Dr. Mary Perry, principal of Tyrone Elementary School, fielded questions from parents from across the United States, while attending the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) last week, and discovered their concerns were very similar. For two hours, Perry manned the National Principals' Hotline, answering questions about mainstreaming special needs children, gifted programs, and ways to resolve various conflicts between parents and schools. "The questions were the same pretty much from around the country," Perry said of her calls from Missouri, Virginia and California. She said she tried to be objective in her advice and answer candidly.

Technology surfaced as a major topic, Perry said. This heading covered a lot more than computers, she said. Distance learning, different modes and methods of instruction, and delivery of instruction, topped the list.

Assessing administrators, "helping identify where strengths and weaknesses are," was another area of discussion. "There was also a lot of character education; teaching students to be responsible citizens," she said. This is an area of instruction which Fayette County has incorporated in its schools through "life skills." Character education is state-mandated, she noted.

One of the things Perry intends to implement in her school as a result of attending the conference is a student council.