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April 29th - Washington DC
<--This is me with Tony Mullen, the new National Teacher of the Year, and Cindi Rigsbee, the North Carolina Teacher of the Year.
Today was day three of the National Teacher of the Year recognition program. We had another phenomenal day filled with opportunities to learn something new and to celebrate the accomplishments of my esteemed colleagues. My family was on their own again and opted to avoid anything educational since Mom wasn't looking. They spent the majority of the day playing at ESPN zone. Hmmm - I wonder whose idea that was. They did go through the National Museum of American History this morning, so I guess it wasn't a total waste.
The majority of my day was spent at the SMART Technologies Training Center. We heard from the husband and wife team that created the first SMART board and learned the history of their product. Currently 22% of the classrooms in the United States have SMART boards in them. In the UK, 70% of the classrooms have SMART boards but they have been installed without training the teachers how to use them. I've loved every training I have been in and am very jealous of the people who are able to return to their classrooms and put their new knowledge to work. As usual, I am going to bullet the information I received during my trainings.
The Senteo response system will soon be know as SMART response. When you hit the stop class button on the Senteo teacher screen it automatically turns off all the remotes in the room.
You have probably found the Senteo display in the bottom right corner of your SMART board. You can click on this and an interactive clicker will appear on the board. This is great for demonstrating the process to younger children.
The new SMART response software (which can be downloaded from the SMART website) will include bar and pie graphs of the students scores.
It's possible to import a test directly from Word to your Senteos. The test must be written in this format: 1) question indent answer choices
If you are using your SMART board as a center, keep your airliner with you so you can direct what is happening without ever leaving the reading group.
It's possible to save YouTube videos to your flash drive at home and then show them on your SMART board. This eliminates the problem with filters blocking the video. Just save the Youtube video as a .flv file. you will need use firefox and download a program called download helper (downloadhelper.com) for this to work.
This is a link to a great word game called "chicktionary" that can be played on the SMART board.
Here's a great link to a website containing math SMART games.
We returned to the hotel around 4:30, which gave us plenty of time to get ready for the black tie dinner that was planned for the evening. I had a lot of fun shopping for a gown, jewelry, and shoes for this event. I know the guys don't care what I wore but here's a description for the women. I chose a two piece, pewter colored dress. The bottom was chiffon and made me feel very feminine. Since the dress was pretty demure I chose some funky pewter jewelry and strappy sandals. Jason (my husband) wore a dark pin-striped suit. We looked pretty good - if I do say so myself.
The kids stayed in the hotel room and ate pizza. He told Jordan (the 15 year old) that he was in charge. We left the boys with specific instructions and a well-charged cell phone and headed to the Galleria around the corner from the hotel. It was gorgeous. The reception was help upstairs. We could look over the balcony and see the tables set up for the banquet below. We had a chance to mingle and talk with fellow Teachers of the Year, distinguished guests, and past National Teachers of the Year. It was a lot of fun. After a while, the maitre'd proceeded through the reception area ringing a triangle and signaling us to dinner. We proceeded down the winding staircase, past the string quartet and found our seats. It was time for the meal.
The food was exceptional! We ate lobster and arugula salad, New York strip and fresh vegetables and an assortment of fruit cobblers. Every course was served with a different type of wine. In between the courses we heard from different speakers including Secretary Duncan and Tony Mullen, the new National Teacher of the Year.
I felt a little bit like Cinderella at the ball. At 10:30 on the dot the event ended and we headed back to the hotel. It was certainly an evening I will never forget.
April 28th - Washington DC
Today was an absolutely incredible day. It started with a trip to the Iwo Jima memorial with my family. Iwo Jima is Marine Corps memorial dedicated to all of the soldiers that have lost their lives defending our freedom since 1775. The memorial depicts several Marines and one Sailor who were responsible for hoisting the second flag over Iwo Jima. I was raised in a military family. My grandfather was a Navy man who completed his active duty in WWII. My father was also in the Navy and served on a nuclear submarine. I was born in a Navy hospital in Connecticut. For a while I considered entering the Navy and actually completed a brief stint in the Civil Air Patrol in High School. My father and grandfather were both proud of their time in the military and I think I grew up appreciating the men and women who serve our country because of their stories. Maybe this is the reason why I fought back tears as I looked at the statue. Maybe it's because I know several families who currently have sons, daughters, fathers, and mothers who are fighting in foreign wars. I'm not sure exactly why I became so emotional, but I can promise you I was touched by this iconic image.
After a quick stop for some "real" pizza (not chain pizza) we headed back to the hotel to get ready for our trip to the White House. It was really hard to get the entire family dressed for such a big event in our tiny hotel room. Everyone was bumping elbows as we attempted to tie ties and button suit jackets. I was a little afraid we were going to miss the bus and have to watch the ceremony on TV! In the end we made it downstairs with plenty of time to spare.
All of the Teachers of the Year were piled on one bus and our family members were loaded onto another bus. I reminded my husband and both boys that they must keep their ties on until after the ceremony as they walked to their respective bus. We followed the new National Teacher of the Year Tony Mullen's limousine to the White House. Tony is an amazing person and very deserving of the title. He started his life as a police officer in New York and worked his way up to detective. He always knew he wanted to teach and settled on special education after seeing so many young men and women lose their lives and their futures on the streets on New York. Tony currently teaches in an alternative school in Greenwich, CT. I am very proud that he will be our representative for the next year.
