TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2007
TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2007JANUARY 11, 2007 - Teachers' Biweekly Message
In December, the State Board of Education approved a framework of core high school courses that will be required for students who enter high school in 2008-09 (as the proposal now reads). This core will ensure that all students graduate from high school prepared for further education and entry into the workforce. The business community now says that the requirements for successful entry-level employment are very similar to the requirements for college entry. In approving this framework, the Board did not finalize the implementation plans for this new requirement and looks forward to gathering local input before it is completed. A series of eight regional meetings will be held beginning in February to hear from you and your communities on this important issue. Once the meeting dates are confirmed, we will be sure and email this information to you as well as post it on our Web site. There is sure to be a meeting close to you, and I hope that you'll be able to find the time to attend.
Regards,
June Atkinson
In this Biweekly Teachers' Message:
- State Board Meeting Highlights
- North Carolina Surpasses 10,000 Board Certification Milestone
- Initiative to Support Children of Deployed Military Parents
- New Year Greetings from 2006-07 NC Teacher of the Year
- Online Survey Focuses on Teacher Recruitment and Retention
- NC WISE/SIMS Update
- Kindergarten Teacher Leader Initiative: The Power of K
- NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program
- Stock Market Game Winners for Fall Session Announced
- Connectivity Quality of Experience Stories Wanted
- Apply Now for NC Biotechnology's Mini-Grant Program
- DonorsChoose is a Valuable Resource for Teachers
State Board Meeting Highlights
At last week's Board meeting, members approved recommended final cut scores for the NCCLAS Alternate Assessment and the social studies end-of-course tests, proposed revisions to the requirements for an International Faculty License and a proposal to facilitate the licensing of More at Four teachers through the Office of School Readiness. Members also discussed updates to the state's science laboratory safety policy, and received a presentation evaluating Learn and Earn Early College High Schools and a progress report on its Healthy Active Children Policy. Complete Board highlights are available online at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights by clicking on the appropriate link.
North Carolina Surpasses 10,000 Board Certification Milestone
With the recent addition of 1,525 newly certified teachers (once again the largest class in the country), North Carolina has surpassed the 10,000 National Board Certified teachers' milestone with a total of 11,325 North Carolina teachers having achieved this prestigious certification. The National Board of Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) released its 2006 certification results last week. To read more, please go to the NCDPI Web site at http://www.ncpublicschools.org and click on the appropriate link under "News."
Initiative to Support Children of Deployed Military Parents
Gov. Mike Easley in December announced an initiative to help the children of military parents who are deployed on active duty. The initiative, a partnership of the Governor's office, NC Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education, includes training institutes to help educators better understand the challenges faced by children of deployed parents as well as a new Web site to help educators identify and assist these students. Three regional "Supporting Children and Families of the National Guard and Reserve Institutes" have been held, and others may be scheduled. The new Web site, www.ncpublicschools.org/militarysupport, provides information about the stages of military deployment, common and serious stress reactions among students with deployed parents, tips on identifying and working with students with deployed parents, suggested lesson plans and activities, and additional resources for supporting children struggling with the separation from a family member during deployment. North Carolina is home to the fourth largest number of military personnel in the nation, about 123,000 including members of the National Guard and Reserves.
