May 23, 2008 |
Vol. 2, Issue 11 |
News Slices
2008 Third Grade Reading and Mathematics FCAT Results
Show Gains
The 2008 third grade Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) results
showed a greater percentage of students reading and performing mathematics
at or above grade level compared to last year. The results also indicate
that African-American third grade students narrowed the achievement gap
with non-minority students in both subjects, and Hispanic third graders
narrowed the achievement gap in mathematics. For the full details of the
FCAT results, visit www.fldoe.org/news/2008/2008_05_21.asp.
Social Studies Standards Available For Public Comment
The proposed revisions to Florida's social studies standards are now available
for public comment at the Social Studies Standards Review Web site at
http://tools.fcit.usf.edu/ssreview. To ensure that the standards are
clear, concise and accurate, the Florida Department of Education invites
you to rate each of the benchmarks and provide your feedback to the writers.
Please submit your comments no later than July 16. If you would like to
explore the source materials from which these standards were derived,
please review the Social Studies resources used by the framers and writers
of the proposed standards (http://etc.usf.edu/flstandards/ss/resources.html).
Teacher Appreciation Week
Schools and communities throughout the state celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week May 5-9. During the week, Lt. Governor Jeff Kottkamp, Education Commissioner Eric J. Smith, Division of Public Schools Chancellor Frances Haithcock, State Board members, students, parents, and district personnel participated in events across the state to show appreciation to Florida's more than 170,000 teachers.
Events featured pep rallies, student performances and remarks by state and local officials. The Department also made available on its Web site Teacher Appreciation Week information and resources for teachers, parents and students at www.fldoe.org/JustForTeachers.
Presidential Award Honors Two Florida
Teachers
The White House announced that teachers Lisa C.
Peake of Wesley Chapel High School and Nancy Santiago Cross of Merritt
Island High School were among the 99 educators to receive the annual Presidential
Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching for 2007. The
teachers will be recognized in an award ceremony as the nation's best
seventh through 12th grade teachers.
Awardees are selected from mathematics and science teachers in all 50 States and the District of Columbia, with the competition alternating each year between kindergarten through sixth grade teachers and seventh through 12th grade teachers.
Each award recipient will receive a $10,000 educational grant to be used at his or her discretion over a three-year period, and an all expense-paid trip for two to Washington, D.C. to accept the certificate.
Lisa C. Peake is a chemistry teacher at Wesley
Chapel High School in Wesley Chapel, Fla. She has been teaching chemistry
since 2001. Nancy Cross has been teaching mathematics at Merritt Island
High School in Florida since 1998. She teaches analytical geometry and
liberal arts math.
Florida Celebrated First Ever Science Day
Schools across the state celebrated Florida’s
first ever Science Day on May 16. During the day, schools were encouraged
to teach a specific science lesson based on this year’s theme of
wind energy. Sixteen lesson plans were written and submitted by Florida
teachers to be considered for the state Science Day lessons. Of those
submitted, four were chosen to represent lesson plans for the high school,
middle school, and elementary school levels.
In support of Science Day, the Florida Association
of Science Teachers (FAST) and the Florida Association of Science Supervisors
(FASS) provided an award to the winners of each of the four selected lesson
plans. For more on the story, visit www.fldoe.org/news/2008/2008_05_16.asp.
Florida Service-Learning Month
The Department of Education’s “Florida
Learn and Serve” program had more than 250 students, teachers, principals,
partners, and district administrators participate in the “Raising
Our Voices for Service Learning” training April 21, 2008, in Tallahassee.
The event was highlighted with service-learning project displays ranging
from reading literacy, the environment and career exploration. Participating
students received training on meeting with community leaders, district
administrators, and legislators to present the importance and the impact
of service learning.
Summer Professional Development Staff Training
Available
The Northeast Florida Educational Consortium is
offering Project NEST (Nurturing Economic Stability Together), a program
designed to link education and workforce development to grow the economic
viability of Florida. The goal of the project is to build economic and
workforce development literacy in professionals who are charged with helping
young Floridians grow into skilled adults. This training is free and is
offered as a continuing education credit for certified teachers during
May and June.
To bring Project NEST training to your team, call Marsha Hill at the Northeast Florida Educational Consortium at (386) 329-3808 or via e-mail at hillm@nefec.org.
Campaign Encourages Wearing Life Jackets
During National Safe Boating Week in Florida, Governor
Charlie Crist and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
(FWC) encourage boaters to wear a life jacket. The FWC reported 77 boating
fatalities for 2007; however, following a few simple rules and paying
attention while boating can make the difference between a safe and enjoyable
day on the water and one that ends tragically. Statistics repeatedly show
that boaters who have taken a basic boating safety class are also less
likely to be involved in a boating accident. For more information on boating
safety, visit www.wearitflorida.com.
Seeds of Success
Rookie Teacher of the Year Awards
Each year, the United Teachers of Dade (UTD) recognizes outstanding new teachers throughout the district with the Rookie Teacher of the Year award. Candidates, who are nominated by their school, represent the commitment and achievement of (M-DCPS) exemplary beginning teachers.