We sounded like school children on a field trip as the bus driver attempted to navigate the busy streets between our hotel and the White House. Everyone was very chatty due to both nerves and excitement. At the White House, we had to hold our breath and wait as security screened every person. My fear was that someone would have accidentally been left off the "official list" and would not be allowed to enter. Everything turned out okay and we proceeded to a holding area inside the White House while our families were escorted to the rose garden. I am embarrassed to say that the State Teachers of the Year were reprimanded by secret service for being too loud. We decided we had better take this reprimand seriously when a sniper loaded down with guns and ammunition walked through the middle of the crowd. Yikes!
The ceremony itself was only about fifteen minutes long. Each State Teacher of the Year was announced individually. We walked across the grass (lots of room to trip) and stood on the steps outside the oval office. President O'bama, Secretary Arnie Duncan and Tony Mullen walked from the oval office to the podium. The President gave a short, inspiring speech and then Tony concluded the event with his own inspirational remarks. The best part was that President O'bama, First Lady Michelle O'bama and Secretary Arnie Duncan all took the time to shake our hands. It was pretty cool. I do have to say that I was disappointed to learn that we would be the first group not invited into the oval office to shake the President's hand individually. We still have not been given a reason as to why this didn't happen. I'm not complaining, I did get to shake his hand after all.
In case you were wondering:
- Yes, Michelle O'bama is as pretty in person. She has flawless skin and I am very jealous about that fact.
- Sasha and Malia were not in attendance as they were inside doing homework.
- No, I didn't meet "Bo". Brooks was most upset about this.
- Yes, the first couple do seem to have a fun and loving relationship. They were teasing each other and bantering back and forth the entire time they were shaking our hands.
Here's the link to the CSPAN version of the ceremony at the White House.
http://www.c-span.org/Watch/Media/2009/04/28/HP/A/17957/Pres+Obama+Presents+National+Teacher+of+the+Year+Award.aspx
I am wearing a lime green jacket and can be found in the back row since we are lined up according to height. I've also linked my Facebook album (you must be a Facebook member to view pictures) containing all of my personal pictures from the event. It was truly an amazing day especially as I stood on the steps and saw my children sitting ten feet away from the President as he gave his first speech in the rose garden. I know I will never forget this experience and am so thankful that I was given the opportunity to share it with my family.
April 27th - Washington DC
I have to admit, I was a little worried about the fact that my husband would be responsible for playing tour guide while I am involved in Teacher of the Year (TOY) events. If today was any indication of what the week is going to be like, I can rest at ease. He did an amazing job shuttling the boys from educational stop to educational stop. They managed to see, and actually do, the Natural History museum and the Air and Space museum both in one day. They were exhausted by the time I returned, but content and full of information about what they saw and did. Thanks Jason!
When the TOYs arrived at breakfast we were told that we would be split up among the different Smithsonian museums until lunch time. At that time, we would be coming back together to share our experiences during round table discussions. The tables would be arranged so that one visitor from each museum would be at each table. I anxiously awaited my assignment. Drum roll please ... Jenna Hallman is assigned to the ... zoo. I was a little disappointed at first. I mean, I had just spent the previous day walking through the zoo. On top of that I was concerned that I would be hot and smelly when I returned. Then I learned that we were going behind the scenes to witness an octopus feeding and to learn to conduct some very specific animal observations. That sort of changed my opinion.
It turned out that all of the elementary teachers were headed to the zoo together. We met Elise Bernardoni who is an education associate at the zoo and our guide for the day. On the ride over she shared the zoo's vision and the impact they have had on several endangered species across the world. When we arrived at the zoo she took us to the invertebrate exhibit and introduced us to Mike Henley. Mike taught us all about the octopus. Did you know that an octopus can change its color as well as the texture of its skin in order to camouflage itself? It was amazing to watch! Mike also taught us how to observe animals. In my science classroom I often ask my students to observe different animals. They stare at them for a minute and tell me they are done. The approach Mike taught us was to observe for specific criteria (such as movement and color), every thirty seconds for a short period of time. I was very much in tune to the movement of the octopus and the color which allowed me to make much better observations. This is definitely something I intend to use in my classroom. Elise provided us with several websites that I think will be of interest to you. I've listed them below.
TED.com is an amazing collection of brilliant speeches and lectures. It’s a great place to learn. Alan’s octopus video was part of the lecture below (starting at 2 minutes). This lecture is amazing!
The National Zoo’s animal web cams, including the octopus cam:
Some links to Citizen Science projects that the Zoo participates in. You and your students can too! Monarch butterflies are tagged each year so that we may track their migration patterns.