New Year Greetings from 2006-07 NC Teacher of the Year
It's a new year, time to dust the cobwebs off the old resolutions, reflect, revisit, and revamp them before we decide to make the same tired ones this year. I have not done this yet. I have been procrastinating because that type of soul searching and introspection requires quiet and time - two commodities not often afforded us in modern life. I can't pass a computer without checking email. I will drive back home if I forget my cell phone. I am afraid to buy a "crackberry" for fear of chaining myself to yet another gadget. Since my car is my office this year, I am most often lost in a paper-filled nightmare of a white state Ford Taurus somewhere on I-40. This morning I drove to NCCAT, the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching, in Cullowhee and the fog lifted - literally and figuratively. In this gorgeous retreat atmosphere, I am given the time and space to learn interesting content, practice new skills, meet amazing teachers, revel in the luxury of someone else doing the cooking and cleaning, and to just BE. I will have the opportunity to renew my zest for teaching, rediscover the reasons why we have the best job in the world, and recharge my batteries to kick up the energy to a new level. I know I will leave here Friday with a pep in my step, new additions to my "bag of tricks," a group of new friends, and a desire to spread the word that our state celebrates teaching by providing a place like NCCAT for its teachers. I call it Nirvana! We are all taught to practice the 3 R's of Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships in our classrooms. I encourage you to practice NCCAT's 3 R's of Renew, Rediscover, and Recharge in your soul. Taking better care of ourselves physically, emotionally and spiritually will help us become the people we know we can be. My New Year's prayer for you is for peace, tranquility, and serenity of self. Enjoy! Diana Beasley, 2006-07 NC Teacher of the Year
Online Survey Focuses on Teacher Recruitment and Retention
In recent years, North Carolina has experienced an ongoing teacher shortage in various regions, schools, subject areas and specialties. As a way of helping the NC Department of Public Instruction to consider ways that teacher recruitment, retention and professionalism can be improved and strengthened, teachers are asked to complete an electronic survey available online at http://www.zoomerang.com/survey.zgi?p=WEB225ZZXBVP3D by Feb. 9. Your advice is important as staff considers a variety of options to help this situation. If you've already completed the survey - thanks! If you haven't, we hope you will take the time to do so and give us the information we need to make good choices about teacher recruitment and retention.
NCWISE/SIMS Update-Web Site Redesign
The NC WISE Web site, www.ncwise.org, has been redesigned and introduces features that will make it easier for users to browse and search for NC WISE and SIMS information, including:
- Streamlined navigation bars on the home page.
- Quick links on the home page to allow users to access the latest NC WISE news.
- A Technical Library will contain pages for specific topics. Users can access the information they need in just a few clicks instead of scrolling through a list.
- Very soon, a site search will be available directly from the home page.
The staff welcomes your feedback about the redesigned Web site. Please send your comments and suggestions through the NC WISE mailbox at ncwise@dpi.state.nc.us. - NC WISE/SIMS Symposium - The NC WISE/SIMS Symposium will be held Feb. 19-21 at the Joseph S. Koury Convention Center, Greensboro. Registration rates for the conference are: Jan. 6-Feb. 2 - $165 and after Feb. 2, $250. In addition, the Sheraton Greensboro is offering a special rate for the NC WISE/SIMS Symposium of $120 a night, plus tax, single or double occupancy. Participants are encouraged to make their reservations as early as possible to secure this special rate. For more information, or to download registration materials, please visit the NC WISE Web site at http://www.ncwise.org/symposium07.html. Please note that registration fees are non-refundable and checks must be made payable to NCDPI Cash Management. Those who have registered for the 2007 NC WISE/SIMS Symposium may view the status of their registration by going to the Symposium Web site and clicking on the document, "List of Registrants by LEA." Registrations are listed in chronological order by LEA/charter school number. This list will be updated weekly. Finally, Symposium organizers are soliciting requests for session topics for NC WISE and SIMS. Suggestions for NC WISE classes should be submitted to Terra Dominguez at tdominguez@dpi.state.nc.us. Suggestions for SIMS sessions should be emailed to Diane Parsons at dparsons@dpi.state.nc.us. For more information, please contact the NC WISE/SIMS Service Desk at sis_support@dpi.state.nc.us or 919.807.4357.
Words to the Wise Newsletter Online
The "Words to the Wise" newsletter
is back with all the latest information about NC WISE. In this issue:
- Read about the SAS Ad Hoc Reporting tool.
- Find out what's new on the Reporting Hub and the NC WISE Web site.
- Learn what you need to do to register for our biggest event of the year - the NC WISE/SIMS Symposium.
- Meet the new faces on the team, as well as old faces that are in different places.
