Special Education Today

15 January 2010

NBCTs should be rewarded for “going the extra mile”

Filed under: DC Public Schools, National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings — Maria Angala @ 1:52 pm
National Board Certified Teachers should be rewarded for being leaders in their field, according to this blog post from the National School Boards Association that criticizes officials in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere for cutting funding that supports NBCTs. "We know the money isn't the only reason teachers become board-certified, but isn't it fair to pay them for going the extra mile? In any other profession, they would be treated that way," the blog's writer states. BoardBuzz blog

11 January 2010

Teacher certification prestigious but too costly, Rhee says

Filed under: DC Public Schools, National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators, WTU — Maria Angala @ 1:59 am
I remember Chancellor Rhee saying that "...with a wonderful teacher there is no doubt that all the barriers will be overcome. This is where 100% of our focus is right now" in her Charlie Rose interview in July 2008.
I was very disappointed that Chancellor Rhee discontinued the supports for National Board Certification.
In today's WaPo article Bill Turque writes that according to Chancellor Rhee, "although she considers board certification a valuable form of professional development, it was difficult to justify the annual expenditure of about $600,000 because so few teachers were making it through the process".
Why is there a low number of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) in DCPS? The same is true in fact in most high-needs schools across the nation. A Teacher Solutions report by 10 National Board Certified Teachers Center for Teaching Quality on the effects of National Board on Advancing 21st Century Teaching and Learning states that:
High-needs schools tend to have much more rigid requirements for curriculum instruction. There is considerably less trust among administrators in teachers' abilities to positively impact student learning. As a result, there is less opportunity for teaches to demonstrate that they can tailor instruction to student needs -- they are not even allowed to do so. It is typical to see scripted curricula and/or rigid, closely monitored pacing guides. All these reduce the amount of time and effort that can be committed to National Board Certification.
Another congressionally-mandated Research shows that the National Board Certification has a positive impact on student achievement, professional development and teacher retention. Even U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan praised the 2009 Class of NBCT's as "an extraordinary group" that has "demonstrated a commitment to taking their teaching practice and the teaching profession to a different level."
Isn't it more detrimental to DCPS that the supports to the National Board Certification was cut?
The report further relates that...

The National Board Certification process should be viewed through the lens of increasing human capital, not strictly from the perspective of short-term costs and benefits. Smart state and local policies will support candidates as they go through the process and then capitalize on the leadership and skills of those who successfully complete it. Once this dynamic environment is created and sustained, we are confident that teaching quality will improve.
I was a struggling teacher before I started out with the National Boards process. Coming from a foreign country with a different educational system, I was in the dark with how to teach the "American way", how to run a classroom and how to give an effective lesson to my students. I wanted to make a difference, my intention was good; what kept me in the classroom was my passion for teaching. Going through the National Board Certification process was life changing not just for me but for my students. It made me a reflective teacher, strengthened my instructional and behavior management skills, and made me a collaborator and a teacher leader. For me these are the qualities that set a good teacher apart from a great teacher.
For me a good teacher teaches content and is compliant with her professional duties. While a great teacher does not only teach, she is not only religious with fulfilling her professional duties as a teacher. A great teacher reaches-out, connects, communicates, and collaborates with the students, their parents, colleagues, the community; she knows how to gather resources and supports to maximize the potentials of each and every student in her classroom; a great teacher consistently reexamines her teaching practices and she learns from her experience.
In my phone conversation with Bill Turque last week, I mentioned to him the technology and financial supports from DCPS during the leadership of Dr. Clifford Janey that helped make the process more convenient for me during my candidacy. I also told him about the National Board Orientation and Professional Development sessions sponsored by The Washington Teachers Union (WTU), and the mentorship from our NBCTs in DCPS in collaboration with the American University and the George Washington University. These things made us teachers, most especially the aspiring candidates, feel valued that the administration is supporting our quest to become great teachers.
I believe that there are many excellent, outstanding, and effective teachers in DCPS that need to be identified and be rewared for the exceptional job that they are doing who need to join the cadre of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) and be in the forefront as teacher leaders in this education reform.
I can attest to the fact that the National Board Certification helps make good teachers become great teachers.
Isn't this what Chancellor Rhee wants for her teachers? I am hoping that she will reconsider her stand in this matter and decide to support the National Board Certification.

