TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2006

MAY 11, 2006

Diana Beasley, a biology teacher at Hickory High School, Hickory Public Schools, was named the 2006-07 North Carolina Teacher of the Year at a formal banquet held last week. She succeeds Wendy Miller from James W. Smith Elementary School in Craven County. Beasley has 24 years of teaching experience and 17 in her current position. As Teacher of the Year, she will spend the year traveling the state as an ambassador for the teaching profession. She also receives a one-time $7,500 stipend, a technology package from SMARTer Kids Foundation, a trip to the International Space Camp, an international trip through the NC Center for International Understanding and a new Hyundai Elantra donated by the NC Automobile Dealers Association. In accepting the award, she said that it was an honor to be recognized for something * teaching children - that is her passion. It was an honor for me to a part of such a wonderful celebration of teaching made possible by the NCADA and, of course, by all of the good teaching that you and your colleagues provide in your classrooms every day.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Teachers' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. Gov. Easley Announces Unprecedented Response to 2006 Teacher Working Conditions Survey
3. NCLB Misinformation Issue
4. Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Recipients Announced
5. North Carolina Schools Among Finalists for Intel and Scholastic Schools of Distinction Awards
6. Registration Deadline for Kaleidoscope Extended
7. Arts Education Curriculum Development Institute
8. 2006 National High School Journalism Teacher Awards? Program

State Board Meeting Highlights

At their meeting this week, Board members approved exemption requests under the Innovative Education Initiatives Act and revision of the add-on licensure policy. Board members also discussed Supplemental Education Service Providers for 2006-07 and revisions to the school counselor job description. In their Issues Session, Board members heard a presentation on education for the 21st century and adopted a framework for 21st century learning. They also heard from Clearmont Elementary School (Yancey County Schools) Principal Pete Peterson, Williford Elementary School (Nash-Rocky Mount Schools) Principal Sandra Farmer and Westwood Elementary School (Ashe County Schools) Principal Keith McClure and Wells Elementary School (Wilson County Schools) parent Paula Benson who described how technology has transformed their schools into 21st century learning environments. Complete Board highlights will be available online Tuesday afternoon at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights by clicking on the appropriate link.

Gov. Easley Announces Unprecedented Response to 2006 Teacher Working Conditions Survey

Last week, Gov. Mike Easley announced more than 75,300 teachers and administrators from across the state participated in the 2006 North Carolina Teacher Working Conditions Survey. This year's response rate more than doubled the 34,000 responses in 2004, the last time the survey was administered. Responses came from 65 percent of all educators in the state, 99.5 percent of public schools and every school district. The survey gathers the views of the state's teaching professionals to help shape state education policy, strengthen classroom working conditions and enhance the learning environment for students. A statewide analysis and report on the survey will be conducted this fall. Survey information and results can be found at www.northcarolinatwc.org. Individual school results will be available online by June 1. The final DonorsChoose NC drawing and the grand prize drawing took place May 3 at the Executive Mansion. First Lady Mary Easley was on-hand to draw the name of Carolyn Wilson of New Hope Elementary School in Orange County who received the last $500 Donors Choose gift certificate. Sheila Cheng who teaches at Allen Jay Elementary School in Guilford County won the Plasma TV. Over 17,000 names were in the final drawing If you'd like to review past Teachers' Biweekly Messages sent to the listserv group, just go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/teachersarchive/.

NCLB Misinformation Issue

There has been some misinformation circulating on the Internet and on various email lists concerning high school graduation/exit documents and No Child Left Behind. If you encounter these, please discourage continued distribution of these emails. Lou Fabrizio, DPI's Accountability Services Director, checked these emails out with the US Department of Education. The following information is correct. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 was not revised in 2004. It is up to individual states to define graduation requirements. North Carolina high school students select and complete one of four courses of study leading to a high school diploma. Students who do not meet graduation requirements may exit from high school with one of the following documents: a certificate of achievement or a graduation certificate. This is not new or a result of NCLB. The number of North Carolina students receiving certificates of achievement or a graduation certificate is small. In 2005, the number totaled 1,650 (of which 68 were foreign exchange certificates). There were 76,341 high school graduates in North Carolina. More information on North Carolina's graduation requirements can be accessed on the Web at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/curriculum/graduation.

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Recipients Announced

Congratulations to 2005 North Carolina Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science recipients Carmen Wilson, a mathematics teacher at Ashe County High (Ashe County Schools) and Samuel Wheeler, science teacher at Southeast Raleigh High (Wake County Schools). The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching recognizes outstanding mathematics and science teachers from across the United States and four U.S. jurisdictions for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession. In addition to honoring individual achievement, the goal of the Awards is to expand and exemplify the definition of excellent science and mathematics teaching.

North Carolina Schools Among Finalists for Intel and Scholastic Schools of Distinction Awards

John R. Griffin Middle (Cumberland County Schools); North Brunswick High (Brunswick County Schools), Davidson International Baccalaureate Middle (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools) and A.B. Combs Elementary (Wake County Schools) are among 48 public and private schools named as finalists for the Intel and Scholastic Schools of Distinction Awards. The awards honor schools for implementing innovative and replicable programs that support positive educational outcomes. Sixteen winners will be selected from eight categories * one each for elementary and secondary schools. Winning schools also will compete to be named "Best of the Best." The schools are being evaluated on vision, data, research, best practices and the use of assessment to boost student achievement. The schools are competing for $190,000 in grants from the Intel Foundation and additional prizes from sponsoring companies, which will be presented at an awards ceremony in October. For more information about the Schools of Distinction Awards, visit www.schoolsofdistinction.com.

Registration Deadline for Kaleidoscope Extended

NCDPI's K-12 Programs Section has extended the registration deadline for KALEIDOSCOPE: Teaching and Learning Through a Global Lens Institute to May 19. This Institute, which will be held June 28-30, is for K-12 Teachers of Dance, ESL, Foreign Language, Health Education, Music, Physical Education, Theatre Arts, Visual Arts, and Media Coordinators/Technology Facilitators. For more information, including registration, please go online to http://community.learnnc.org/dpi/ or contact Helga Fasciano, Second Language Consultant at hfascian@dpi.state.nc.us or 919.807.3865.

Arts Education Curriculum Development Institute

K-8 Music and Visual Arts teachers may be interested in attending an Arts Education Curriculum Development Institute scheduled for June 20-21 in Raleigh. Since the arts are core, academic subject areas under No Child Left Behind, it is increasingly important that arts educators be proficient in developing and implementing standards-based curricula. K-8 Music and Visual Arts teachers will work with the Southeast Center for Education in the Arts and use nationally recognized curriculum design models to evaluate and plan curriculum. For more information, including registration, please go online to http://community.learnnc.org/dpi/music or contact Christie Lynch Howell at cmhowell@dpi.state.nc.us.

2006 National High School Journalism Teacher Awards' Program

The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund is sponsoring its 2006 National High School Journalism Teacher Awards' Program to recognize journalism teachers and publications' advisers, including newspaper, news magazine and news Web site advisers, whose students' work consistently shines with quality reporting and editing. The winning teacher will receive a laptop computer and software and a student at the school will receive a $1,000 college scholarship to study news-editorial journalism. Students of the four distinguished advisers will receive $500 scholarships to study news-editorial journalism. The 2006 nomination form, which is available online at DJNewspaperFund.dowjones.com/fund/forms/TOY.pdf, must be completed and submitted with supporting materials by July 1.