- http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Invertebrates/News/monarchmigration.cfm
- http://www.monarchwatch.org/index.html
Neighborhood Nest Watch is an annual, nationwide Citizen Science program aimed at learning about the status of bird populations:
North American Amphibian monitoring program (not suitable for your class to do – but for if you want to get involved, or would like to pass it on to high school biology teachers)
Some information about the Amphibian Crisis and the Year of the Frog
- http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/ReptilesAmphibians/YearoftheFrog/default.cfm
- http://www.aza.org/ConScience/AmphibianResources/index.html
- http://www.amphibianark.org/
Some stories about Mike Henley (the keeper who did the octopus chat) and his coral gamete collection project:
- http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/PressMaterials/PressReleases/NZP/2007/elkhorncoral.cfm
- http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Invertebrates/Conservation/Coral/elkhorn.cfm
As soon as everyone returned to the Smithsonian Castle we began sharing our adventures. It was amazing to hear about all of the experiences. Some of the groups sorted through unprocessed artifacts while others learned how to critically examine a piece of artwork. The reason for our backstage visits was so that we could serve in the role as Smithsonian ambassadors. The Smithsonian is currently digitalizing all of their artifacts so that schools all across the country can use them in their classrooms. Any teacher can access the artifacts, lesson plans, and activities by simply going to the the respective Smithsonian institute website. I can also come to your school or district and give a presentation about how to use this new resource in the classroom (I have access to extra lesson plans).
We left the Smithsonian Castle and traveled to the Vice President's mansion on Embassy Row. After successfully completing a security check we were welcomed to the residence by Dr. Jill Biden. First of all, the place was gorgeous and we were told to make ourselves at home. Seriously? Secondly, Dr. Biden is an amazing woman. Did you know she is still teaching at the college level? She has secret service agents outside her classroom door, but she is still teaching. I think that is an awesome message to send to educators everywhere. Her passion for teachers and students comes through in everything she does. I can assure you she is genuine and personable. I felt totally comfortable in her presence. She talked with us about the importance of our profession and the current administration's commitment to ensuring that students everywhere receive the education they deserve. She walked us around the grounds and even showed us the pool. Several of us took the opportunity to stick our toes in the Vice President's pool! This was truly an incredible experience. I never thought I would be rubbing elbows with someone like Dr. Biden.
Although it had been a very long day, we left the Biden residence feeling exuberant and energized. I couldn't wait to hear about my family's adventures and to share the highlights of my day. Tomorrow is the White House ceremony! Can you feel the excitement?
April 26th - Washington DC
I know you are probably a little confused. I'm sure you're thinking, "Wasn't she just in Washington?" Yes, I was and I'm back again. The one difference is that this time I have my family in tow. My husband Jason, my two sons, Jordan and Brooks, and I left South Carolina yesterday and made the 8 1/2 hour drive to DC. Luckily, we had the DVD players hooked up in the van and a sack of new movies to watch along the way (thanks Mom). Brooks is six, and like every other six year old in the world, asked "How much longer?" every fifteen minutes. At least he got to see the Eiffel tower along the way. Actually, it was a cell phone tower, but he excitedly informed me from the back seat that he could see France. He could also see Washington from North Carolina so ... I think we need to work on his geography skills this summer.
We arrived late last night and settled into our small hotel room. Let me say that again - small hotel room. It was so bad, I had to make everyone sit in the middle of the beds (no dangling legs) while I attempted to unpack. I am willing to bet that these close quarters will fuel some sibling (and possibly parental) arguments before we leave. This week is going to be very busy with all of the National Teacher of the Year activities Jon Quam has planned so I'm really glad we arrived early and could spend the day exploring as a family.
Our plan was to leave the van parked for the entire visit (therefore avoiding fees for parking) and to ride the metro. The concierge at the hotel gave us directions on how to find the closest station. A police officer gave us different directions when he noticed our confused expressions and constant redirection. About a half an hour later a passerby took pity on us and helped us locate the elusive station. Talk about country come to the city! We must have looked like tourists because the metro attendant immediately sought us out and informed us that she would teach Brooks how to purchase tickets so that he could keep us straight the rest of the week. Smart thinking!
Once we mastered the metro we headed to the Smithsonian Zoological Park in the 95 degree heat. In hindsight, it probably wasn't one of my smartest decisions. Don't get me wrong the zoo was amazing! Volunteers are on hand at many of the more popular exhibits to answer questions, give facts about the animal in question, and to allow the children to touch artifacts such as the skull from a cheetah and a model of an orang tan's (spelled correctly) hand. I learned so much from these discussions. Our two favorite exhibits were the orang tans and their O'line and the river otters. The goal of the Smithsonian is to provide stimulation for the animals. The orang tans are so intelligent they need extra stimulation. To achieve this, the zoo has built an O'line across the zoo. The orang tans can climb up a tower at one of their "houses" and travel on the wires to the other side of the zoo. The result is free-flying orangs over the visitors heads! Even Jordan, who is 15 and hard to please, thought this was awesome! Brooks fell in love with the river otters (hence the reason he is holding a stuffed otter in most of the pictures). They entertained us by cutting flips against the glass over and over and over ... We left the zoo hot and hungry and with over 9,000 on my pedometer already!
The best part of returning to the hotel after our visit to the zoo was that many of the other state teachers of the year were arriving (actually the air conditioning was the best). I met up with my good friend Jen Haberling from Michigan and we made plans for supper. It was great to meet her family and introduce my husband and kids. We headed to Chinatown to get some "authentic food". Along the way, we watched a man making Chinese noodles with his hands. I assure you this is better than any magic show you have ever seen. One minute he has a thick rope of dough in his hands and then he has transformed it in thin shreds of dough. Maybe I am just easily impressed, but I thought it was pretty cool. We ate at a great restaurant called Wok and Roll. The building where the restaurant is housed was once the boarding house where John Wilkes Booth plotted to assassinate President Lincoln.
