Karl Foerster's Schools

• Springfield College , Class of 1974 Bachelors Received a BS in English

Karl Foerster's Publications

• Springfield College, Karl Foerster Principal December, 2010 by Karl Foerster Since its early days as the Young Men’s Christian Association, Springfield College was built and run based on the principle of Humanics, the practice of educating a person’s emotional, intellectual, and physical beings. The Greek philosophy seems to have worked for Springfield’s 47,600-plus alumni, many of whom have led Fortunate 500 companies; served in public and private schools and hospitals across the nation; and participated in several different Olympics. Originally founded in 1885, Springfield College in Southern Massachusetts earned recognition as the birthplace of basketball and the site of the first basketball game, which occurred in 1891. Today, Springfield College, a respected institution of higher education, garners renown for its research into exercise physiology and for its athletics heritage. While Springfield College alumni have pursued a variety of different careers, many of them have succeeded in sports and athletics. Some of the college’s most famous alumni include Jeff Blatnick, a 1984 Olympic gold medalist in Greco-Roman wrestling; John Cena, a World Wresting Entertainment star; and Mike Woicik, the current New England Patriots Strength and Conditioning Coach. Recently, Springfield College ranked in the top tier in the Best Regional Universities-North Region category of the U.S. News & World Report’s 2011 America’s Best Colleges list. Additionally, the college has earned praise from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and from the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for the school’s community involvement and service programs. YMCA USA also named Springfield College a premier Leadership Development Center. Springfield College houses five major schools, The School of Arts, Sciences, and Professional Studies; The School of Health Sciences and Rehabilitation Studies; The School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation; The School of Human Services; and The School of Social Work. The college prides itself on having an above average retention rate for first-year students (85%) and a yearly average of 133,000 student community service hours.

• Basketball Tips III: Relative Motion, Karl Foerster January, 2011 by Karl Foerster, former Coach at Muhlenberg College Basketball Tips I: Ball Handling Drills here Basketball Tips II: Effective Shooting here [Posted by Ilan’s Photos] Most players understand the theoretical basis of their offensive and defensive plays and can accurately pinpoint where they should be at a given time depending on the exact strategy. In the real world, however, positioning is never so simple. Players must thus understand not only their absolute motion (where they should be according to the play), but also their relative motion (that is, where they should be according to the play and the location of other players). Since players can never accurately predict the reactions of an opposing team, they must understand what action to take when problems arise. By having a clear sense of relative motion, players create ideal spacing, facilitate passes, bolster team defenses, and reveal new strategies. In terms of spacing, teams on offense should aim for about 15 to 20 feet between players, which makes guarding difficult and allows for a number of offensive plays. Players must put themselves in ideal positions to both receive a pass and then send the ball to a teammate in a more advantageous position. Offensive players must always pay attention to the ball’s location and the distance between the ball and the basket. When playing defense, players should stand close enough to opposing players to block them if necessary but far enough away to aid their teammates readily. They must be aware of the line between their man and the ball, remaining on the basket side of the line with their backs to the baseline, granting them a full view of the court. Defensive players must move with the players that they guard and be prepared to intercept whenever the other team attempts a pass.

• Penn State’s Principal Certification Program, Karl Foerster February, 2011 by Karl Foerster After halting my personal education to teach students in public schools for approximately two decades, I decided to attend The Pennsylvania State University Great Valley Principal Certification in Educational Leadership program in Malvern, Pennsylvania. This program helped me obtain my K–12 Principal Certification, while I already held teaching certifications in social studies, reading, and English capacities. Those who are eligible for this course must hold a valid education-related certificate issued from any state in the United States. During the seven-week program, students attend the school for one or two days out of the week. Participants must complete 30 credits of coursework to graduate from this program, and some of the available classes include The Law and Education, Curriculum Design: Theory and Practice, Leadership for Inclusive Education, and Financial Management for Schools. Nine credits can be taken on a non-degree basis, and up to three courses can be transferred into the program (based on department approval). By the end of the seven-week class, students must have five years of professional educational experience and an e-portfolio. Another requirement is that each student must achieve a qualifying result on the PRAXIS Educational Leadership: Administration and Supervision test. After graduation from the Penn State Great Valley Principal Certification in Educational Leadership program, educators are qualified for the positions of principal, assistant principal, supervisor of curriculum and instruction, and director of pupil services. I took a position as an assistant principal just one year after graduating, and I became a principal after one year in the assistant capacity. For more information about the coursework or qualifications for the Principal Certification in Educational Leadership course, visit the school’s website at www.sgps.psu.edu/prospective/academicprograms/education/principal/default.ashx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=138.

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