TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2005

FEBRUARY 24, 2005

Last week, the Department of Public Instruction, held its annual recognition event identifying the eight regional teachers of the year. I want to extend special congratulations to each of these deserving teachers who represent the thousands of quality teachers leading our public school classrooms. North Carolina continues to look for ways to better recruit quality teachers and to retain those teachers who already are in the classroom. Recognition activities are just one small way that we can say thank you to teachers in North Carolina. We are fortunate to have you in our schools.

Regards,
Tricia Willoughby

In this Biweekly Teachers' Message:

1. State Board to Meet Next Week
2. Regional Teachers of the Year Selected
3. National Board Certification Update
4. Writing Across the Curriculum
5. High School Certified Trainers of Writing Phase IV
6. 2005 Mathematics Leadership Institutes for Middle and High School Teacher-Leaders
7. Complimentary Admissions Offered to Students Studying Cherokee History
8. Kohl's Kids Who Care Program

State Board to Meet Next Week

The State Board of Education will hold its March meeting next week, March 2-3, in the 7th Floor Board Room, Education Building, Raleigh. Agenda items include Issues Sessions on proposed high school exit measures and evaluating the validity of the ABCs. The Board is expected to take action on changes to the ABCs growth standard for the 2004-05 school year, waiver requests under the Innovative Education Initiatives Act, and renewal recommendations for charter schools established in 2001 in addition to receiving an update from the UNC Office of University School Programs on efforts to increase the supply of teachers. The complete agenda is available online at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbe_meetings/index.html by clicking on the appropriate link.

Regional Teachers of the Year Selected

Congratulations to the following eight teachers who were recently selected 2005-06 Regional Teachers of the Year: North Central Region: Jo Anne Honeycutt, Cleveland Middle, Johnston County Schools; Northeast Region: Caroline Pearce, First Flight High, Dare County Schools; Northwest Region: Paula Gambill, W.M. Jenkins Elementary, Hickory City Schools; Southeast Region: Wendy Miller, James W. Smith Elementary, Craven County Schools; Southwest Region: Gloria Schwartz, Matthews Elementary, Charlotte/Mecklenburg Schools; Sandhills/South Central Region: Kim Brown, Scotland Accelerated Academy, Scotland County Schools; Piedmont-Triad/Central Region: Susan Poindexter, Jefferson Elementary, Guilford County Schools; and West Region: Sally Hundley, Waynesville Middle, Haywood County Schools. The recipients will receive a one-time award of $5,000 and a trip to a national conference. They also will serve on the 2005-06 Teacher of the Year team, which assists the State Board of Education and the Department of Public Instruction in teacher recruitment activities. The 2005-06 Teacher of the Year will be announced May 3. For more information, please visit www.ncpublicschools.org/toy or contact Dan Holloman, Center for Recruitment and Retention, DPI, 919.807.3375, or by email, dholloma@dpi.state.nc.us.

National Board Certification Update

Teachers planning to seek National Board Certification (NBC) should first complete the online application at www.nbpts.org and then complete the online application for North Carolina funding. Guidelines for applying for NBC in North Carolina can be accessed at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/nbpts/apply.html. Beginning this year, initial NBC candidates will pay a $65 processing charge to NBPTS before they submit their application. North Carolina will pay the $2,300 assessment fee for all candidates who meet the eligibility criteria. The funding application window for 2005-06 candidates is March 1 - Nov. 15. Teachers who pursue National Board Certification are encouraged to participate in candidate support programs established in their school districts and regions. For more information about the NBC process, please contact Deanna Harris at 919.807.3358, or by email, dharris@dpi.state.nc.us. For more information about state funding of the NBC process, please contact Jeanne Washburn at 919.807.3373, or by email, jwashbur@dpi.state.nc.us.