All in all we had a great first day in Washington. Brooks has decided that he would never live here because "you have to walk everywhere". Tomorrow is the first day of the National Teacher of the Year program and we will be trained as Smithsonian ambassadors. I can't wait.
April 18th - USC Chalk Walk
I have to admit when Jamie Blakely from USC's chapter of FEA contacted me and asked me to speak at the "Chalk Walk" I didn't really know what she was talking about. I agreed to come because it was a chance to speak to another group of future educators. I decided to do a little research about the "Chalk Walk" yesterday and discovered this is an incredible opportunity to raise money for beginning teachers while also saluting those teachers who made an impact on our lives. "Chalk Walks" are held nationwide, but USC is the first group in South Carolina to take it on. Here's the website in case you are interested in holding your own "Chalk Walk". http://www.pdkchalkwalk.org/Chalk_Walk_Leader_Materials.htm
My husband Jason and I drove to Columbia early this morning. He was excited about coming with me, but not about having to get up extra early on a Saturday morning. We met up with Jamie and the other FEA members under the pavilion at Saluda Shoals Park. We were given the opportunity to decorate an apple in honor of the teacher or teachers who impacted our lives while we waited for all the participants to arrive. I actually helped start the "Chalk Walk" by sharing stories about Kelly and the role she had in shaping me as a teacher as well as Mr. Redfield, my third grade teacher at George Hershey Robertson Elementary School. Mr. Redfield was one of my favorite teachers because he made learning fun. Back in the old days, we used SRA reading kits and every day we would pull out the next folder and do the worksheets inside. I hated it. Mr. Redfield would take at least one day every week and cancel SRA. Instead of asking us to learn to read by completing worksheets, he helped us develop a love for reading by sharing his favorite books. I remember when he introduced us to Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends. He stood on a desk and recited poems from the book. Shel Silverstein is still one of my favorite poets - "I can not go to school today said little Susy Ann Macay. I have the measles and the mumps. A gash, a rash and purple bumps... What, you say today is Saturday? Goodbye, I'm going out to play." That was the first poem I ever memorized. Mr. Redfield was also responsible for teaching us map skills. Our assessment included using a map to write directions to our house. We each stayed after school with him one day and helped correct papers and add stickers to the spelling tests. When we finished, he would drive us home using our written directions. Now, I know that wouldn't be possible today, but in the old days it was really fun.
Jason and I both walked the "Chalk Walk" course with the other participants. The sidewalk was marked with pictures, educational symbols, and quotes about great teachers. It was awesome! I enjoyed talked with the FEA members, many of whom are career changers. They are optimistic about the future of education even though the realize the gravity of the current budget situation. I was really inspired to hear their stories about why they have decided to pursue education at this time in their lives.
The "Chalk Walk" was an amazing experience and I am so glad I was able to be a part of it. I want to commend the FEA at USC for their work and innovation. I hope other universities and organizations will decide to organize their own "Chalk Walk"!
April 17th - Woodmont High School Teacher Cadets
Woodmont High School is located in Greenville County. I expected to travel by highway and city road to the campus. My crazy GPS carried me through cow fields and down country roads before finally leading me to a sprawling campus however. Woodmont is a beautiful new school (under five years old) that sits in the middle of a huge open field. I was really excited to find it as I was sort of worried that my GPS had, once again, led me in the wrong direction.
My purpose for visiting Woodmont High School was to talk to the teacher cadets. Laura Apgar, Rebecca Tishey, Shelby Edlin, Brandon Stroud, Jessica landreth, Jessica Bouchea, Grace Cunningham, and Evan Barbare are all seniors in the cadet class. Yes, they wanted their names to appear in the blog! I was encouraged to hear that several of the students are planning to teach, while all the others have goals for what they plan to do with their lives. They will actually start their field experiences the week of April 20th so I still have hope that they may all decide to teach.
We had a great visit filled with lots of interaction. This group is not afraid to ask questions! I shared my usual stories, the Goodbye Minimally Adequate stuff, as well as some 21st century information and thoughts about interacting with students. For this final topic, I really stressed the importance of developing relationships. I truly believe this is the single most important thing a teacher can do. We also discussed how to maintain appropriate relationships while also protecting yourself. This is a huge issue in education today and one that the teacher prep programs at the universities are taking very seriously (thank goodness).
I hope the cadets from Woodmont have an awesome field experience and a wonderful end to their high school career. Good luck next year. I hope you follow your dreams and I really hope those dreams include becoming a teacher one day.
April 16th - GMA Meeting and Lexington 1 Teacher Forum
Today was one of those days when all I can say is wow! I had an awesome experience at both the Goodbye Minimally Adequate meeting and at the teacher forum. I am thrilled that I was able to be a part of both events.