19 December 2009

2009 class of NBCTs advances nation’s school-quality reform movement

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teacher Sol's Lifestory, Teachers/ Educators — Maria Angala @ 1:21 pm
NBPTS continues its progress in advancing the National Board Certification education-reform movement with today's announcement of nearly 8,900 new National Board Certified Teachers. The announcement brings the total number of accomplished teachers and school counselors certified by NBPTS to more than 82,000. An "extraordinary group" is how Secretary of Education Arne Duncan referred to this year's class of National Board Certified Teachers in a September interview with NBPTS. Read more.
“What if every child had a chance to be taught by a National Board Certified Teacher? I think the difference it would make in students’ lives would be extraordinary,” said Secretary Arne Duncan. “As we move forward on this turnaround agenda nationally, I would love for National Board Certified Teachers to be at the forefront of that movement.” Copy that :)
I'm proud to belong to the Class of 2009 NBCTs!

18 December 2009

Arne Duncan calls 2009 National Board Certified Teachers an “extraordinary group”

Filed under: NCLB/ IDEIA 2004, National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings — Maria Angala @ 7:13 am
Secretary Arne Duncan made a visit to my school last Tuesday to see how students are learning using technology.In a video-recorded message, Education Secretary Arne Duncan thanked the teachers who achieved National Board Certification in 2009, calling these accomplished teachers an "extraordinary group."


NBCTs should take on leadership roles, NBPTS president says

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings — Maria Angala @ 7:11 am
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards encourages school districts to give leadership roles to National Board Certified Teachers, according to Joseph Aguerrebere, president of the organization. About 82,000 teachers are certified nationwide. "Our focus is expanding from individuals achieving national board certification to a systemic movement that changes the culture of classrooms, schools and districts by leveraging [certified teachers] to build human capital, especially in high-need schools," Aguerrebere said. The Cincinnati Enquirer

12 December 2009

Don’t stop learning, says NBCT who is Rhode Island Teacher of the Year

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators — Maria Angala @ 11:25 pm
Middletown High School Spanish teacher Dana E. Ramey is led to the podium by Education Commissioner Deborah A. Gist after he was revealed to be teacher of the year.

A National Board Certified Teacher who makes learning Spanish a cultural experience for his students has been named Teacher of the Year in Rhode Island. Dana E. Ramey says a great teacher has patience, understands students and is a lifelong learner. "Don't stop learning about the subject you teach, and reach beyond the skills you already have," he said. The Providence Journal (R.I.)

3 December 2009

Quality teaching is the answer, not departmentalization

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators — Maria Angala @ 6:24 am

A National Board Certified Teacher says that it is unclear whether departmentalization for young students -- also known as platooning -- benefits teaching and learning. In this blog post, she writes that having elementary-school teachers specialize in different subjects and moving students to their classrooms can be beneficial. However, research shows that it is the quality of the teacher that matters most. Teacher in a Strange Land

2 December 2009

Joining the NBCTLink

Filed under: DC Public Schools, National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators — Maria Angala @ 6:09 am
I received the invitation yesterday to join the NBCTLink:
Dear Maria Lourdes Angala,

Congratulations on achieving National Board Certification! The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is happy to welcome you and your fellow National Board Certified Teachers into the new NBCT online community: NBCTLink.
NBCTLink is your opportunity to connect with fellow NBCTs, share best teaching practices and learn new and innovative ways to enhance student learning – all via the Internet.
I logged in, posted my first entry, browsed around and on Leadership Opportunities found this:
NBCTs are recognized by Pi Lambda Theta (PLT), the most selective national honor society and professional association of educators, for meeting the high standards of National Board Certification. PLT programs can enhance the career of even the most accomplished teacher. For example, PLT will advocate with a member‘s potential funding source to support that members’ participation in education’s premier annual teacher leader conference.
I want to get more involved in Professional Learning Network like this that is focused on enhancing teacher effectiveness and student achievement. There is too much negativity clouding the school system at this time that makes me wonder if we are really focusing on what we are supposed to target: empowering the teachers and giving them all the supports, resources and training that they need to be successful in supporting, empowering, inspiring, and rigorously teaching the students to maximize their potential.
I believe that things are going to get better if only we all are willing to make a compromise and have a sincere desire to find agreements that occupy the middle ground. Right action produces right results.

