TEACHERS' MESSAGES 2008

DECEMBER 11, 2008 - Teachers' Biweekly Messages

Congratulations to the 1,453 newly certified National Board teachers who recently received word of this exemplary professional accomplishment. North Carolina continues to lead the nation in the number of Board certified teachers, and four districts (Wake, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Guilford, Winston-Salem/Forsyth) are listed in the top 20 districts nationwide. North Carolina has made a significant financial commitment to National Board certification, and this program provides an important professional development opportunity for everyone who participates. If you have not considered National Board certification, I encourage you to go to the Department's Web site at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/recruitment/nationalboardcertification/and explore how this certification could benefit you professionally.

Regards,
June Atkinson

In this Biweekly Teachers' Message:

1. State Board Meeting Highlights
2. ACRE Update
3. North Carolina Continues National Board Momentum
4. Iredell-Statesville Schools Receives Baldrige Award
5. Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Finalists Announced
6. Nominations Accepted for 2009 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching
7. Holocaust Teacher Workshops for 2008-09

State Board Meeting Highlights

At last week's Board meeting, members approved the addition of middle grades literacy coach as a license area, proposed standards for the evaluation of school counselors and school social workers, and proposed revisions to the graduate pay policy. Board members discussed allowing retest results in the calculation of performance composites for the ABCs and a think tank for a Child Obesity Pilot program. Complete Board highlights are available online at www.ncpublicschools.org/sbehighlights.

ACRE Update

In response to the Blue Ribbon Commission's report on Testing and Accountability and the resulting NC Department of Public Instruction's "Framework for Change," the Department is moving rapidly, but strategically, to develop the next generation of standards, assessment and accountability. The overall structure and process has been developed, as well as the establishment of committees. Many of the individuals involved in this phase also were members of the initial planning that was presented before the State Board of Education in October 2008.

As this phase begins, an Essential Standards Leadership Group will direct the work of K-12 Mathematics, K-12 Science, Occupational Course of Study, English 10 and Computer/Technology Skills as they undergo the identification and development of Essential Content Standards. These content areas are in the process of establishing working procedures and time lines, compiling external writing committees, and evaluating efficient and effective mechanisms for clear communication. Communication is vital to the work of these committees. As work continues, updates will be made available in various formats to keep all North Carolina educators and the public informed and involved.

The Assessment and Accountability Leadership Group will be comprised of four committees: the New Accountability Committee, the Comprehensive Assessment for a New Generation (CANG) Working Group, an Innovative Assessment Research Team and a Writing Committee Group. Two of the four committees are new and are moving to establish membership, a course of action, and the work plan to complete the proposed objectives.

Both the Essential Standards and Assessment and Accountability Groups will work and communicate in tandem to ensure close alignment as we revolutionize the instruction and assessment for all students in our state and assist teachers in preparing students fo r the 21st century and global community.

For more information, please contact Rebecca Garland at rgarland@dpi.state.nc.us or Angela Quick at aquick@dpi.state.nc.us.

North Carolina Continues National Board Certification Momentum

North Carolina continues its momentum of leading the nation in the number of National Board Certified teachers as another 1,453 public school teachers celebrate achieving their profession's highest credential. This newest batch of credentialed teachers brings the state's total number of National Board Certified teachers to 14,211. In addition, four North Carolina public school districts placed in the Top 20 districts nationally for the total number of national board certified teachers: Wake County Public Schools is second with 1,487, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Schools is fourth with 1,211, Guilford County Public Schools is 11th with 520 and Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Public Schools is 18th with 384. Nationwide, 9,600 teachers and counselors became National Board Certified, bringing the national total to 73,477. North Carolina accounts for almost one-fifth of the nation's nationally certified teachers. Florida is the next closest state with 12,670 followed by South Carolina (6, 498), California (4,240) and Illinois (3,191).

Iredell-Statesville Schools Receives Baldrige Award

Congratulations to Iredell-Statesville Schools on their recent receipt of the 2008 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, the nation's highest presidential honor for organizational innovation and performance excellence. The Iredell-Statesville Public Schools' system is one of three recipients for this year's award.

Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Finalists Announced

The National Science Foundation has announced the 2008 North Carolina finalists for the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching:

K-6 Mathematics Teaching finalists:

• Kathleen Conroy, Providence Spring Elementary, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
• Rosemary Klein, Bailey Middle, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
• Tracy Thomas, Meadow Lane Elementary, Wayne County Public Schools

K-6 Science Teaching finalists:

• Sarah Klingler, Jay M. Robinson Middle, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
• Scott Reynolds, TIF-LEAP Initiative (formerly of Winterfield Elementary School), Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
• Carol Swink Wooten, Hunter Gifted & Talented Magnet Elementary, Wake County Schools

These educators will be recognized at an awards reception in December. They are now in competition for the state awards to be determined by a national select committee on behalf of the White House and the National Science Foundation. The state winners receive a $10,000 award and a week in Washington, DC, to attend recognition events for themselves and a guest.

Nominations Accepted for 2009 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching

The Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) are the nation's highest honors for teachers of mathematics and science. The awards recognize highly qualified K-12 teachers for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession.The National Science Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2009 PAEMST application round. Those interested in nominating secondary science and mathematics teachers, grades 7-12, should go online to www.paemst.org and click on "Nomination" and complete the nomination form. Applications are due May 1, 2009.

Holocaust Teacher Workshops for 2008-09

These one-day, multi-county workshops for social studies and English/Language Arts teachers are led by Dr. Karl Schleunes, historian and Holocaust scholar, and Gizella Abramson, a Holocaust survivor of the Majdanek death camp who recounts her experiences in a concentration camp or Zohara Boyd, a survivor who "hid in plain sight" during the Holocaust and Peter Petschauer, the son of an SS officer and diplomat. This worksho p is particularly useful for teachers of World History or American History as well as teachers at the sixth-grade level teaching Eastern European history. It also is recommended for middle school language arts teachers teaching "Anne Frank's Diary" or high school English teachers studying Elie Wiesel's "Night" and other Holocaust literature at the upper grades. These workshops are free and substitute pay is provided for teachers attending, but space is limited and teachers are encouraged to make early contact with Linda Scher, Holocaust Teacher Workshop Coordinator. Participants receive a copy of "The Holocaust: a North Carolina Teacher's Resource," a guide for teaching about the Holocaust at the middle and high school levels. Workshops will be held as follows: Nov. 19, Wilkesboro (Wilkes County), Dec. 10, Lenoir (Caldwell County), Feb. 4, Newton (Catawba County), Feb. 18, Durham (Durham County), Feb. 23, Fayetteville (Cumberland County), Feb. 27, Monroe (Union County), March 4, Greensboro, (Guilford County) and March 25, WRESA in Enka (Buncombe County). For additional information and registration, please email Linda Scher at Brisket234@aol.com.

 

If you'd like to review past Teachers' Biweekly Messages sent to the listserv group, just go online to http://www.ncpublicschools.org/teachersarchive/.