Georgia State University’s College of Education welcomed state lawmakers November 19 for a discussion on ways to improve teacher preparation and retention, school leadership and student achievement throughout Georgia.
The college was the setting for the third meeting of the House and Senate Teacher Certification and Training Study Committee, convened by the state Legislature this summer.
“The most important thing is the time the teacher spends with the students in the classroom – Do we have quality teaching? Do we have an environment where students want to learn and teachers have the power to act?” said State Sen. Dan Weber (R-Dunwoody), co-chair of the committee. “To achieve that goal, there are so many factors you have to look at, not the least of which is leadership within that schoolhouse.”
During the all-day session, committee members listened to testimony from administrators and educators at University System of Georgia institutions and the Professional Standards Commission. They also heard from officials with Georgia’s Leadership Institute for School Improvement on the importance of strong school leaders.
Producing quality teachers is a priority of the University System of Georgia, Chancellor Erroll B. Davis said. The system has 22 teaching institutions preparing more than 3,500 new teachers each year. By 2020, the system hopes to increase that to 20,000 teachers. Attention should be given to teachers’ salaries to improve retention rates as well, Davis added.
College of Education Dean Randy Kamphaus said the college was happy to host the event.
“Given the topic is teacher education, we thought this would give them an opportunity to discuss issues in an appropriate context,” Kamphaus said. “In effect, we’re representing other colleges of education around the state today by hosting this event.”
The committee may meet again to discuss what specific action items or legislation it wants to move forward with during the upcoming legislative session, Weber said.
-----
www.georgiafrontpage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.fayettefrontpage.com
Fayette Front Page
Thursday, November 20, 2008
State Lawmakers Convene at Georgia State University to Discuss K-12 Education
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Two Educators Get $25,000 Surprise DeKalb County and Marietta City teachers win Milken Award
A pair of Georgia teachers each got a $25,000 surprise on Tuesday.
Andrea King, from DeKalb County's Rock Chapel Elementary School, and Susan Grigg, from Sawyer Road Elementary School in Marietta, were named Georgia's 2008 National Milken Educators of the Year. The winning teachers receive $25,000 and other prizes. The Educator of the Year award is given by the Milken Family Foundation, of California.
State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox and Dr. Jane Foley, Senior Vice President of the Milken Family Foundation, made the surprise announcements at assemblies in each school on Tuesday.
"Andrea King and Susan Grigg are the kind of teachers that make Georgia proud," said Superintendent Cox. "They both work in schools where most of the students come from homes with serious economic challenges -- but they don't use that as an excuse. They combine high expectations, innovation and loving support to help their students achieve at the highest level possible. Congratulations to Andrea and Susan!"
The Milken Family Foundation National Educator Awards provide recognition and unrestricted financial awards of $25,000 each to exceptional elementary and secondary school teachers, principals and specialists who are furthering excellence in our nation’s schools. This year, alone, a total of up to $2 million in Milken Awards will be presented to up to 80 of America’s finest elementary educators. New Milken Educators also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Los Angeles to participate in the Milken National Education Conference focused on solutions to America’s pressing challenges in education today.
“Nothing in America’s K-12 schools has more influence on student learning that the quality of the classroom teacher,” said Lowell Milken, Chairman of the foundation. “Highly effective teachers are the bedrock in constructing a world-class education system that meets our challenges and opportunities in this 21st century. It is a national imperative that we attract, retain and motivate people of talent to the profession. America’s prosperity depends on it.”
Superintendent Cox thanked the Milken Family Foundation for being a great friend to education.
"For 22 years, the Milken Foundation has been showing people around the nation that teaching is one of the most important professions in the world," Superintendent Cox said. "I am so grateful that they have made this commitment of time, energy and resources to recognize our great teachers!"
Potential nominees for the award are gathered by the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) and presented to a blue ribbon panel of judges that includes members of GaDOE, the education community and other stakeholders. The finalists are sent to the Milken Family Foundation, which chooses the two winners.
ABOUT THE WINNERS
Susan Grigg
Ms. Susan Grigg serves as the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme Coordinator at Sawyer Road Elementary, in the City of Marietta. Serving as a teacher for ten years prior to that, she was selected for this role because she demonstrated exceptional instructional practices that yield positive results in student achievement. She was instrumental in helping open the new Sawyer Road Elementary school in Marietta and guided her school through the authorization process to become an International Baccalaureate School. She also co-authored the conversion charter and charter implementation grant. She relates well to every type of teacher, those in the first year and veterans. Her community involvement ties closely with the Oceaneer Theater Company at Sawyer. This is a theater group for students in grades 2-5. Her efforts include soliciting for theater space, costumes, advertising and props. Because of her work, the students have had the opportunity to perform in a real theater in front of their peers, families, and community. Her dedication and intimate working relationships with teachers has led students' scores to go up in every subject.
Andrea King
Ms. Andrea King is an exemplary teacher who embodies the true spirit of transformation education. Working with both gifted and special needs students, she is an expert at differentiation. Her creative ways of teaching and out of the box thinking have led to some positive results in the classroom, some of which include Papier-mâché dinosaurs and Egyptian costumes. Ms. King has the ability to teach children from diverse backgrounds. She has also been pro-active in changing inappropriate student behavior at lunch by displaying flowers, tablecloths and formal place settings on lunchroom tables. She eats with her students and teaches proper table etiquette. She always volunteers for school activities and takes special interest in putting together the "Father-Daughter" Dance at her school. Currently working on her Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction, Ms. King is a life-long learner who continually researches ways to improve her teaching. She serves as the Professional Learning Liaison for the school and always takes the time to help other teachers improve their teaching skills. Ms. King is dedicated to providing children with an emotionally-safe environment and quality education. Her self-contained students earned a 100% pass rate on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test.
---
www.FayetteFrontPage.com
Fayette Front Page
Community News You Can Use
Fayetteville, Peachtree City, Tyrone
www.GeorgiaFrontPage.com
Georgia Front Page
www.ArtsAcrossGeorgia.com
Arts Across Georgia
Friday, July 18, 2008
NASA Sends Georgia Teacher Jo Cook Back To School
PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Jo Cook, elementary school teacher at Park Creek Elementary School in Dalton, Ga., spent a week of challenge and discovery at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md.
The content workshop was designed to provide NASA Explorer School educators an opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the work NASA accomplishes and how to implement that knowledge within their classroom.
"This is an exciting time at Goddard," says Trena Ferrell, coordinator for the workshop. "Currently Goddard is working a number of science missions and we definitely want to inform and excite educators from across the country. It is most important to inspire our next generation to continue the ongoing work of discovery that NASA has been committed to for almost fifty years."
The week of activity included multiple opportunities for educators to talk directly to NASA scientists and engineers. Themes related to the work being accomplished at Goddard included the Hubble Servicing Mission, the Lunar Reconnaissance Mission (LRO), studies of the Sun and Earth, and Lunar Geology. NASA Education and Public Outreach personnel provided additional educational support presenting hands-on activities for participants to take back to the classroom.
"I chose Goddard to gain knowledge of and inspiration for our country's space program," says Cook. "It has been so exciting to meet scientists and to be on the inside track. Getting a tour of the space center and actually see first hand the amazing technology has been fascinating."
Cook is one of 19 teachers attending from a NASA Explorer School (NES). The NES program is a three-year partnership with NASA providing investigation opportunities and professional development to spark innovative science and mathematics instruction directed specifically at students in grades four through nine.