Writing Across the Curriculum

The Capital Area Writing Project, an affiliate site of the National Writing Project, is hosting a "Writing Across the Curriculum" one-day conference on Saturday, April 16, in Raleigh. Break out sessions will offer teachers opportunities to learn more about writing in the specific content areas of social studies, science and English. For more information, including registration, please go online to http://www.learnnc.org/dpi/instserv.nsf/Category3?OpenView&ExpandView and link to the National Writing Project page under Instructional Resources, or contact Barbara Geiger via email at bugeiger@uptonassociates.com.

High School Certified Trainers of Writing Phase IV

Registration for the High School Certified Trainers of Writing Phase IV scheduled for April 17-19 is now open for teachers and other educators interested in teaching writing in the English Language Arts classrooms. Sessions will include understanding writing development through grades 9-12, facilitating staff development for writing instruction, and strategies for working on the "hard parts - and they're all hard parts." Additionally, an optional information session about the Grade 10 Writing Assessment will be offered from 4:45-6 p.m. on April 18. For more information, please visit http://www.learnnc.org/dpi/instserv.nsf/Category3?OpenView&ExpandView and link to the HS Certified Trainers of Writing page under Instructional Resources or contact Kim Bowen, Instructional Services, DPI, 919.807.3832, or by email, kbowen@dpi.state.nc.us.

2005 Mathematics Leadership Institutes for Middle and High School Teacher-Leaders

NC DPI's Mathematics and Science Section will sponsor the 2005 Mathematics Leadership Institutes for high school mathematics teacher-leaders July 10-14 in two sessions (July 10-12 and July 12-14) and middle school mathematics teacher-leaders July 18-22 in two sessions (July 18-20 and July 20-22). The Institutes will be held at the Radisson Governors Inn in Research Triangle Park. The registration fee for the Institute is $175. The fee includes four meals, breaks, conference facilities, materials, and presenters' fees. Each person registering needs to complete a form. Please send your completed form and payment to the address indicated on the registration form by April 22. Information and registration forms have been sent to schools but in case you were missed, go to www.learnnc.org/dpi/instserv.nsf/Category7 (click on Announcements/Calendar; click on 2005 Mathematics Leadership Institutes). A block of rooms has been reserved until mid-June at the Radisson Governors Inn (919.549.8631). Teachers will need to reserve and pay for their rooms ($56 single occupancy or $65 double occupancy plus tax per night). When making reservations, please tell the hotel staff you are with the NCDPI Math Leadership Institute. A confirmation letter with directions and a tentative schedule will be sent to your home address in May; however, if you include your email address on the registration form, we can notify you as soon as we receive your form. If you have questions, please call Bill Scott, 919.807.3842, or Linda Patch, 919.807.3841.

Complimentary Admissions Offered to Students Studying Cherokee History

The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is offering a number of complimentary admissions to "Unto these Hills," the Oconaluftee Indian Village and the Museum of the Cherokee Indian for public school students studying Cherokee history. The tickets will be available on a first come, first serve basis. To qualify, educators will need to call for approval and registration and provide the date(s) they wish to attend. For reservations to the Museum of the Cherokee Indian, please call 828.497.3481 and ask for Chris Watty. For reservations to the Oconaluftee Indian Village or "Unto these Hills," please call 828.497.2111 or 866.554.4557. Teachers and group leaders are included in the complimentary ticket offer. Chaperones or others attending will be asked to pay the regular admission price. For more information, please call 866.554.4557 or 800.438.1601, or visit the following Web sites, www.untothesehills.com, www.oconalufteevillage.com, or www.cherokeemuseum.org.

Kohl's Kids Who Care Program

Kohl's is now accepting nominations to recognize and reward outstanding young people, ages six through 18, for their community service. Kohl's will accept nominations through March 15. The young volunteers will be recognized at three levels: local, regional and national. Completed nominations forms may be returned to any participating Kohl's customer service desk, or mailed to a participating Kohl's store. For additional information, including nomination forms, visit Kohl's corporate Web site at www.kohlscorporation.com