Last week, Dan and I had the pleasure of hosting a break-out session at REAP’s (Reaching and Empowering All People) Academy of Leadership Innovations.
The academy is an opportunity for 8th through 12th graders to practice their leadership skills and engage with community members around important issues facing the greater community.
As a former East County educator, I struggled watching the rancor between districts and unions in Reynolds, Parkrose, and Gresham-Barlow this past spring during teacher contract negotiations. Having friends on both sides, it was challenging to see each district struggle to balance competing demands. Hopefully, in all three cases, the beginning of this year will afford enough respite to focus attention on academic tasks and rebuilding frayed relationships.
Today, the Chalkboard Project awarded grants totaling $180,000 to school district and university partnerships that will design innovative models to prepare the next generation of Oregon teachers. In total the grantees serve over a quarter of Oregon’s K-12 students and 65% of teacher candidates annually.
I have yet to meet my student teacher but I know already that she will be enthusiastic, ready to learn and most likely ignorant about the realities of the teaching profession. I know that sounds a bit pessimistic, but the reality is classes about teaching are not the same as teaching. I also fear that my help won't provide all that she needs to hit the ground running as a polished professional in her first year teaching. In order to become someone my district classifies a “distinguished teacher,” it takes experience on the job.
When considering topics for this post, I looked into some similar education-focused blogs. I was quickly reminded that: 1) people bring profound passion to the public discourse on educational policy, and 2) I am no expert on the public discourse on educational policy. For a relative newcomer like myself, this combination can inspire one minute and intimidate the next. Fortunately I’m with an organization (and in a field) that thrives off of questions.
In Oregon, the filing period to run as a school board candidate opened on February 9. This Oregonian opinion piece… https://t.co/C9hTsRJdhF
"...teachers have been on the front lines of immigration enforcement for decades, doing their best to support stude… https://t.co/TAQpFjTBtL
Social, emotional, and academic learning is not a fad or a distraction from “real work.” It’s how instruction can s… https://t.co/QbdD3rk1Jf