Susan A. Gendron served as Commissioner of Education for the state of Maine from March 13, 2003 until May 1, 2010 when she stepped down to assume the role of Policy Coordinator for the SMARTER Balance Assessment Consortium. In this role she assisted 31 states in preparing an innovative integrated proposal that is built upon an integrated balanced system for curriculum, assessment, instruction and educator development. On June 1, 2010 she was named a Senior Fellow for the International Center for Leadership in Education. In her role at the International Center, Sue leads a team of former state commissioners/superintendents to provide coaching and executive training and support to state education leaders and their staffs. She also leads the International Center's consulting services to local districts and state education departments for development of comprehensive assessment systems and 21st century-based technology plans.
Gendron’s career in education spans 38 years, serving as kindergarten teacher, primary school principal, high school principal, and assistant superintendent, and superintendent of schools in Windham, Maine, for many years. She has encouraged the expansion of public preschool programs in Maine and focused on working with school systems to move to a learner-centered system of standards-based education. She has worked with stakeholder groups to develop recommendations for a 21st century diploma. And as an early advocate of graduating all students ready for college, career and citizenship, she led Maine to become the first – and still only – state to use the SAT test as the state’s 11th grade assessment, part of her efforts to create a culture of higher aspirations and encourage post-secondary education for all students. She lead the implement of Maine’s reorganization effort of Maine’s school systems into fewer units, the largest education restructuring in the state in 50 years. During her tenure, Maine joined with three other states to administer a common assessment for reading and mathematics. Commissioner Gendron expanded Maine’s laptop program, which has provided notebook computers to all Maine middle school students since 2002 – making Maine the first and only state with a statewide 1:1 computing program, making laptops a possibility for every student in grades 7-12. The high school expansion, announced in June 2009, marks the world's largest educational technology program of its kind, once again putting Maine at the leading edge in using technology to support education. Sue was a member of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) Board from 2006 -2010 and served as its President from 2009-2010. She held several leadership positions with CCSSO, including board liaison for the Education Information Management Advisory Consortium (EIMAC) and member of the Presidential Transition Task Force. She also served as Chair of the Regional Educational Laboratory Northeast and Islands (REL-NEI) Board, trustee of the University of Maine System, and serves on numerous other boards and commissions at the local, state, and national levels. She has received many honors, including the Maine School Superintendents’ Distinguished Educator Award, 2001; the Maine Superintendent of the Year Award, 2002; the Maine Education Association – Friend of Education Award, 2005; the University of Southern Maine Distinguished Alumni Award, 2006; the State Education Technology Directors Association – Pushing the Envelope Award, 2008; and the Jobs for America’s Graduates – National Education Leadership Award, 2009.

Presentation Topics Include:

• Digital Learning, How to Expand Opportunities
  
  
• Introduction to the Common Core
  
  
• Common Core Assessments
  
  
• Leadership Development
  
  
• Effective, Efficient Districts
  
  
• Comprehensive Strategic Development

Please note that all presentations are tailored to meet the needs of the audience.

"Change the Lives of Children"

“We were so lucky to have you at our in-service on March 1. You not only entertained us, you also disseminated important information that really got us thinking. I have drawn on this information and it has definitely informed my teaching and what I know about schools.” "Mr. McNulty is a valued colleague whose knowledge and perspectives are deeply valued by our organization as well as by the districts and communities we serve.

He's very approachable and cares about our success. As noted above, his knowledge base is amazing. He has current and important information we need, and knows how to present it in a compelling fashion. Like the Velveteen Rabbit, he is REAL. He relates to the issues we face but doesn't let excuses get in the way of progress." “I would like to express my sincere appreciation on behalf of the Alabama Department of Education and central office personnel that attended the SDE Summit. Ray’s presentation provided research-based information and proven models needed to move this state to the next level as we strive for continuous improvement. A system approach to developing successful academic programs is crucial to improving student achievement within and across districts and has strong implications for best practice at the state level. Ray’s presentation was not only meaningful and rich in content, it was very motivational to hear. During the planning committee debriefing, many positive comments were made about the quality of the presentation and how well it aligned with the theme of the conference.

I must say that Ray’s presentation was the highlight of the Summit!” "We worked with Ray when our district was preparing for a vote in which our district would be split in two. The result was to split the district and we are in a much better position because of our work with Ray, preparing in advance for the outcome of the vote. Ray provided insight and a national view, which was very helpful in the planning sessions.