Bud Ferillo asked me to serve on the steering committee for the Goodbye Minimally Adequate (GMA) petition campaign a few months ago. I have been involved with collecting signatures since I first viewed the documentary The Corridor of Shame last July. I'm passionate about ensuring that every child in South Carolina receives a quality education, in a safe and secure building, regardless of their zip code. I am very excited to be a part of the steering committee and to do what I can to help secure one million signatures.
We currently have about 56,000 signatures inputted on the GMA site. We are working diligently to enter stacks of paper petitions that continue to pour in (good problem to have) and believe we actually have a total of about 60,000 to date. I am so proud of the District Teachers of the Year across the state. Not only did they contribute nearly 22,000 signatures at Winter Workshop they are still contacting me about their plans to collect even more. Way to go! We would really like to have 100,000 signatures by the time school lets out. I plan to call on the District Teachers of the Year once again and ask them to have paper copies of the petitions available at school events such as awards days, field days, graduations, and proms. Anyone involved with the schools could actually handle this challenge. Petitions can be downloaded from the GMA website goodbyeminimallyadequate.com and mailed in when they are completed. Everyone five years old and up can sign the petition. I think we could easily reach the 100,000 mark if we asked parents and grandparents to sign as the entered these end of the year events. Please feel free to contact me at hallmanj@cerra.org if you are interested in organizing a signing.
I am excited to report that the traffic on the GMA website has doubled in the last four months. We have received a lot of publicity thanks to President O'bama, Ty'Sheoma Bethea, and I believe Governor Sanford's refusal to accept stimulus funds. The website actually outgrew its domain (I don't understand it either) and a new and improved website should be up and running today.
Many people have been asking about the joint legislation that was submitted by Senator Matthews. This legislation will not move out of committee this year. The problem with the stimulus money and the current budget situation is too important. It will be reintroduced and pushed next year, which not ironically is an election year. I have been told that this is the type of legislation that gets approved in an election year. The current plan is to continue to collect signatures until March 2011 when they will be taken to the statehouse and given to the representatives there. We plan to sort the signatures based on district and hand them to the respective House and Senate member. For that reason, it is important that we have signatures from all areas of the state.
We are currently planning to have tables set up at all summer conferences and would like to have booths at the local fairs. Again, please email me if you have a contact for any of these summer events.
Here's the other really exciting thing that happened at the meeting. Casey Edwards is a senior at Chapin High School and became involved with GMA after viewing the Corridor of Shame. She raised $10,000 to give to a school in Dillon county. For that reason, Casey serves on the steering committee. She informed us, that prior to the meeting she submitted a lawsuit wherein she is suing the state of South Carolina in an effort to prove that the legislature has the right to appropriate funds over the Governor. Check out Casey Edwards vs. the state of SC! Here's a link to the article in the state paper. http://thestatecom.typepad.com/ygatoday/
Talk about courage!
I left the GMA meeting on a high note and headed to Lexington District One to attend their forum meeting. Pam Light is the current District Teacher of the Year in Lexington One and invited me to attend this very special meeting. You see, today was not an ordinary forum meeting. Today, the forum chose to recognize all of the teacher cadets in their district as well as the teachers they felt made the biggest impact on their lives! I gave some brief remarks about how I came into teaching the reason I stay in education. Then, I sat back and let the teacher cadets take over.
It was incredible to listen as the teacher cadet instructors read what each cadet said about their inspirational teacher. They talked about how these people made learning fun, were willing to give extra help on their own time, and took a personal interest in each student. Several students stated that they were planning to teach in the same field as the teacher they were recognizing because of the impact this individual had on their lives. Think about the power of that statement. We are truly the best recruitment tool out there. The cadets ended the presentation by giving their inspirational teacher a carnation. As you can imagine, there were a lot of hugs and tears.
I felt privileged and honored to be part of this amazing teacher forum meeting. Thanks to Pam Light for inviting me and to all the cadets for recognizing their teachers!
April 13th – Anderson University Education Club
The Anderson University Education Club is made up of students at all levels of their college career. Some of them are Teaching Fellows, some are regular education students, and a surprising number are adults who are looking to start a second career. I credit this to Anderson University’s new night program. It was exciting to talk to all of the members and hear their enthusiasm about entering the teaching profession.
My task this evening was a little bit different. Dr. Linda McCuen asked me to talk a little about the mindset that allowed me to achieve the recognition of State Teacher of the Year and explain how beginning teachers could establish the same mindset. HMMM … That’s a tough one! I don’t think my mindset is any different from that of the majority of the teachers in South Carolina. I wanted my students to be successful and to enjoy school. Period. I walked into my classroom every morning determined to teach something new utilizing the strengths of the students in my room. My goal was to help them develop strategies that would allow them to be successful at every turn. That doesn’t make me different or special. I think it just makes me a teacher. In the end, I decided to discuss some of the actions and traits or characteristics that I think have helped me be successful in the place that matters the most – my classroom. The list I created is pretty simple and straightforward.
• Develop relationships – I truly believe this is the most important thing we can do for our students. We must develop relationships with them and their families.
• Know your stuff – Teachers must be the experts in their field. This does not mean that we must have all the answers. Many times the best lesson is the one where we have to say, “I don’t know. Let’s develop a plan for finding the answer.”
• Take initiative – I’ve never been afraid to say “I want to do …” I’ve volunteered for almost everything over the years and have asked to be a part of everything else.
