Printer FriendlyJust for Teachers
Just for Teachers |
| Text Index |
Custom Search
|
April 2007 Newsletter
News
Teacher Survey Results Released to State Board of Education
On March 20, I had the opportunity to present to the Florida State Board of Education on two important issues: (a) How the Department of Education is communicating with and listening to teachers (b) The results of the “Teacher Experiences” online survey to which close to 13,000 educators responded. Commissioner Jeanine Blomberg indicated that, in addition to communicating teacher concerns, “Teacher Experiences” survey results have been communicated to legislators during the course of the current legislative session. State Board of Education member Kathleen Shanahan said, “It is important for the teachers who participate to understand that policy is going to follow their counsel.” She also indicated that the feedback surveys are important to inform legislators, community members, and local districts about issues impacting teachers. She suggested that the “Teacher Experiences Survey” be done annually, before each legislative session, in order to assist the Governor and Legislature in policy decisions. Board member Roberto Martinez said that making sure that teaching is treated like a profession should be “paramount in everything [they] do.”
To watch the presentation made to the State Board of Education online and to access “Teacher Experiences” survey results, click here.
Florida Teachers Online Discussion Group Launched
In a previous newsletter, I asked that Florida teachers interested in an on-going dialogue on education “hot topics” sign up to participate in online discussion boards. The online discussion board was launched earlier this month with participants from each region of the state. If you would like to participate, click here to complete an online contact form.
Governor Crist Signs the “Merit Award Program” into Law
During the current 2007 legislative session, the Florida Legislature passed a bill revising teacher performance pay in Florida resulting in the Merit Award Program. The bill was signed into law by Governor Crist on March 29. Recently, K-12 Public Schools Chancellor Cheri Pierson Yecke appeared on “Education Today” to explain how the Merit Award Program works. To view this program online, learn how this program differs from past programs, and how districts may benefit from state funding for the implementation of a merit pay program, click here.
Center for Teaching Quality: Teacher-Authored Report on Performance Pay
In the first report of its kind, 18 expert teachers from across the nation have released a report proposing changes in the ways in which teachers have been compensated for years. Susan Bischoff, a fifth grade teacher at Ballard Elementary in Manatee County is one of the teachers credited with authoring the report. The group proposes radical changes to the traditional salary schedule and has made recommendations which, if implemented, could double, even triple, a teacher’s income. To access the complete report as well as information about the Merit Award Program, click here.
The “Ready to Work” Credential: Opportunities for Florida Students
Florida’s Ready to Work Program, which creates a job skill assessment-based training and credential program for students and adult learners, was launched earlier this month. The program is administered by the Florida Department of Education and the Agency for Workforce Innovation. Free-of-charge and completely voluntary, the Ready to Work Program provides participants with an opportunity to earn a credential that demonstrates his or her ability to enter the workforce with the skills necessary for success. The Ready to Work Credential Program consists of the nationally-recognized ACT WorkKeys® system, which measures cognitive abilities such as applied mathematics, reading for information, and locating information. In addition to the three WorkKeys® assessments, Florida’s Ready to Work Credential will also include a work-readiness component, which measures applicants’ personal qualities (dependability, assertiveness, self-management, honesty/integrity) and interpersonal skills (communication, customer service, teamwork and leadership skills). The program will be available at participating public schools, community colleges, area technical centers, one-stop career centers, vocational rehabilitation centers, Department of Juvenile Justice programs and regional education consortia. Nearly 10,000 Floridians who have already taken the WorkKeys® assessments and achieved scores of three or above on each assessment will be “grandfathered” into the Ready to Work Credential Program, and will receive a certificate of completion this month. To learn more click here.
Teacher Talk: An Inside Look at Florida Education: Show 3
Since the broadcast of the first show on the Florida Education Channel and the Florida Knowledge Network, districts across Florida have been placing the program into regular rotation on their local education channel, and teachers have been contacting me to have their school highlighted on the program. The show celebrates innovations made by Florida teachers, schools, and districts and features teacher interviews, student-produced segments, education news, and interesting stories about education in Florida. The third show, currently being broadcast, focuses on the following: Florida teacher survey results, Florida’s online advising and academic planning system (FACTS.org) and the ePEP educational planner currently available in middle schools across Florida, as well as a student-produced interview with Marshall Skinner, director of Career and Technical Education programs in Martin County. Mr. Skinner discusses career academies, SUCCEED Florida! funding, and the variety of innovative programs available to students and teachers in Martin County. To access the Florida Education Channel and Florida Knowledge Network broadcast schedules for “Teacher Talk: An Inside Look at Florida Education” or to view programs online, click here. Be sure to check your local education channel for broadcast times in your area.
“Just for Teachers” Spotlight: Financial Resources
Looking for grants, scholarships, low-interest home loans, or apartment assistance? The “Financial Resources” page on “Just for Teachers” is a great place to start! Visit Just For Teachers.
