Apprenticeships and Extensive Mentoring - What a Concept!

Do doctors and accountants operate on patients or prepare their taxes on the day after they receive their degrees?  Thankfully the answer is no.  Doctors must have internships and accountants must work under experienced accountants before they can sit for the CPA exam and yet teachers enter their classrooms alone on day one and are expected to be experts in all the intricacies of teaching students.  No wonder we lose so many gifted teachers in the first few years of their practice.  We put them in jobs with no support.  Thankfully some innovative programs are being developed to stem this tide.
 This afternoon I had the privilege of attending the JET (Journey into Education and Teaching) Award Ceremony at UMass Dartmouth where I was honored along with my friends Tony Mullen, 2009 National TOY and George Watson, MA TOY 2009 for our teaching leadership.  The real honor goes to the men and women in the JET and CUSP programs and the administrators that support them.  This group of outstanding educators has taken the step (as did I) of going from paraprofessionals to full time teachers. It was encouraging to sit with them and hear what they are doing in their placements. More encouraging is the way UMass has taken innovative steps to support these teachers.  Apprenticeships  and three year mentoring programs will help insure that they stay in the profession during their critical first years of teaching.  Kudos to UMass; other schools of higher ed could take their cue from you.

Hope for the Future of Education - A Dignitary’s(?) Point of View

I had my dignitary pass in hand, the valet whisked my car away, I hobnobbed at the president's breakfast alongside the likes of Vicky Kennedy and Arne Duncan and walked on the red (yes red) carpet to special seating.  Can it be just over ten years since my own graduation at Lesley University when I received my M.Ed in the mail? How things have changed for this teacher!

"Teachers are the unsung heroes in America," US Secretary of Education Arne Duncan told graduates during his commencement address at Lesley University this morning. Seated with fellow alumni looking out at this group of newbies excited to be finishing their theory and eager to begin their practice I feel hopeful, hopeful that they will have the courage to face what lies in front of them.  Perhaps this will be the class unafraid of challenging policies and procedures that do not make good sense for children.   Perhaps this will be the class that finds their voice and uses it to promote all the goodness in teaching, the class that will transform teachers into heroes admired, respected and valued in America.  Congratulations to the class of 2010 ~ today you join a cadre of over three million professionals with the mission, passion and capability of changing the face of our nation. It may take years to see the impact you will have on your students but you will impact them ~ today you begin the noblest of professions - teaching our future!

MTA - Find Your Norma Rae

"Find your inner Norma Rae, stand up and speak your mind."  Today I was able to bring my message to 1,200 colleagues at the MTA's Annual Meeting in Boston. My message has been evolving over the course of the year and I am starting to feel that I am making an impact.  I feel empowered.  I spent a lovely evening with delegates from my local, the Framingham Teacher's Association, and participated as a delegate at the meeting.  It was an example of democracy in action.  Although frustrating at times when discussion went on for far too long I was impressed by the passion and commitment all delegates had to further excellence in education. Thank you to the MTA and the FTA for honoring me today - nothing feels warmer than recognition from your peers.  http://www.massteacher.org/news/headlines/headlines_2010-05-08.cfm

AFT- Be Informed!

Last week I was able to hear AFT President Randi Weingarten speak at the gala celebration of the Teacher of the Year program in Washington.  She urged us to "support legislation sponsored by U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin and U.S. Rep. George Miller  that would provide $23 billion to help school districts avoid layoffs, and would preserve the quality of education in our schools and on our college campuses."  Randi warned us that the number of educators who might be pink-slipped in the fall is nearly equal to the population of Toledo, Ohio! You can support this effort by wearing a pink heart on May 4.
http://www.pinkheartsnotpinkslips.com/
This morning I had the honor of speaking at the AFT MA Annual Convention.  I thank them for honoring me with a lovely plaque but truth be told I am honored to know that the AFT is unbending in their goal to support only the changes that in the long run will be good for children.
The day was yet another reminder of all the teachers committed to the preservation of quality education.   President Tom Gosnell reminded us that although many allege that collective bargaining agreements and unions impede student achievement, students in Massachusetts  (a state with collective bargaining) scored number one in the nation on the NAEP tests.  So, he asked, How is it that the unions have been accused of getting in the way of progress in closing the achievement gap?"
Be informed!   Speak up!  Use your voice to advocate for your students and colleagues!

Washington,DC - Day 5 - The BIG Day!

This morning we went to the Department of Education to "speak" policy.  I was looking forward to this - we all hoped to have an opportunity to ask questions and share our thoughts on the Blueprint.  Unfortunately it turned out to be more of a lecture and regurgitation of what we have already read or heard.  An opportunity missed for both the Department and the Teachers of the Year but the day was to get much more exciting... Today was the BIG day - we were off to the White House to meet the President.   What will I wear to meet the President?  What will I say?  This was one of my most thrilling experiences.  We were lined up in order by our states and as we waited Bo came out to greet us.  I am sure my fifth graders will be more excited about my petting the first dog than my meeting the President.  We entered the West Wing and waited for our moment in the Oval Office to meet, shake hands and have an official photo taken with President Obama.  As I walked in and looked around I wanted to pinch myself!  He was so friendly, warm and funny.  Next my name and state was announced as I walked out the door onto the steps of the presidential podium into the Rose Garden.  Second to my wedding, it was the most exciting walk down the aisle ever. I was thrilled to see my friend, Sarah Wessling, accept her award as National Teacher of the Year.  I am proud to call her a friend and colleague.  Finally I spent some time interviewing with the press, later learning that I had been on Channel 5 news. 

The celebration ended with a night tour of the monuments sponsored by Target.  We were so tickled to see our buses arrive emblazoned with signs announcing us.  It was great fun and a true happy ending to a fairy

tale.

 

Washington DC - Page 4

Today we had some free time so my daughter Jillian and I went to the Holocaust Museum and the Museum of American History.  What a contrast..  In the Holocaust Museum it was silent as we moved along with others remembering such a somber time in history.  I was particularly struck by the room filled with shoes Jews removed when they entered the camps or the striped uniforms Jews were forced to wear.  I have read so many books about the Holocaust but they never gave me the same sorrowful feelings I had today.  By contrast who can resist stopping to see Dorothy's shoes or Lincoln's hat?  Who would not be astounded, as we
were, by the sheer size of the flag that inspired the Star Spangled Banner.  Realia is so very important in teaching - we must strive to make the learning experiential and real.  I am so excited with the prospect of more work with the Smithsonian to make this happen for children.Tonight was the gala black tie ball to celebrate all of the teachers of the year and to 
formally announce my friend, Sarah Brown Wessling, as the new 2010
National Teacher of the Year.  I am so proud to call her my colleague.  It was a wonderful time to celebrate with family and friends and hear from Arne Duncan, Randi Weingarten and our sponsors Target and ING.

Washington, DC - Day 3 - "Wicked Smaaarter"

Today we left our hotel really early to head to Arlington, VA for the Smart offices.  We spent the day training on the newest technology soon to be released.  Imagine being able to sync my computer to all my students so I can send them websites and assignments all at the same time or being able to communicate with their computers in real time.  On the way home we stopped to take a group photo at the Iwo Jima monument.  I couldn't believe how big it was  It was a very full day that ended with a lovely dinner for us and our families sponsored by Smart.  They treated us to a video of all Teachers of the Year receiving their respective awards and with their current students. It was so fun to share the other parts of our lives.