TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2004

NOVEMBER 23, 2004

I know that each of you is looking forward to the Thanksgiving holiday - not only to enjoy the company of family and friends, but also to take a moment to remember all of the reasons we have to be thankful. In my short tenure as State Superintendent, I have more fully recognized that North Carolinians have many educators and many excellent schools for which to give thanks. As a former classroom teacher and as a teacher of teachers, my heart is still in the classroom. Thank you for your work. Best wishes for a peaceful and restful holiday.

Regards,
Tricia Willoughby

In this Biweekly Teachers' Message:

1. SBE Teacher Retention Task Force Meeting Summary
2. SBE Ad Hoc Committee for Academic Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships
3. NC WISE Update
4. Conference Proposal Deadline is Nov. 30
5. Professional Development Survey
6. PBS TeacherLine Online Professional Development Comes to North Carolina
7. LEARN NC's November Update Online
8. More at Four Newsletter Online

SBE Teacher Retention Task Force Meeting Summary

The SBE Teacher Recruitment and Retention Task Force met on Wednesday, Nov. 17, to continue its discussion of issues surrounding the state's teacher shortage. The group heard from Associate Superintendent Philip Price who discussed the Board's budget request for additional mentors for ILT teachers, teacher salary incentives being offered under the Disadvantaged Students Supplemental Funding and the separation period required for retired teachers. Task Force members also heard presentations from Jo Ann Norris, Executive Director of the Teaching Fellows Program; Mary McDuffie, Executive Director of the NC Center for the Advancement of Teaching, on that organization's Connections program (support for new teachers); Debbie Rollins, DPI Professional Development Coordinator, on the Education Cabinet's Professional Development Initiative; and Dan Holloman, Executive Director of DPI's Teacher Recruitment and Retention Center, on current state initiatives to address the teacher shortage. The members discussed the preparation of its final report, which is due to the General Assembly on Feb. 15, and a timeline of activities in preparation for that report. The Task Force has two remaining meeting dates scheduled: Dec. 10 and Jan. 14.

SBE Ad Hoc Committee for Academic Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships

The SBE Ad Hoc Committee on Academic Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships met on Tuesday, Nov. 16, with an expanded membership that included a local superintendent, several high school educator representatives (classroom teacher, LEP teacher, exceptional children teacher, principal, guidance counselor), and a parent. Topics for discussion at the meeting included feedback from committee members on the proposed Zoomerang survey that will be used for widespread public input on proposals for implementing the new high school exit measures and feedback on the current proposals that will be presented at a series of statewide meetings. The Ad Hoc Committee will use input from all sources as it formulates its final recommendation to the SBE for implementing the new exit standards, which include passing end-of-course tests and successful completion of a Senior Project. The Committee will meet again on Tuesday, Nov. 30, from 2-4 p.m., in the 7th Floor Board Lounge, Education Building, Raleigh.

NC WISE Update

The number of LEAs and charter schools using NC WISE continues to increase with the conversion of nine LEAs and eight charter schools during the initial phase of the Wave 1 deployment. To date, more than 24,000 administrators and teachers in 361 schools can now access NC WISE, and over 254,000 student records have been converted safely and securely. These numbers also include the original pilot LEAs - Catawba County, Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools, Cumberland County, Gates County, Wake County and Whiteville City Schools. Following are the Wave 1 LEAs and charter schools that have been converted to NC WISE since the Wave 1 kick-off Oct. 18: Avery County; Artspace Charter; Burke County; Buncombe County; Crossnore Academy; Francine Delany New School for Children; Graham County; Haywood County; Learning Center School; Madison County; McDowell County; Mountain Community School; Mountain Discovery School; New Dimensions School; Polk County; Transylvania County; and Thomas Jefferson Academy. When the Wave 1 deployment is complete in March 2005, 36 school districts and 23 charter schools will be converted to NC WISE. LEAs and charter schools will continue to be converted through two more waves in 2006 and 2007 until all 115 LEAs and 98 charter schools are converted to NC WISE by 2007.

Conference Proposal Deadline is Nov. 30

Teachers are reminded that Nov. 30 is the deadline for submitting proposals for the Raising Achievement and Closing Gaps conference. The proposal form is available online at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/racg/

Professional Development Survey

NCAE President Eddie Davis is working with a group of educator stakeholders to organize a Professional Development Week in August. This group needs teacher feedback to determine if the items that are being considered are what teachers need, if the dates are workable and if teachers would drive in for a session. Please take a moment and complete a short survey available online at http://www.surveymonkey.com/. The survey must be completed by Dec. 6 so that the feedback can be used for a Dec. 13 planning meeting. Questions or other comments in regards to this effort should be directed to Eddie Davis, NCAE, Eddie.Davis@ncae.org or 919.832.3000 ext. 200.

PBS TeacherLine Online Professional Development Comes to North Carolina

The UNC Center for Public Television (UNC-TV), South Carolina Educational Television (SCETV) and Georgia Public Television (GPT) have joined together to offer media-rich online professional development graduate level courses for the 2004-2005 year. TeacherLine offers more than 90 courses in mathematics, reading, instructional technology, instructional strategies, science, and curriculum mapping. For more information, please visit the TeacherLine Web site at www.pbs.org/teacherline or contact Emily Castleberry, UNC Center for Public Television, 919.549.7190, or by email, ecastleberry@unctv.org.

LEARN NC's November Update Online

LEARN NC's November update offers educators information on teaching about Thanksgiving, International Education Week (Nov. 15-19) and tracking animals. Check out these articles and more by going online to http://www.learnnc.org and clicking on the appropriate link.

More at Four Newsletter Online

The October edition of the More at Four pre-kindergarten program newsletter is available online and contains articles on the 50th Annual NCAEYC Study Conference, training on Creative Curriculum for preschool, T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood Scholarships, and ECERS-R assessments. Read about these initiatives and more at http://www.governor.state.nc.us/Office/Education/Newsletter.asp