Conferences and Workshops
In the March newsletter, I highlighted some upcoming summer and fall conferences. If you missed it, you can always access these opportunities via the “Monthly Newsletter Archives” on the “Just for Teachers” Web page at http://www.fldoe.org/justforteachers/newsletters.
The Florida Council for Exceptional Children: 61st Annual Conference
The Florida Council for Exceptional Children will hold the 61st annual conference titled: “Roll Out the Red Carpet: Spotlight on Success,” on Oct. 11-13, 2007, at the Bahia Mar Beach Resort and Yachting Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Conference workshop highlights include nationally-known keynote speakers: Dr. Tom E.C. Smith who has authored or co-authored 22 college textbooks in special education and more than 40 articles, as well as Dr. Janette Klingner who has published 27 articles in referenced journals and 10 books and book chapters. Additionally, pre-conference highlights include the following: Drs. Villa, Thousand, and Nevin who will highlight the benefits and challenges of co-teaching, and impart the secrets to successful collaborations that supercharge teachers’ craft with added productivity, intelligence, and creativity. The Transition Center at the University of Florida will share “Transitional Tools and How to Use Them,” and the University Center for Autism and Related Disorders will reveal successful tips for including children with Autism Spectrum Disorders in the classroom. The Florida Council for Exceptional Children Annual Conference is the leading state conference for general and special education teachers working with children with disabilities. For more information, click here.
Get to Know FACTS.org: Opportunities for Educators
FACTS.org is the Florida’s one-stop student advising web site. It was created by the DOE to help students make informed choices about their education. Middle and high school students, college students, teachers, parents and counselors use FACTS.org services to plan and track educational progress in Florida. The ePEP or electronic Personal Education Planner is one of the tools offered at FACTS.org. This is an incredibly useful tool, allowing middle and high school students to create a 4-year high school plan. The plans, or ePEPs, are based on what the student intends to do after high school – go to college, go to a career technical center or go directly into the workforce or the military. In today’s competitive work environment, it’s more important than ever for students to have career and academic goals after high school and to plan their courses and track their progress towards those goals. By 2010, 85% of the new jobs will require more education beyond high school. This month FACTS.org is releasing a brand new version of the ePEP that includes the Major Areas of Interest. Students entering the 9th grade in 2007 can go to FACTS.org and create a plan based on their major area of interest. It is important to note that the ePEP helps students plan their courses and track their progress as they complete courses, but it does not take the place of district registration for courses.
Middle School Career and Academic Advising Workshops will be held in June, July and August throughout the state. The workshops are intended to inform middle school teachers, who will be teaching the new career and education planning course, about the proposed course curriculums, how to create an ePEP, and career exploration with CHOICES. Registration for the workshops is required. Click here for more information.
Inspired By Reading
Florida Middle School Student Asking Spielberg to Remake the Diary of Anne Frank
Inspired by her sister, Stephanie Russo, the 2006 winner of Chancellor Yecke’s “Middle School Summer Reading Book Challenge” administered by the Just Read, Florida! office, 7th grader Linda Russo decided to grab a good book and start reading. She chose, The Diary of Anne Frank and was so inspired by Anne’s story, and the history of the Holocaust, that she decided to learn as much as she could about this period in history. She was lead to the movie, produced in 1959, and decided that she would ask film director, Steven Spielberg, to remake the film to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of the original film. Linda is asking that Mr. Spielberg remake the film for release in 2009, and in her letter to the well-known director, she says “I am not Jewish, I am Catholic, but I think that is not what is important. Her diary shows that we are all the same and what happened to her and all the Jewish people in the Holocaust was very awful.”
Has a particular book inspired you or your students to action or changed your life in some way? E-mail me at justforteachers@fldoe.org to tell your story!
Coming Soon
Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-12)
Look for a special “Just for Teachers” newsletter all about appreciating you! Expect this newsletter during the week of May 1.
Do you have special memories of students, parents, and others who have shown appreciation for the many ways in which you impact the lives of your students? Do you have suggestions for ways students, parents, and others can show their appreciation to the special teachers in their lives? Contact me via e-mail at justforteachers@fldoe.org.
Did You Know?
Did you know that I travel around the state, visiting individual schools and talking with colleagues about hot topics in education? Since January, I have been conducting educator focus groups on the High School Major Areas of Interest. As new legislation is implemented, the topics of these focus groups will change, but the goal will remain the same: listen to colleagues and communicate educator concerns with those who help set educational policy in Florida. Look for me soon at your school!
Frequently Asked Questions from these meetings will be posted soon on the “Just for Teachers” Web page!
Share Your Story
Do you have questions? Suggestions? Success stories to share?
Contact me at justforteachers@fldoe.org.