...where sometimes it's possible to leap and pause

Are you a teacher looking for an unparalleled opportunity to learn about education policy?  Are you interested in bringing the voice of the teacher to local, state and federal avenues and to also bring relevant information back to your local school and school district?  I was fortunate to participate in the U.S. Department of Education’s Teaching Ambassador Program over the 2008-2009 school year.  And over the last few years, the theme of ‘once a Fellow, always a Fellow’ has continued to open learning opportunities for me as a teacher, as well as the ongoing expectation that I continue to work on increasing the capacity and efficacy of teachers to be heard by our local leadership and institutions…and beyond.

Information about the Teaching Ambassador Fellowship and application information can be found here.  Do pass on the word to anyone you know who might be interested.  The application deadline for this year is February 22, 2012.

If you have any questions about the Fellowship or want to know more about my personal experiences with it, don’t hesitate to drop me a line.  As of this year, four BPS teachers have been a part of it–Steven Berbeco of Charlestown High School, Robert Baroz of the Curley School and Shakera Walker of Young Achievers Science and Mathematics Pilot School.  Robert is a current Classroom Fellow and Shakera is a current Washington Fellow.

Represent!

Sometimes it’s just good to be reminded about the importance of belonging to great communities of teachers.  And how fortunate, in addition to being connected to so many thoughtful and dedicated teachers in the Boston Public Schools, to also have access to nationally recognized ones through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) and the Department of Education’s Teaching Ambassador Program.

As Close As I Got This Time Around to the Big Guys

So by some strange and fortunate twist of fate, with less than a week of lead time, I found out that I was invited to a joint White House and NBPTS event to honor a representative grouping of newly certified teachers… and to also sit on a panel with four other teachers and Secretary Duncan.  A pretty amazing opportunity.  So while it turns out that President Obama nor any of the “Four” as they were called (the President, Vice-President and their spouses) were able to attend, it was still a great event– a chance to meet the new NBPTS president Ron Thorpe and other new NBPTS staff, to reconnect and meet other Teaching Fellows at the Department of Education breakout sessions in the afternoon, and to meet other newly board certified teachers.

On the NBCT Panel with Secretary Duncan

It was even enjoyable to walk through the drizzly streets of the capital city among all these other anonymously suited (and heeled) Washingtonians and these stately, and impenetrable-looking federal buildings.  Something romantic about that exploration.  A combination of anonymous, umbrella clutching pedestrians driven forward with extra purpose under the dual weights of their destination and desire to get out of the rain, and the headlights of cars in traffic, refracting a bit more brightly through the falling rain and in the puddling streets.

Walking the DC Streets in Early December Rain

The White House On a Drizzly Evening

It almost makes you want to stick around a while longer, to imagine that it is possible to meaningfully add to the conversation about the future of the teaching profession, and to advocate for ways to get teacher-leaders to get to (or create) those tables of dialogue.  There’s still much to be done and without a doubt, barriers and challenges to overcome, but it was good to stay, if but for a moment or two, in the aura of possibility.

Here’s a link to the full video of the event.

In case you might have missed it, please do take advantage of the opportunity to talk with other teachers and Superintendent Johnson around your daily work and ideas for district-wide innovation/collaboration.  Sponsored by the Boston school district and Teach Plus, it’s a great chance to voice your ideas!

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Talk with Superintendent Carol Johnson during the Superintendent + Teacher Share event Tuesday, December 6^th. At the event, teachers will have the chance to tell Dr. Johnson how BPS can best support effective teaching.

Last year as a result of these sessions, which focused on evaluation and PD, BPS heard what you had to say and made changes.

• Cross Site Visits pilot initiative: An effort to encourage collaboration and learn from other teachers and schools by sharing best practices.
• PD Evaluation tool in MLP: this new evaluation tool will allow the district to collect data and help identify and expand successful professional development and improve what’s not working well.
• Professional Development Advisory Team: consisting of teachers, school leaders, and central office personnel, the team will help direct BPS’ professional development work.

RSVP today at www.mylearningplan.com and encourage friends and colleagues to attend with you.

This event is part of an ongoing discussion series with Dr. Johnson, save the date for February 7^th and May 8^th.  This series is co-sponsored and run by Boston Public Schools and Teach Plus. 

Upcoming Event Information:

Tuesday, December 6^th

Madison Park High School Auditorium

4:30pm – 6:30pm

4:30 – 5:00pm Refreshments and time for networking with other teachers and district leaders

5:00 – 6:30pm Program