22 November 2009

Doing what it takes…

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators, WTU — Maria Angala @ 9:04 am
I am now a National Board Certified Teacher, it is a dream come true. I did not become an effective teacher overnight, knowledge and implementation of the national teaching standards and best practices over time made me the educator that I am today.
I thought my sleepless nights on the National Board was over after conquering it. But still I have been tossing and turning for the past two nights too excited to sleep recalling my challenges during my candidacy and looking forward to my next steps.
It was a personal decision for me to do whatever it takes to succeed. It was during my darkest times after my third year as a teacher under Dr. Janey's leadership that I embarked on this journey. I knew I was doing the right things as a teacher but good enough was not the best for my students. I wanted to know the best teaching practices according to the national teaching standards.
I did not get the support that I needed from my former principal, but the moral booster from my special education coordinator, a NWP colleague from Massachusetts, a parent, and my students are strong enough give me the push that I needed to continue amidst the adversities. My grandmother was another inspiration, she told me that "tough times never last but tough people do", and gave me the book before I left the Philippines in 2003; I read it again during my reflection. I closed my doors to my friends and have forgotten about my self, I focused on honing my skills as a teacher and helping my students maximize their potential.
One of my colleagues from the Pinoy Teachers Network reminded me that : "Teachers who inspire realize there will always be rocks in the road ahead of us. They will be stumbling blocks or stepping stones; it all depends on how we use them." From experiences I learned to look around at what others have done and what I can do. Some of them have already met what I was going through. At work, I faced a big challenge, I decided to see it through.
I received my NBC Blue Box three times; I missed by 20 points the first time I took it. It was understandable knowing that I was not a master teacher and I was still trying to absorb the Five Core Propositions of the National Board. I never back down once I start something, I press harder each time I try. The second round that I went through the process was more difficult because I was in a traumatic situation in my school and I was on my third trimester of my pregnancy. I submitted my second entry two weeks after giving birth, with the expectation that my score was going to drop big time!
When I got my results last year lo and behold, I only missed by 2 points, and the feeling was worse. I was crying when my new principal came in my classroom and talked to me, she said:
"Ms. Angala, you have gone this far on your own, just missing 2 points from the goal, without anybody there to support you. You are going to retake the national board and you are going to pass. Why? Because I am here to support you, we will go over your entry before you submit it.

You will pass because now I see a teacher who is worthy of being called a National Board Certified Teacher. I see a teacher in front of me who is working hard to be able to pull the scores of her special needs students out of below basic in the benchmark assessments. I see a teacher who is helping her colleagues create an inviting classroom environment and a better lesson plan for their students. I see a teacher who is able to pull together resources and grants, and community help for her students to achieve. I see a teacher who is open to suggestions, receptive, and is willing to learn and make things better for her students. You will retake the National Board, and I know you will pass because you are now ready."
More than 200 hours was again spent on reflective writing and doing research on classroom management. I did not have to retake another portfolio on Enhancing Social Development, I just had to do the Assessment Center computer based test. I was so brave to retake Entry 3 when I knew that this was my weakness. I told my colleagues that I would like to get better in this area. I knew that doing a lot of reflection and researching for more effective behavior management strategies would help me become a better teacher. The percentage of losing was higher, it was more risky.
When I received the email reminder last Wednesday that the results are coming out Friday, I was already anxious. I did not know who to tell about it, I was sick as a dog until the results came out last Friday. When I logged in my profile in the NBPTS website I had to read it more than three times and check my scores repeatedly. Yes, I nailed it the third round! This has been the most challenging but my most rewarding professional development experience as a teacher! Each round made me a better teacher that my students deserve; each year showed increase in my students' achievement as evidenced by their authentic work and not just test scores.
To my colleagues in DC Public Schools, we need to set higher expectations and higher standards for ourselves so we can inspire our students and encourage them to do what it takes to be successful in life. We need to make a strong decision to take control of our actions and not just to sit by and let others define effective teaching for us. We are the key players in the education arena and not just mere instruments in this education reform. We need to make our voice heard and let everyone know what matters most to our students that we, classroom teachers, better understand.
I have gotten texts, emails, Twitter messages, calls from the people who are significant to me and those who are in my professional network. My hubby's Facebook (sorry I decided not to have another addiction) was also flooded with messages from our friends and relatives. Thank you all for believing in me, you are my inspiration.
Tough times never last but tough people do!

