TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2004

OCTOBER 14, 2004

I was honored last week to be asked to participate in the luncheon for the first Real D.E.A.L. (Dedicated Educators, Administrators and Learners) awards. State Board Chairman Howard Lee and I joined Gov. Mike Easley in presenting these awards to eight schools: Brevard Elementary in Transylvania County, Broad Creek Middle School in Carteret County, Eastover Elementary in Cumberland County, North Brook Elementary in Lincoln County, North Ridge Elementary in Wake County, Weeksville Elementary in Pasquotank County, Wentworth Elementary in Rockingham County and West Lenoir Elementary in Caldwell County. What makes these awards so interesting is that the honored schools are high performing for students and also high performing for teachers. These schools were identified through the Teacher Working Conditions Survey as schools with excellent working conditions. Congratulations to each of these schools. Excellent working conditions for teachers mean excellent learning conditions for students.

Regards,
Patricia Willoughby

In this Biweekly Teachers' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. Gov. Easley Announces Statewide Expansion of DonorsChoose
3. Recruiting Assistance Team Members for 2005-06
4. Window to Apply for National Board Certification Closes in November
5. Milken Recipients Named
6. SBE Teacher Retention Task Force Meeting Summary
7. Student-to-Student Response Encouraging
8. "Teaching for Understanding about the Global Economy"
9. NC High School Network Conference Scheduled
10. Conference Targets Survivors of Suicide
11. New Resources on NC WiseOwl
12. Belk Sets Annual Educators Night Celebration
13. Search Underway for Nation's Top Youth Volunteers
14. Wildlife Commission Sponsors Art Contest

State Board Meeting Highlights

The State Board of Education tackled a very full agenda at its October meeting. Members approved a framework for new high school exit standards, to go into effect with the 2006-07 incoming freshman class. They also considered their biennial budget request for 2005-07, the policy for school districts to request waivers of the school calendar law and a process for evaluating the validity of the ABCs accountability system. In addition, Board members discussed middle school ABCs performance for 2003-04 and the Compliance Commission's recommendation that the growth be recalculated. This item will be discussed further in November. Complete Board highlights are online at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights

Gov. Easley Announces Statewide Expansion of DonorsChoose

Last week, Gov. Mike Easley announced that DonorsChoose NC, a Web site that allows teachers to seek donations for classroom supplies and innovative projects by posting proposals online, is expanding from the 15 pilot counties to all 115 school districts. Since this program was launched last February, citizens across North Carolina and 37 other states have funded more that $222,0000 worth of teacher proposals. Citizens wanting to donate to a particular project can go online to www.DonorsChoose.org and submit the appropriate form.

Recruiting Assistance Team Members for 2005-06

The DPI Division of School Improvement is currently recruiting assistance team members for the 2005-06 school year. There is a high need for secondary educators in the four core content areas and for K-12 exceptional children teachers. Interested applicants should check with their LEA on loan policies before applying. All general and application information, which can be found online at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/assistanceteams/application/ must be returned to the DPI by Oct. 31. Questions may be directed to the Division of School Improvement at 919.807.3911.

Window to Apply for National Board Certification Closes in November

Teachers interested in applying for National Board Certification should get their paperwork in now as the application window closes Nov. 15. The state will pay the $2,300 assessment fee for all teachers who meet the eligibility criteria as indicated at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/nbpts in addition to a 12 percent pay differential for the life of the certificate. (Charter school teachers should check with their directors as the pay differential may vary.) Educators considering this opportunity should visit http://www.nbpts.org/ to review the areas offered for certification and the standards for those areas of certification. When applying for National Board Certification, teachers also MUST apply at the North Carolina site if they are requesting funding from the state. All portfolios are due to NBPTS by March 31, 2005. For additional information, please contact Deanna Harris, NC National Board Certification Coordinator at 919.807.3358 (dharris@dpi.state.nc.us), or Jeanne Washburn at 919.807.3373 (jwashbur@dpi.state.nc.us).

Milken Recipients Named

Congratulations to Jennifer Brodeur, a second/third grade teacher at Hunters Creek Elementary (Onslow County Schools), and Stephanie Lemon, a kindergarten teacher at Murphey Traditional Academy (Guilford County Schools), for being named North Carolina's 2004 Milken Family Foundation National Educators. Each will receive a $25,000 unrestricted financial award and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in May 2005 for the annual Milken Family Foundation National Education Conference. To read more about their selection, please go to DPI's Web site at http://www.ncpublicschools.org and look under "In the News."

SBE Teacher Retention Task Force Meeting Summary

The State Board of Education's Teacher Retention Task Force met on Sept. 23 in Raleigh. SBE Vice-Chair and Task Force Chair Jane Norwood noted her intention for the task force to consider recommendations of past reports on this subject but not be limited by them. Task force members heard a presentation by DPI Human Resources Director Kathy Sullivan that included how the task force might organize its work based on the issues defined in the law and an analysis of state teacher recruitment/retention data. Members also heard a presentation on the Governor's Teacher Working Conditions Survey which, among other things, seems to indicate a disconnect between teachers and administrators in how they characterize working conditions. The meeting concluded with members sharing their burning issues and discussing follow-up activities that need to be accomplished prior to the next meeting.