Miami-Dade College/Educator Preparation Institute Participants
Who Are M-DCPS 2007-2008 Rookie Teacher of the Year Nominees:
Elizabeth Briano, Horace Mann Middle School in Miami Shores
Richard Browning, American High School in Hialeah
Samuel Gbadebo, American High School in Hialeah
Daisy Butcher, Corporate Academy North (Academy of Business and Entrepreneurship)
in Miami
Emad Fahmy, Laura C. Saunders Elementary School in Homestead
Marilyn Lightbourn, Madie Ives Elementary in North Miami
Shekinah Mayard, Linda Lentin K-8 Center in North Miami Beach
John Monda, Frances S. Tucker Elementary in Miami
Jemilla Montgomery, Highways to Success Academy in Miami
Theresa Simmons, Gertrude Edelman/Sabal Palm Elementary School in North
Miami
The EPI assists school districts in the College's service area by offering an opportunity for non-education majors, who have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, to become highly qualified teachers and obtain professional state teacher certification.
To qualify for the program, candidates must be engaged in their first year of teaching as either a full-time elementary, secondary or post-secondary school teacher; have demonstrated leadership capabilities through volunteer activities in the school and/or the community; have outstanding performance during the initial year of teaching (based on standards established by the school district); possess an outstanding ability to inspire the love of learning in students of all backgrounds and abilities; and demonstrate a strong commitment to creating a climate of caring and respect, conducive to effective teaching and learning.
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Immokalee High School BETA Club Wins First
Place Three Florida School Districts Honored for
Music Education Hamilton County Student Awarded $180,000
ROTC Scholarship Pine Ridge High Wins $10,000 Goody’s
Good Deeds for Schools Grant Florida High Schools Honored for Excellent
Student Councils |
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Branching Out The Florida Community College at Jacksonville Department of Nursing is hosting the Fifth Annual Excellence in Patient Safety Conference June 5-6 at the Nathan H. Wilson Center, FCCJ South Campus, 11901 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville. The Patient Safety Conference is recommended
for all health care practitioners, educators and students, including
physicians, nurses, pharmacists, various technicians and therapists
in all specialties. For more information about the conference or
details on pricing and accommodations, visit www.fccj.edu/patientsafetyconference
or call (904) 766-6524. 2008 No Child Left Behind (NCLB) School Choice Leadership Summit June 23-25, 2008 Orlando The Florida Department of Education Bureau
of Student Assistance 2008 No Child Left Behind (NCLB) School Choice
Leadership Summit will be held June 23-25, 2008, in Orlando, Fla.
This Summit provides a statewide forum for promoting successful
and effective implementation of NCLB public school options, including
Supplemental Educational Services (SES). Participants will have
an opportunity to discuss state and federal information updates
and technical assistance related to such topics as contract management;
development, implementation, and evaluation of Student Learning
Plans; monitoring and evaluation; and parent outreach efforts. State-approved
SES providers and school district tutors, program administrators,
office managers, district Title I coordinators, district SES administrators,
school administrators, and school site facilitators are encouraged
to attend. Please note that this is a mandatory meeting for all
2008-2009 state-approved providers according to the Request for
Applications for the 2008-2009 school year. Information regarding
Summit registration, hotel, and proposed agenda is available at
www.fldoe.org/flbpso/nclbchoice/ses/ses_meeting.asp.
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Advanced Placement Summer Institute for Administrators The Advanced Placement (AP) Summer Institute for Administrators will take place at the Hilton Clearwater Beach Resort on June 25-27, 2008. Teachers, principals and district personnel are invited to participate to discuss a variety of topics about AP programs. This year's institute will focus on building equity in AP programs, teaching strategies and the relationship of the course to the AP Exam. For more information, please e-mail sro@collegeboard.org. Great Florida Teach-In The Great Florida Teach-In is a statewide job fair sponsored annually by the Department of Education. The Teach-In provides a convenient forum that enables educators seeking employment in Florida to obtain interviews with school and district personnel responsible for hiring teachers. The event is free to candidates who may either register in advance or on site. To be eligible to attend the Teach-In, candidates must either hold at least a bachelor’s degree from an accredited U.S. institution or have an expected graduation date of no later than August 2008. Representatives of approximately 30 school districts and 20 charter schools will be in attendance. Additionally, private and public colleges and universities will also be available to promote their education programs. For more information or to register, visit
www.teachinflorida.com.
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7th Annual Just Read, Florida! K-12 Leadership Conference The Just Read, Florida! office is pleased to announce the 7th Annual Just Read, Florida! K-12 Leadership Conference to be held June 29 - July 2, 2008 at the Orlando World Center Marriott. This year's Leadership Conference will offer a strand of curriculum sessions focusing on innovative best practices for K-12 curriculum and implementation of the new standards (in lieu of the annual fall K-12 Conference). More than 5,000 educators are expected to attend this year. Registration and additional information on the conference is available at www.justreadflorida.com/conference. 2008 Juvenile Justice Education
Institute and Southern Conference On Corrections To register for the conference, go to www.criminologycenter.fsu.edu/jjeep. |
For more information on this electronic newsletter, please e-mail thecore@fldoe.org.