Ray’s ability to look at issues of concern from various perspectives, as well as his varied background and experiences in education, adds to the process of addressing issues. Ray is able to break apart the challenges allowing those working with him to identify new and creative ways to find solutions. Ray is always upbeat and positive, identifying the strengths of those he works with and he builds teams which will face the issues together once he has left.

We respect Ray for his skills and insight to help districts work through the challenges and opportunities which face public education today. We NEVER would have seen the progress that has happened without Ray." “Ray is able to present the ‘tough stuff’ about our challenges in a way that delivers a message of hope and instills a ‘can do’ attitude among our educators. Ray’s message to our educators has helped create a greater climate for change within our state. We are further along that systemic path to change because Ray has walked with us as a guide, mentor, and friend.”

VT Afterschool for All Legislative Day
Published March 25, 2010
http://vermontafterschool.org/advocacy/vt-afterschool-for-all-legislative-day/

Student Expectations Unmet: Where Are the Electronics?
Published January 2010
http://aasa.org/SchoolAdministratorArticle.aspx?id=11040

Speaker urges innovation to improve education experience
Published on Tuesday, August 25, 2009.
http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/local/education/article_f51180f6-91dd-11de-bfe5-001cc4c002e0.html

City Lights: Education should hug technology
Published on Sunday, January 25, 2009.
http://billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/01/25/news/local/30-citylights.txt

Overhaul to education approaches urged
Published on Tuesday, January 20, 2009
http://billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/01/20/news/local/23-ed.txt

Speaker says schools face different times
August 27, 2008
http://www.newburyportnews.com/archivesearch/local_story_239230029.html

Topic	Related Resource(s)	Related White Papers	Related Workshops
Establish Reality: Priority #1 for Effective Leadership and Learning	It’s Not Us Against Them – Creating the Schools We Need (available June 2009)	Preparing Students for Their Future The Process of Change — Why Change, What to Do, and How to Do It	Whole School Reform  Leadership Development
Leadership for the 21st Century	Leadership for Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships Leading Change in High Schools School Performance – How to Meet AYP and Achieve Long-term Success	Preparing Students for Their Future	On-Going Leadership Development to building capacity Leadership for Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships
Everyone’s Got the Message that We Need to Change, So Now What?	It’s Not Us Against Them – Creating the Schools We Need (available June 2009) Leading Change in High Schools	The Process of Change — Why Change, What to Do, and How to Do It Successful Schools: From Research to Action Plans	Whole School Reform Process including: -We Surveys -Needs Assessment/Strategic Planning with on-going implementation support -Annual Model Schools Conference
Future Trends and Challenges in Education	Leadership for Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships How Brain Research Impacts Instruction in Grades K-6 and 7-12	Globalization - Tipping the Scale of Economic Supremacy Preparing Students for Their Future	Empowering Leaders Using the Rigor Relevance Framework Creating Gold Seal Lessons
Reinventing Our Education System	Using the Rigor/Relevance Framework Leading Change in High Schools	The Process of Change — Why Change, What to Do, and How to Do It	Using the Rigor/Relevance Framework Using Data to Achieve AYP
Introduction to the Learning  Criteria to Support 21st Century Learners	Student Engagement – Creating a Culture of Academic Achievement Personal Skill Development in Grades 6-12 – Enhancing Learning for 21st Century Success Student Engagement Teacher Handbook	Learning Criteria Webinar Strengthening Student Engagement Gender Differences and Student Engagement	Differentiated Instruction Student Engagement International Center Sympsosia with facilitated action planning
Participation Gap	Strategies for High School Students with Disabilities in the General Education Curriculum Reaching the Hardest-to-Involve Parents: Powerful Partnerships Under NCLB Closing the Achievement Gap – A Practical Handbook for Teachers	Achieving Academic Excellence through Rigor and Relevance	We Surveys Needs Assessment/Strategic Planning with on-going implementation support Meeting the Needs of Struggling Learners
Supporting Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships in the 21st Century	Student Engagement – Creating a Culture of Academic Achievement Personal Skill Development in Grades 6-12 – Enhancing Learning for 21st Century Success Student Engagement Teacher Handbook	Strengthening Student Engagement Gender Differences and Student Engagement How Brain Research Relates to Rigor, Relevance and Relationships	Instructional Leadership Student Engagement Differentiated Instruction