• Learn something new – I love to learn and the best lesson I can give my students is that learning is a lifelong process. I always told them about the classes or workshops I was taking.
• Be innovative in your classroom – It is so easy to get into a rut when you have been teaching the same thing for several years. I tried to make sure I added at least one new approach to how I taught something every year (major changes) or every few weeks (minor changes).
• Thank people that help you – This is so important and you can never do it enough.
• Give back – Give back to the profession, the community, and the school. Mentor a first year teacher and an at-risk student. Make community service part of your classroom routine.
During all these discussions I was also able to share my stories and some highlights from my year. I am still honored and humbled to be serving in this role. I hope that comes though every time I speak.
April 9th - Leadership South Carolina
My Leadership South Carolina experience came to a close today. The group will actually meet one last time for a legislative session in Columbia. I will be involved in a legislative session of my own that day - except mine will be in Washington. (Yes I am going back.) It was difficult to say goodbye to people that I have really come to enjoy. I hope that we will be able to maintain the friendships and working relationships.
The best part of this session was that it took place in Clemson. Twenty minute drives are my favorite! We started the day with a presentation from Ted Abernathy dealing with the "Future Challenges of the South". Mr. Abernathy is the executive director of the Southern Growth Policies Board. He discussed the fact that we live in one of the fastest growing areas in the nation. The Charlanta corridor, the stretch of land from Charlotte to Atlanta, is growing at an unparalleled rate. Now this is great news for the Upstate, but what about the Pee Dee and the Lowcountry? How can they benefit from this influx of industry? I think South Carolina's goal should be to examine the possibilities of placing the support industries that follow major corporations in these parts of the state. This will require some finagling by the powers that be. It's certainly easier to place a support company a few miles from Michelin, BMW, or Milken. It will take tax incentives, increased emphasis on infrastructure, and improved education to make this happen. I'm not interested in becoming a urban planner or community developer. I am interested in bringing business to South Carolina because I know the impact it can have on education. A large company in Dillon, SC will add to their tax base. Another benefit is that the educated populace will return home looking for employment. So often what happens is the students from rural towns go away to college and never return because they can't find a job in their hometown. We also need to consider the fact that not everyone needs a four-year college degree. We've tried to make that the norm without considering the fact that large numbers of occupations require a technical certificate instead.
Our lunch speaker was Dr. Chris Przirembel from Clemson University. He shared information about the research and economic development initiatives that Clemson is involved in. He again mentioned the Charlanta corridor and the fact that most of the racing teams (all kinds) are located along this stretch. For that reason, Clemson chose to pursue the Center for Automotive Research (CAR). With partners like Microsoft, BMW, and Michelin how can they go wrong? Dr. Przirembel discussed the type of jobs this investment will create. Guess what? Some of the highest paying jobs will require two-year technical degrees. Now, he didn't come out and say that, Clemson is a four-year program, but that's what I discovered when I was doing my research.
We spent our afternoon eating Clemson ice cream (peach was the best), talking about our class project, and preparing for our graduation. Every year, the Leadership South Carolina class does a project which benefits the state in some way. Mason Hardy is a lobbyist for the non-profit organizations in South Carolina. He was contacted by the state wide food bank network regarding the increased demand for food and the decreased supply available. This problem is exasperated during spring break and summer vacation because the kids are home and are not being fed school breakfasts and lunches. His story touched our hearts and we decided to do what we could to help stock the food pantry shelves. The title of our campaign is "Hunger Never Takes a Break". Our goal is to raise $100,000 by June 1st. This money would allow the food banks to purchase ONE MILLION meals before summer. Every dollar given during the campaign will be split equally between the four regional food banks. As educators, we understand the importance of good nutrition and I know my heart breaks every time I hear about a child that has gone hungry. If you would like to donate to this cause please go to www.scfoodbankassociation.org and remember your donations are tax deductible.
Our graduation ceremony was held at Tucker's restaurant here in Anderson (10 minute drive, gotta love it). My oldest son, Jordan, was my date for the evening. It was a lot of fun to be there with him. I want to publicly thank Heather Munnerlyn for allowing me to participate in Leadership South Carolina. I can't begin to explain how much I learned from this experience.
April 1st – 4th Policy Fellows in Washington D.C.
The title of this conference was “The (New) Education Agenda: What’s on the Horizon?” We heard about education reform, advancing teacher quality and how to transform America’s schools. The common theme in every discussion and presentation was the federal stimulus package. We heard about existing state plans for using the money and were encouraged to discuss specific ways the funds could be used to bring education above the status quo. All of this was an exercise in futility for the group from South Carolina. Instead, we were forced to think about how our educational system was going to falter without the benefit of the money. As a result, South Carolina became either the brunt of the jokes or a place to be pitied.