Student-to-Student Response Encouraging

Response to the Student-to-Student: North Carolina Reaches Out to Zimbabwe project has been encouraging. We appreciate your schools' support for children who are confronted with a human tragedy of staggering proportions. Some of you have indicated that you want to participate, but need more time than the Oct. 15 deadline for the first shipment. While we want to get as many of the school supply kits as possible to Zimbabwe for the start of school in January, this is an ongoing service project, so supplies can be sent later. For more information, please go to DPI's Web site at www.ncpublicschools.org/zimbabwe

"Teaching for Understanding about the Global Economy"

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction will hold its second of four workshops for high school social studies teachers, "Teaching for Understanding about the Global Economy," on Nov. 9 at the Exploris Museum in Raleigh. Participants will learn why and how the global economy is changing and take advantage of the interactive exhibits and programs offered by Exploris. There is no registration fee but space is limited. For more information, including registration, please go online to http://www.nccee.org/data/globalecon.htm or contact Steven Weber, Instructional Services, DPI, at 919.807.3828, or by email, sweber@dpi.state.nc.us.

NC High School Network Conference Scheduled

The North Carolina High School Network will be hosting its 5th Annual Conference on Jan. 31-Feb. 1, at the Sheraton Imperial Conference Center, RTP. Proposals are currently being accepted. Please contact Marilyn Palmer at mpalmer@dpi.state.nc.us or J.chancey@cms.k12.nc.us for a proposal form or registration information. Registration information also is available online at www.nchighschoolnetwork.com

Conference Targets Survivors of Suicide

Survivors of Suicide (SOS) has scheduled its third annual conference for Saturday, Nov. 20, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., at the School of Social Work, UNC-Chapel Hill. Families who have lost a child to suicide or educators who are dealing with the aftermath of losing a student, loved one or co-worker to suicide may want to attend. Although targeted for survivors, conference organizers welcome professionals as well to facilitate their understanding of the needs of suicide survivors. Registration fees are $15 per person (parking and lunch included) and $10 for each additional family member. The registration deadline is Nov. 4. Additional conference information is available online at http://www.trianglesos.org/2004conference.htm

New Resources on NC WiseOwl

The DPI Division of Instructional Technology is pleased to announce the addition of two new subscription databases to NC WiseOwl (www.ncwiseowl.org). For elementary students, "America the Beautiful," an encyclopedia of the states produced by Grolier, has been added to the Encyclopedias link. For middle and high school students, 12 e-books have been added to WiseOwl under the homepage link, Reference Library. Additionally, building-level access fees to all other purchased Gale e-books have been paid for through this statewide buy, for the life of the contract. The 12 e-books that have been added are as follows: Arts and Humanities Through the Eras, 1st Ed, 5V; College Blue Book, 32nd Ed, 6V; Encyclopedia of Modern Asia, 1st Ed, 6V; Africa: An Encyclopedia for Students, 1st Ed, 4V; Encyclopedia of Religion, 2nd Ed, 15V; Animal Sciences, 1st Ed, 4V; Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing&Allied Health, 1st Ed, 5V; U*X*L Encyclopedia of World Biography, 1st Ed, 10V; Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of Foods and Recipes, 1st Ed, 4V; Junior Worldmark Encyclopedia of World Cultures, 1st Ed, 9V; U*X*L Encyclopedia of Biomes, 1st Ed, 3V; U*X*L Encyclopedia of Landforms, 1st Ed, 3V. For more information, please contact John Brim, Instructional Technology Division, DPI, 919.807.3288, or by email, jbrim@dpi.state.nc.us.

Belk Sets Annual Educators Night Celebration

In Celebration of Education, Belk is again proud to welcome all educators, administrators, support staff, and their immediate families to Educators Night 2004 for a private evening of shopping fun. This year's event will be held Sunday, Nov. 7, from 5-9 p.m., at all Belk Stores. This event is not open to the public. Educators will be treated to a 15 percent shopping discount off all regular and sale priced merchandise (normal exclusions will apply); a 10 percent shopping discount in the Home area; a chance to win a trip for four to Jamaica or the Bahamas for three nights and four days; a chance to win one of four $1,000 principals' awards to be used in your school; and a chance to win a $200 Belk Shopping Spree (one of these will be given away in every Belk store). Belk store managers will be contacting local schools with flyers and ID discount cards for the event. Please feel free to contact your nearest Belk Store manager for information regarding this event or Leigh Ann Lyle, Belk, Special Events Coordinator, 704.426.6862, or by email, LeighAnn_Lyle@belk.com.

Search Underway for Nation's Top Youth Volunteers

Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals is sponsoring its annual Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. This Awards program recognizes outstanding community service by students in grades 5 though 12. The top middle and high school candidate in each state win $1,000 and a trip to Washington, D.C. Program information, including application forms, are available online at www.prudential.com/spirit or by calling 888.450.9961. Students must submit completed applications to his or her principal by Oct. 29. Schools will then select the top recipients and submit those names for state-level judging. Middle and high school recipients for each state will be named in February 2005.

Wildlife Commission Sponsors Art Contest

School children ages 5 to 18 are invited to participate in the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's "Go Wild" Wildlife Art activity and contest. All entrants receive a certificate of appreciation from the Commission, and juried winners receive plaques, Wild Store merchandise, and a chance to be featured in the 2005-06 school year Young Wildlife Artist calendar. Submissions must be received by Dec. 31. For details, visit the Wildlife Commission's Web site at www.ncwildlife.org or call Mark Dubowski, NC Wildlife Resources Commission, at 919.733.7123 ext. 257, or by email, mark.dubowski@ncwildife.org. To request a paper brochure of contest rules and art activity instructions, please email Alicia Foell at alicia.foell@ncwildlife.org.