use your help spreading the word. We put together this Press Kit to help you get started. Please share this with your networks. If finances are a barrier, please contact us, as we do not want this to keep people from this important event. Below are some frequently asked questions. Please reach out to us if you have any questions. Are you still accepting workshop proposals?We only have a few spots left for workshops only. The only times we have left are: 12 :30 AM – 1:45 AM & 3:30 AM – 4:45 AM – Eastern Time – USA What is the AEROx Virtual Conference? The AEROx was started in response to the demand for more AERO events. About five years ago we decided to do a completely virtual event so that as many people as possible could attend. Literally, anyone can attend from just about anywhere in the world that has an internet connection. What’s different about the AEROx Virtual Event? AERO events are unique in that they bring together anyone who is interested in learner – centered alternatives under one roof. There are no other events like it anywhere in the world. The AEROx is shorter in duration and is designed to be a more intimate gathering than the larger AERO events. What time zone is the AEROx Conference scheduled in? Eastern Standard Time – USA – Time Zone Converter Will there be overnight (Eastern Time) programming? There will be over 30 hours of continuous programming beginning Friday 2/12 at 3 pm Eastern time and ending Saturday 2/13 at 10 pm Eastern time. Will the overnight (Eastern Time) sessions be monitored? Yes, our friend Kristy Cheng and other members of the Sri Aria school in Malaysia have generously donated their time. They will be monitoring the overnight sessions. Will the sessions be recorded? We are planning to record all sessions. They will be available to conference participants sometime after the conference. What platform will the conference take place on? The conference will take place on the Zoom platform. Please make sure that you have a stable internet connection and functioning equipment. How will I be able to get into the sessions? All participants will receive a link the day before or the morning of 2/12/21 (Eastern Time Zone). This link will have the sessions with clickable links. All you will need to do is click the link to the session you want to go to. Will there be time for networking? There are built-in break times for networking. Of course, participants are welcome to network whenever they like. We will also have a discord server where participants can network. How will the discord server work? Participants will receive the link to the discord server soon. Once you create a login you will have access to the discord server, and you can participate as you like. Will there be a main room where participants can gather? Yes, the main room will remain open during the entire conference. Keynote sessions will be in the main room. How will popup (impromptu) sessions work? Anyone can schedule a popup session. They will be responsible for setting up the session using whatever platform they wish. They can be promoted on the discord server. What do I do if I have questions during the conference?The main room will be open and monitored throughout the entire conference. That is your go to place for questions. Are there group and student rates? Please contact us for group rates. peter@educationrevolution.org ; jerryaero@aol.com We are offering student rates at $10 per student. How can I help promote the conference? You can help by sharing the information far and wide. www.aeroconference.org . Here is a press kit to help you with that. Register HERE |
Year: 2021
AEROx Detailed Info
Dear Friends of AERO,
The AEROx virtual conference is just a few weeks away. There are exciting new updates and more will be added very soon.
This is truly an event like no other. Thanks to our friends from the Sri Aria School in Malaysia, we will have over 30 hours of continuous programming! Presenters span 6 different continents and are a mixture of youth and adults. So far we have participants from a few different countries already registered.
Please do not wait too long to register as we will close registration once we hit our cap. Here are some FAQ’s about the AEROx Virtual Conferenc
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AEROx Virtual Conference? The AEROx was started in response to the demand for more AERO events. About five years ago we decided to do a completely virtual event so that as many people as possible could attend. Literally anyone can attend from just about anywhere in the world that has internet connections.
What’s different about the AEROx Virtual Event? AERO events are unique in that they bring together anyone who is interested in learner – centered alternatives together under one roof. There are no other events like it anywhere in the world.
The AEROx is shorter in duration, and is designed to be a more intimate gathering than the larger AERO events.
What Time Zone is the AEROx conference scheduled in? Eastern Standard Time – USA – Time Zone Converter
Will there be overnight (Eastern Time) programming? There will be over 30 hours of continuous programming beginning Friday 2/12 at 3 pm Eastern time and ending Saturday 2/13 at 10 pm Eastern time.
Will the overnight (Eastern Time) sessions be monitored? Yes, our friend Kristy Cheng and other members of the Sri Aria school in Malaysia have generously donated their time. They will be monitoring the overnight sessions.
Will the sessions be recorded? We are planning to record all sessions. They will be available to conference participants sometime after the conference.