Wednesday: The conference itself was a lot of fun and very enlightening. I will do my best to share what I learned and experienced with you. I actually arrived a little late on Wednesday thanks to a broken panel in the cockpit in Charlotte and some turbulent weather on the flight to Washington. Let me tell you, it was bad enough that I was making my peace with God! I ended up missing the welcome and orientation and walked in just in time to participate in a session called “Congressional Insight”. The goal was for us the develop a better understanding and appreciation for the decisions elected officials have to make by working as a “Congressman/woman” during a three hour simulation. We were placed in teams (with fellows from other states) and were given a bio of a fictitious Congressman/woman to read. The bio contained specific information about our constituents, as well as our beliefs and background. We were to use this data to help us make decisions. Every fifteen minute or so we would receive an approval rating (based on our previous decisions) and a new set of questions to answer. Will we co-sign a bill with a political heavy weight that would limit the amount of timber removed from a forest? What committees do we want to serve on? Will we return to our district to handle problems within our own party or stay in Washington for a vote? How do we want to spend our time during the current session, fundraising, meeting with constituents, or researching policy? What we quickly discovered is that you “can’t please everybody”. We tried our best to stick to our beliefs and what we thought was in the best interest of our constituents and our country. It didn’t matter – our approval rating would be high with one group and non-existent with another. We were criticized in the media no matter what we did. For example, we missed a photo opportunity to publicly sign a new bill because we were dealing with pressing problems in one of our committees and made the headlines. In the end we were re-elected, so I guess our decisions weren’t all bad. This simulation really prepared me for Thursday’s time on the hill.
Thursday: Our morning started with a quick general session where we learned a little more about how Washington works. This was, again, preparation for our “hill day” which began at the conclusion of the first session. We traveled by cab (which means we took our lives in our hands) to the Capital. We walked past some of the federal buildings and made several quick stops to check out the architecture and history of places such as the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court building. I posted a lot of these pictures on my Facebook page under the album titled D.C. Feel free to check them out. We entered the Russell building, via several security checkpoints, and ate an early lunch in the cafeteria. I thought I would be good and eat a salad – ten dollars later I was wishing I had gone for the hamburger! Our afternoon included scheduled visits with Sen. Lindsey Graham, Congressman James Clyburn, and a backstage tour by one of his assistants. We started in Senator Graham’s office. We learned just how busy these representatives are during our simulation on Wednesday so we were honored to have ten, uninterrupted, minutes to discuss education with the Senator. It didn’t take long for the conversation to turn to the stimulus money. We were assured that daily conversations were taking place both with the Governor regarding South Carolina’s dire circumstances. We asked about the constitutionality of Representative Clyburn’s wording in the initial stimulus bill that gave the House the right to override the Governor and accept the funds. Senator Graham told us it was not constitutional and more importantly was dangerous because once we opened up the possibility of having one body of government override another it could happen repeatedly. In other words, it might seem like a good idea today when we are dealing with money that we so desperately need, but what happens when it comes to vouchers or another unpopular subject?
Our next stop was Congressman Clyburn’s office where we met up with his assistants. The plan was to travel from the office buildings to the Capital where we would meet up with the Congressman in his other office and then take a tour of the Capital. I was surprised when we headed deeper into the building and not outside to walk to the Capital. I quickly discovered that there is an entire underground city in Washington, complete with a subway type vehicle that shuttles important people back and forth. It was sort of like walking through catacombs. Along the way, we passed Gresham Barrett and had the opportunity to snap some quick pictures. We arrived at Clyburn’s office to discover that he was still on speaking on the floor in preparation for a vote and wouldn’t be able to meet with us. We did hang out in his office (he has the best view) and hear what a typical Washington day is like from one of his aides. It was disappointing not to get to question him about the stimulus package, but I understood why he couldn’t be with us. Trust me; the press really hammers you when you miss a vote (another simulation lesson).
The last part of our day on the hill was spent touring the Capital and watching some of our representatives in action. We were lucky enough to do part of our tour “backstage” which means we saw parts of the Capital that typical tourists aren’t privy to. It was really pretty neat. I’m excited about coming back to Washington in a few weeks with my family and hopefully arranging a similar day for them. We spent a good bit of time walking from place to place, up and down stairs. No-one in Washington should be overweight or ever have to get on a stairmaster! We ended our day on the hill in the House of Representatives. Supposedly they were in session. All I saw was a bunch of people walking around, talking in small groups, reading messages on their blackberries, and being reprimanded for not being “in order”. I was assured that this was business as usual and that the people who needed to be listening were actually doing that. I think they need a teacher there who can really maintain order.
Friday: Today was the big lecture day. From 8:00 until 4:30 we listened to speakers and experts on education reform. I took copious notes and have decided to bullet the information for you. My responses, opinions, and anecdotes are in bold. Here goes …
Stan Collender’s presentation - “Education Funding in a Time of Federal Budget Madness”
Stan’s website is www.capitalgainsandgames.com
The only mandate President O’bama received was to fix the economy and he is the first President given permission to raise the federal deficit.
Congress has been given permission to increase spending and education has been listed as the number one priority.
Next year, all budget discussion will include talk of deficit reductions. This means that we have one year to get everything accomplished in education. If we can prove that the programs or people we put in place make a difference we may be able to keep the funding.
O’bama’s budget seems extremely high because it includes everything. Most Presidents present a skeleton budget and come back and add additional money through appropriations. We talk about transparency in spending for the government and this is a small example of how it can be accomplished. O’bama included money for Iraq and natural disasters outright. In the past, budgets have been submitted without these key figures and then we have to scramble and come up with the money through appropriations. To me it is sort of like how we handle our home budget. We know things are going to happen. Cars break, the house needs to be repaired, and children get sick so we plan for these expenses. I learned early on in my marriage that you don’t wait for a crisis to occur and then try to find the money to pay for it. In actuality, O’bama’s budget is not much higher than what past Presidents have spent.