20 November 2009

National Board Certified at last!

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings — Maria Angala @ 2:34 pm
Dreams do come true. I am now a National Board Certified Teacher! I got the result from the NBPTS website just 30 minutes ago. My NBPTS profile webpage says:

Dear MARIA LOURDES CRIBE ANGALA:

Congratulations! You are a National Board Certified Teacher®!

I am pleased to inform you that your performance met the standard for National Board Certification® set by the board of directors of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards® (NBPTS®). Please accept my personal congratulations on your achievement. The certificate, a symbol of your accomplishment and the status you have achieved, should reach you sometime after February. We hope you will display it with pride.

To achieve National Board Certification, a candidate must earn a total weighted scaled score that equals or exceeds 275. Your total weighted scaled score, exercise scores and weighted exercise scores are shown on your score profile. Information that describes the criteria used to score candidate responses can be found in the Scoring Guide located on the NBPTS Web site.

The American Council on Education (ACE) now recognizes the National Board Certification process as comparable to graduate level coursework. As a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT), you are now eligible to request a transcript from ACE that recommends you receive up to nine semester hours of graduate credit in education. You can find more information about requesting a transcript for graduate credit on the NBPTS Web site.

I am confident that this achievement marks the beginning of a long and productive relationship between you and NBPTS. In virtually every case, achieving National Board Certification signals the start of a new, exciting phase in an educator's professional life. As a National Board Certified Teacher, you have the opportunity to play an active role in charting the future of American education.

You can expect to be sought out by candidates, administrators, media, education organizations and professional associations for your insights on the certification process and other education issues. NBPTS is prepared to help you share information about National Board Certification with your colleagues. Your name will be included among the list of National Board Certified Teachers that is posted on the NBPTS Web site, so please keep your information current in our records. We look forward to your active involvement in the years to come as our work to integrate National Board Certification in American education continues.

On behalf of the NBPTS Board of Directors and staff, I extend our best wishes for your continued success.

With warm regards,

Joseph A. Aguerrebere, Ed. D.
President & CEO

3 November 2009

DCPS Teaching and Learning Framework

Filed under: DC Public Schools, National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Special Education, WTU — Maria Angala @ 8:40 pm
Here's the DCPS Teaching and Learning Framework, which supports the IMPACT which is the new system for assessing the performance of DCPS teachers and other school-based staff. I finished the first evaluation cycle with impressive ratings. Thanks to the National Board process. It made me reflect on, rethink, retool and redo my instructional practices. It made me innovative, creative, and try new things for my diverse students to learn the standards. It made me focus on data gathering and analysis, connecting and having good relationships with my students, colleagues, parents, and the community so we can all work towards a common goal --- maximizing my students' potential and increasing student achievement. Nope, I'm not yet National Board certified and I'm still working on it, but the process made me a teacher leader, a teacher collaborator, and a teacher learner...it made me a 21st Century educator! Even if I don't get National Board certified, I'm still glad I went through the process. It made me become a better teacher that my students deserve, and the intrinsic reward which made me grow professionally is worth all the sleepless nights, sacrifice and effort.