Kindergarten Teacher Leader Initiative: The Power of K
NCDPI's Elementary Education Division is pleased to announce its North Carolina Kindergarten Teacher Leader Initiative; The Power of K. In response to the many challenges facing kindergarten teachers, NCDPI's Primary Team is launching a new project to enhance the leadership skills and content knowledge of a selected group of kindergarten teachers from each region of the state. The goal of this initiative is to establish a group of kindergarten teacher leaders for North Carolina. This group of teachers will participate in a three-year comprehensive professional development project that is designed to increase student achievement by implementing practices proven effective in addressing the educational needs of all kindergarten students. An application and directions are available online at http://community.learnnc.org/dpi/ec. All applications are due by noon, Feb. 15. For more information, please contact Eva Phillips at 919.807.3850 or ephillip@dpi.state.nc.us.
NOAA's Teacher at Sea Program
K-16 teachers interested in gaining first-hand research experience on a government ocean research vessel are encouraged to explore the opportunities offered by the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Teacher at Sea program, which is now accepting applications until Jan. 31. The mission of NOAA's Teacher at Sea program is to give teachers a clearer insight into our ocean planet and a greater understanding of maritime work and studies, and to foster an interdisciplinary educational experience that provides a unique environment for learning and teaching. Teachers may select a cruise aboard one of NOAA's 18 ships, of which there are three main types. Fisheries research vessels perform biological and physical science studies in support of fisheries research. Oceanographic and coastal research vessels perform physical science studies in support of physical oceanography, atmospheric studies and bathymetric mapping. Hydrographic survey vessels scan the coastal sea floor with side-scan sonar and sophisticated bottom sounding systems to locate submerged obstructions and navigational hazards for the creation or update of the nation's nautical charts. Teachers can expect to be at sea anywhere from one week to a month. Most teachers take advantage of cruises offered during the summer, but cruises take place throughout year. The NOAA Teacher at Sea Program pays all necessary travel costs. For more information please go online to http://teacheratsea.noaa.gov.
Stock Market Game Winners for Fall Session Announced
The North Carolina Council on Economic Education (NCCEE) recently announced the winners of the fall trading session of the Stock Market Game. This year, more than 700 student teams from Manteo to Murphy participated in the 10-week stock market simulation. Students received a hypothetical $100,000 to invest in a real-time market simulation. The statewide first place winners at the high school level came from Frank Mayberry's class at Mount Airy High School (Mount Airy City Schools). The middle school winners were from Hendersonville Middle School (Henderson County Schools), David Mackey's class. First place from the elementary level went to Deborah Robertson's students at Hopewell Elementary (Randolph County Schools). For information on how to participate in the Merrill Lynch sponsored spring trading session, please visit www.nccee.org or call 866.606.2233.
Connectivity Quality of Experience Stories Wanted
The North Carolina Connectivity Council is gathering stories on connectivity quality of experience, including best practices and critical needs and would like for local superintendents, principals, teachers, students and parents to submit their stories. Stories should include descriptions, notable quotes, pictures if applicable and contact information. All the information received will be validated and complied for use in presentations with legislators beginning with Legislative Technology Day on Feb. 13. Please go to www.ncconnect.org/initiatives.htm for further information.
Apply Now for NC Biotechnology's Mini-Grant Program
TeachersŠthere is still time to apply for the North Carolina Biotechnology Center's 2006-07 Mini-Grant Program. The Biotechnology Education Mini-Grant Program offers awards of up to $6,000 to assist in the development and implementation of activities, programs and courses for biotechnology education and training at the K-12 level. All proposals, which must be submitted electronically using the Biotechnology Center's online submission process, must be received by 5 p.m., Jan. 24. For detailed information, or to apply for a Biotechnology Education Mini-Grant, please go to http://www.ncbiotech.org/services_and_programs/grants_and_loans/mini_grant/index.html.
DonorsChoose is a Valuable Resource for Teachers
North Carolina public school teachers are reminded that DonorsChoose is a resource for you to request supplies and materials that you need for your classroom. When you log onto the DonorsChoose Web site and post a proposal, it will be seen by thousands of individuals across the country who support projects at DonorsChoose. Whether you need pencils and paper, math manipulatives, or costumes for your school play, you can request it at www.donorschooseNC.org.
If you'd like to review past Teachers' Biweekly Messages sent to the listserv group, just go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/teachersarchive/