The deficit reduction package will go into effect next year. The plan is to limit defense spending, limit domestic spending, and to raise taxes. These actions coupled with the fact that the economy is going to improve will allow the federal government to shrink the deficit. We are starting to see some signs that the economy is picking up. The stock marker isn’t booming but it isn’t dying either. Consumer confidence is back up and the housing market has picked up. If we keep our fingers crossed maybe the economic picture will be drastically different by this time next year.
President Bush put a series of tax cuts into place that will expire in 2010. O’bama does not plan to renew these measures.
An omnibus poll surveyed 1012 people and found that 88% of Americans do not see education as a stimulus to the economy. The general public does not understand the connection between education and the economy. As educators we do a great job preaching to the choir. We talk to each other about the importance of education but do we truly spend time talking with the rest of the population? The only people who see education as a benefit are those individuals who are currently being educated. We know that in order to attract business to our state (especially international business) we must have good schools. We understand the correlation between an educated populace and reduced public health costs, welfare, and crime. We need to be talking to the elderly and the childless and making these points common knowledge.
The first bills through Congress (this year only) will be those bills related to education and health care.
Gene Wilhoit’s presentation – Transforming America’s Public Schools
The time has come to move away from a time bound education system and move towards a performance bound system. I’ve talked about this before. We are stuck in a rut. Why can’t we develop a 21st century educational system where students move through the curriculum at a pace that is appropriate for them? It would require individualization of education I know. Is this really a bad thing?
We need to get better at diagnosing learning difficulties early on. We know that remediation in high school does not work so we must establish a protocol for effectively addressing this issue. I am living this on a personal level with my oldest son. I’d love to explore this more thoroughly and develop an alternative to remediation.
Our curriculum must be relevant!
Technology should become the first choice for educational delivery. The states should develop laboratories where this can be tested. I believe technology is important and should be a part of our tool kit. I am hesitant to say that it should become the first choice for educational delivery however. As a proponent of the arts, I believe there are other options that are equally effective. It comes down to knowing the subject and knowing the students you teach. The delivery method should match the needs of the students and the information being presented.
Dynamic learning should become part of every educational system. Businesses should partner with schools to help teach the curriculum.
In order to receive the stimulus money (Race to the Top funds) the Governor of each state (no comment) must sign a list of assurances including a promise to redesign state tests to include performance based, not multiple choice, assessments, redesign the accountability, and redesign the support structures for teachers. In South Carolina we already have a rigorous set of standards, a difficult test, and an accountability system that has been recognized on the federal level. WHY WOULDN”T WE WANT THESE FUNDS!!! I love the thought of including performance based in evaluations as part of our state assessment. That ties directly with 21st century education. We need more support for teachers including a comprehensive, equitable induction program and this money would provide the means to make it happen.
A Core Compact exists between 30 states and will become public in late April. The compact provides clarity in expectations (standards) while still allowing for flexibility. More than likely, the states that are willing to adopt the compact will receive additional federal funds. I am still trying to find out where SC stands on this.
I asked Mr. Wilhoit to explain what he meant when he said that we needed to redesign the support structures related to teacher preparation, induction, and compensation. He stated that we needed to develop blended programs with the districts and the universities. He believes the curriculum in teacher prep programs needs to be redesigned to include new skills and to redefine the skill levels that explain what teachers should be able to do. The induction period must be long enough for true growth to occur and must include opportunities and time for reflection. Release time is key – new teachers should be exposed to the best and brightest teachers.
Martin Blank – Implications of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and Marc Tucker – Globalization, Economic Competitiveness, and Education Reform
There are two main pots of stimulus money Pot 1- enhancement programs (Title I, IDEA, Homeless Education, Higher Education Act, Vocational Education Act) Pot 2 – Stabilization money (this is the money we will not receive)
The state has 27 months to obligate (not spend) the money
By December 31, 2011 all money must be spent but waivers and extensions are common
Stimulus money could be made long term if we can prove that it makes a difference
Whew! My brain really hurt by the end of the day. I was excited to head outside and walk rather than sit any longer. A small group of us decided to head to Arlington National Cemetery to watch the changing of the guard and to see the eternal flame. These pictures are available on the Facebook account as well. We also walked the mall and viewed the monuments as the sun was setting. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom and it was gorgeous. We processed the information we gained through all the sessions as we walked. Of course, we talked in “what ifs” and maybes. What if we took the stimulus money and used it in creative ways? Maybe we shouldn’t save every position that has been eliminated (unpopular I know). What if we gave districts flexibility to do what they needed for there students? Could we transform public education in South Carolina?
Saturday: Today was the last day of the conference. We participated in one final general session before heading to the airport to catch our flights home. The information presented was similar to what we heard on Thursday. More stimulus money talk! I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Washington and am thrilled with everything I learned. I am ready to go home however. I will walk in, repack and head to Goat Island with my family for a few days. I can’t wait!!!