What platform will the conference take place on? The conference will take place on the Zoom platform. Please make sure that you have a stable internet connection and functioning equipment.
How will I be able to get into the sessions? All participants will receive a link the day before or the morning of 2/12/21 (Eastern Time Zone). This link will have the sessions with clickable links. All you will need to do is click the link to the session you want to go to.
Will there be time for networking? There are built-in break times for networking. Of course, participants are welcome to network whenever they like. We will also have a discord server where participants can network.
How will the discord server work? Participants will receive the link to the discord server soon. Once you create a login you will have access to the discord server and you can participate as you like.
Will there be a main room where participants can gather? Yes, the main room will remain open during the entire conference. Keynote sessions will be in the main room.
How will popup (impromptu) sessions work? Anyone can schedule a popup session. They will be responsible for setting up the session using whatever platform they wish. They can be promoted on the discord server.
What do I do if I have questions during the conference?The main room will be open and monitored throughout the entire conference. That is your go to place for questions.
Are there group and student rates? Please contact us for group rates. peter@educationrevolution.org ; jerryaero@aol.com
We are offering student rates at $10 per student.
How can I help promote the conference? You can help by sharing the information far and wide. www.aeroconference.org . Here is a press kit to help you with that.
AERO Office – (800) 769-4171
Respectfully,
Peter Berg Ed.D., AERO Representative peter@educationrevolution.org http://www.educationrevolution.org/store/about/
Attack on the Heart of Democracy
The Attempted Coup
On Wednesday, January 6th, we were witness to an unimaginable insurrection, at attack on the United States Capitol, the center of our democracy.
How could this have happened? To understand it, it is important to understand the history of public education. In his book, the Underground History of American Education, John Gatto finds the smoking gun that showed that some of the founders of the current education system were clear about their intent to create a process to control and manipulate students, rather than to foster creativity and empowerment.
We’ve often said that the best way to prepare children to participate in a democracy is for them to grow up in one. Conversely, it makes no sense to have children spend 12 years in an authoritarian school system if we want them to become good citizens in a democracy.
In the current system, students are rewarded for following orders, doing what the teacher says, respecting the teacher’s and the principal’s authority, not for being entrepreneurial or independent.
This is perfect training to prepare students to be part of an authoritarian, dictatorial society. This, then would naturally lead to training people to follow orders, be competitive, climb over others to be the top ones, and crave authoritarian leaders.
I was witness to this process when I visited the USSR and Russia, just as the coup happened. There was an explosion of creativity and innovation, especially in education. But as time went on, many of the people felt uneasy about their freedom and craved the system in which there was an authoritarian leader who would tell everyone what to do. Now they have it.
And in the past four years, many of the authoritarian oriented people in the United States began to follow a very authoritarian president. Those people tended to follow him in a cult-like fashion, even if he often promoted capricious and prejudiced ideas. No matter how bad it got, the “base” (a well-chosen word) believed and followed everything he said, the way an abused and unloved child might still worship their father, no matter what he did.
Therefore, is it no surprise that this process may have led to January 6th? Yes, it was a minority of people. Most of us were appalled at this attack. But when that authority called upon his followers to attack the heart of our democracy to keep him in power, they gleefully complied. Father had spoken.
A significant number of American people are authoritarian in orientation, enough to almost reelect him (over 70 Million). We are not the only country in which this process is taking place. This general approach to education is world-wide.
If we hope to move humanity away from this dangerous precipice, we need to change our education system NOW. It must become one that respects and empowers students, helps them become cooperative not competitive. It needs to encourage creativity, entrepreneurialism, tolerance and initiative. It needs to be democratic!
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School Seeks Executive Director
Job Details
Position: Executive Director
Reports To: Board of Trustees, Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School
Application Deadline: February 15, 2021 or until filled
Start Date: July 1, 2021
Position Type: Full-time (12 month)
Salary: $95,000 – $120,000
About LMACS (Employer Description)
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School (LMACS) is a public charter high school that targets adolescents who have
officially dropped out of high school or are seriously at-risk of doing so. The mission of LMACS is to enable its students
to achieve academic, social, and career success. This supportive school community identifies, encourages and develops
interests and abilities, while acknowledging and respecting each student’s personal and cultural identity. The curriculum of
LMACS is built around a core of academic subject areas and is supplemented by required psychoeducational courses and
career preparation. LMACS provides all students with a school-to-work component, daily advising, and offers dual
enrollment at Middlesex Community College. The LMACS curriculum reflects our small size and mission-driven culture.
