Want to work for President-elect Barack Obama's administration?

CNN's article titled, White House job application leaves no stone unturned has people conducting personal inventories. While many people cringe about filling out a form or application like this, any one with a security clearance will tell you 7 pages, 63 questions...no problem.

Article highlights:
· Would-be presidential appointees must fill out 63-item questionnaire
· Questions cover resume, affiliations, finances, personal relationships
· Vetters want to know about Web pages, blogs, links to mortgage giants
· One section devoted to domestic help, a trouble spot in past administrations

It also asks about writings, speeches, testimony, online communications and even personal diaries.

This is a great time to create a "Me Folio" and teach our children how to document themselves, promote digital citizenship, and personal e-responsibility.

I give a participative scholarship workshop at the local library. One of the first activities participants conduct is to Google themselves and review the search results, images, maps, and news.

Some participants are surprised about the information that is available, some find people with the same name different state or country, and others have even found information on family members. If someone has no information available, the next activity has them entering names into CVGadget.

I also encourage our students (young and adult) to create and write outside of course assignments which allows them to supplement what we refer to as their "Me Folio".

I encourage them to build a collection documenting every accomplishment from the 1st grade perfect attendance, best reader in 3rd grade, news recognition, spelling bee awards, years selected to honor rolls, student council positions to community services. The workshop requires students to use the computers to create, share, and modify Google Docs, share knowledge on scholarship search engines, and explore opportunities from corporations, local agencies, and personal networking.

Keeping documents available through Google Docs allows the participants to quickly access information if they are completing applications for extra-curricular activities, college, and job applications. Over time they learn to review their personal writing styles which allows the students to see how they improve, self assess, and with Google Docs sharing capability an opportunity to have mentors and community leaders to provide assistance. I encourage participants to build their "Me Folios" so when they are given that one question that many people choke on during interviews, "Within one minute, tell me about yourself".

So whether you are applying for a cabinet position in Obama's administration or applying for a volunteer, job, or college position, be a master of your data.

Essay Contest - Being an American

The Question: What civic value do you believe is most essential to being an American? Trace the enduring importance of this value throughout the American story by discussing: a Founding document that reflects this value; a figure from American history who embodies this value; and ways you can personally put this value into practice.

The Prizes: 180 prizes will be awarded totaling nearly $200,000. Top prize winners will win $5,000 cash and a trip to Washington, D.C. for an Awards Gala and Weekend! The two schools with the greatest percentage of eligible students participating will receive a full set of Bill of Rights Institute curriculum. This prize will be based upon the number of eligible student participants per school as noted during the essay submission process. The retail value of this prize will not exceed $450.

Submitting an Essay: Our teacher-only submission of high school student essays began on September 2, and ends December 1, 2008. For detailed rules, click here. Essays are limited to 750 words and a sponsoring teacher is required to submit the student’s essay for him or her.

Eligibility: The Contest is open to all United States citizens or legal residents who are students (1) in Grades 9-12 attending public, private, religious, and charter schools but who are no older than 19 as of the end of the Contest Period (December 1, 2008), (2) enrolled in a GED or correspondence school program but who are no older than 19 as of the end of the Contest Period, or (3) attending a home school program who are no younger than 12 as of the beginning of the contest period and no older than 19 as of the end of the Contest Period.

I give a participative scholarship workshop at the local library and encourage our students (young and adult) to write outside of course assignments which allows them to build what we refer to as their "Me Folio". I encourage them to build a collection documenting every positive accomplishment from the best reader in 3rd grade, years selected to honor rolls, student council positions to community services. The workshop requires students to use the computers to create, share, and modify Google Docs, share knowledge on scholarship search engines, and explore opportunities from corporations, local agencies, and personal networking.


Keeping these documents available through Google Docs allows the students to quickly access information if they are completing applications for extra-curricular activities, college, and job applications. Reviewing their personal writing styles allows the students to see how they improve, how to self assess, and with Google Docs sharing capability an opportunity to have mentors and community leaders to provide assistance.


Being An American Essay Contest Rules and Regulations

Flunked the Movie

Has anyone seen this movie?

The United States is living on its past. Among the oldest group in the study (those aged 56–65), U.S. prose skills rose to second place. For those attending school in the 1950s, SAT scores reached an all-time high.As the years go by, the United States slips down the list. Americans educated in the sixties captured a Bronze Medal in literacy, those schooled in the seventies got 5th place in the race. But those schooled in the nineties ranked 14th…

FREE FLUNKED SCREENINGS

Wichita, Kansas Flint Hills Center for Public Policy
Wednesday, October 8th 5:00 pm
Orpheum Theatre 200 N. Broadway Wichita, KS
Admission: 1 School Supply
RSVP: 316-634-0218 or www.flinthills.org

Previous Flunked Screenings:
Harrisburg, PA - October, 7th
Tempe, AZ - October, 6th
Washington, DC - September, 23rd
Jackson, MS - September, 16th
Scottsdale, AZ – September, 9th
Boise, ID - August 26th, 2008
BCIFF, Houston TX – August 9th, 2008
Albuquerque, NM - July 31st, 2008
Spokane, WA - July 23rd, 2008
Excellence In Action Summit- Orlando FL - June 20th, 2008
Sacramento, CA - June 12th, 2008
Portland, OR - May 28th, 2008
Denver, CO - May 21st, 2008
Seattle, WA - March 18th, 2008