The school was designated a Vanguard School by Massachusetts Insight and is a recipient of the Edgerly Leadership
Award in recognition of student achievement on the MCAS.
Job Description
Executive Director Summary
The Executive Director contributes leadership, enthusiasm, and efforts toward the fulfillment of the school mission and
the development of an innovative learning community that serves its diverse student body holistically – academically,
socially, and emotionally. LMACS is seeking an innovative school leader to commit themselves to the urgent and exciting
needs of our students and community. The Executive Director is responsible for providing educational leadership and
overall management of the charter school, as well as building community relationships for LMACS. In this role,
emphasis is placed on advancing the school’s position to ensure the future success of students and fostering an
environment that addresses their educational, cultural, emotional, and safety concerns.
Core Competencies
Candidates must demonstrate the ability to:
● Lead a diverse school community – faculty, staff, students, and families – effectively;
● Ensure compliance with state and federal guidelines and follow reporting procedures;
● Promote and represent LMACS amongst various stakeholders including families, Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education (MA DESE), community partners, and funders;
● Develop (and support faculty/staff in developing) innovative programs and initiatives that contribute to students’
academic, social, and emotional success and combat academic, institutional, and societal disadvantages;
● Practice cultural competence and a commitment to equity and inclusion;
● Attract, hire, train, retain, and evaluate talent; and,
● Oversee school budget and practice sound fiscal management policies and procedures.
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School – Full-Time Executive Director
Job Posting
Essential Duties/Responsibilities
The Executive Director oversees all aspects of the school, including:
● Provides educational leadership that encourages students’ academic, social, and career success;
● Works closely with the Board of Trustees to maintain alignment between LMACS’ mission/vision and the
policies and strategic direction of the school;
● Ensures compliance with state and federal guidelines (e.g., 504, Special Education, English Learners);
● Develops relationships with students, families, and community members;
● Engages in community outreach and fundraising efforts;
● Creates policies that promote a positive learning culture for both students and staff;
● Prepares reports for the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) accreditation, charter
renewal, and Program Quality Assurance;
● Hires, trains, and evaluates LMACS staff;
● Develops and manages the school budget;
● Engages in day-to-day operations of the school;
● Oversees and implements strategies around recruitment and retention of students and faculty/staff; and,
● Performs all other duties as required.
Supervisory Responsibilities
The Executive Director supervises faculty, staff, social workers, interns, and other employees as assigned. Responsibilities
include interviewing, hiring, training, and managing employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising
performance; addressing complaints and resolving problems; establishing and following LMACS policies and abiding by
any applicable employment laws.
Job Requirements
● Master’s Degree required. Doctorate preferred.
● Minimum of 8 years teaching and/or administrative/managerial experience with students considered to be at-risk.
● MA DESE Principal/Assistant Principal 9-12 or 5-12 licensure or licensure in progress
● Massachusetts Teacher certification.
● Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement as a teacher or administrator.
● Strong interpersonal, organizational, and writing skills.
● Knowledge of Title I and all other public-school entitlement programs/grants, Special Education/504 procedures
and curriculum frameworks.
● Culturally competent with experience and/or knowledge working with students, staff and/or faculty of diverse
socioeconomic, cultural, racial, and ethnic backgrounds, including those with different levels of academic
preparation and varying physical and learning abilities.
● Bilingual or multilingual skills a plus.
Application Instructions
Apply on SchoolSpring or submit the following to Colleen Cox, coxc@middlesex.mass.edu, by February 15, 2021:
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- Candidates may be required to produce References, Transcripts and Proof of Certification upon request.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Lowell Middlesex Community Charter School is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from
discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation,
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School – Full-Time Executive Director
Job Posting
marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic
information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against
individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.
The community and students we serve are diverse, and we are committed to reflecting that diversity in our staff. We strive
to have the most diverse applicant pool possible; to that end, we encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply for any
position at Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School. By fostering a diverse and inclusive environment, we provide the
best educational experience to prepare our students for a future reflective of the world we live in.
Lowell Middlesex Academy Charter School understands that persons with specific disabilities may need assistance with
the job application process and/or with the interview process. For confidential assistance with the job application process,
please contact Colleen Cox at (978) 656-3284.
Contact Information
Colleen Cox, ED Search Committee Co-Chair
coxc@middlesex.mass.edu
(978) 656-3284