What do I think about the IMPACT? Yes, it is far better than our PPEP (old teacher evaluation system) but, for me, not the best one. I understand that this is still a work in progress. I have shared my concerns during WTU-DCPS Focus Group Discussions on this issue as a special education teacher. Studies have shown that students in co-teaching classrooms are better achievers than their peers. Also, the IDEA 2004 mandates inclusive education for our diverse learners. The new DCPS teacher evaluation tool does not support co-teaching nor the inclusion model. I hope that DCPS will come up with a rubric on team teaching model. I also want to know how they expect us to co-plan, co-teach, and co-grade with the regular education teachers, we just need some guidance on that.
Here's the pdf copy of the manual that was given during the training: IMPACT Guidebooks. And here's about our Master Educators. Tell me what you think: solangala@yahoo.com.

1 November 2009

In-class teachers are best resource for leadership, training

Filed under: Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators — Maria Angala @ 7:09 pm

I found a good article from Teacher Magazine where the author, Anthony Cody, answered the question "Why is it that school districts continue to hire outside consultants to conduct professional development when local classroom teachers often have greater levels of expertise? "

Classroom teachers -- not outside consultants -- are often a school's best professional-development resource, according to a California professional-development coach. Anthony Cody writes in this column that outside consultants can be helpful, but schools often have teachers on staff with considerable experience in the topic of the training. Teacher Magazine (free registration)

29 October 2009

NBCT with teaching in her blood is named top teacher in Delaware

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators — Maria Angala @ 7:15 am
Teacher of the year Mary Pinkston speaks Tuesday after Gov. Jack Markell presented.

National Board Certified Teacher and 17-year teaching veteran Mary Pinkston has been named Delaware's 2010 Teacher of the Year. "When you describe good teachers, they all have these adjectives: organized, prepared, dedicated and fair," Pinkston's principal said. "She has them all. She constantly relates the subject matter to the real world. You don't feel like you are in a math class." The News Journal (Wilmington, Del.)

27 October 2009

NBPTS launches series of reports highlighting effect of National Board Certified Teachers

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings — Maria Angala @ 1:45 am
The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is launching a series of reports highlighting the effect of National Board Certified Teachers. The first report in the series is "Chicago, Illinois: Leveraging National Board Certification in a District-wide Human Capital Initiative." Read more

24 October 2009

National Board message from Sec. Duncan

Filed under: National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators — Maria Angala @ 10:17 pm




Immediately after my third year of teaching I went through the National Board Certification process. It's been validated that "The National Board is part of a growing education-reform movement; it has produced many of the most outstanding and the most effective educators across the country and I dream of joining this cadre of accomplished educators in the nation. The National Research Council has confirmed that National Board Certification has a positive effect on student achievement, teacher retention, and professional development."
I am an effective educator now, a lot better than I was three years ago before I started this process because of the rigorous research and reflection focused on my instructional strategies and student achievement that was required of me by the National Board. My Master Educator can attest to this, she gave me stellar ratings on the most recent round of IMPACT evaluations. The results of my students’ state assessments were exemplary; two of them received advanced perfect scores in both reading and math despite their severe cognitive disability.
I encourage all my colleagues who want to retool and to take a step further professionally to take the National Board Certification. It was a very rewarding experience for me. The results are coming out in a couple of months from now. Did I make it? We'll see...

14 October 2009

NBCT: D.C. layoffs did not consider teachers’ skills

Filed under: DC Public Schools, National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators, WTU — ms.angala @ 8:43 am
A National Board Certified Teacher who was among the 266 teachers and support staff laid off this month in Washington, D.C., says decisions were made without considering the "skills and talents" of those being let go. Marie Fonrose, who was one of only 39 NBCTs in D.C. public schools, said there was no established formula for deciding who to let go. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee has said she laid off staff based on a broad formula in an attempt to close a budget gap. The Washington Post/D.C. Wire blog
I do not feel right about this. I feel that there is more to this than just teaching and learning best practices. Sadly, the kids are suffering in the classrooms because of all these chaos that's happening in our schools now :(

1 July 2009

D.C. Teachers Become Central Office Fellows

Filed under: DC Public Schools, Filipino Teachers, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators — ms.angala @ 6:14 pm

From The Washington Post's blog, DC Wire:

Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee, who presided over the firing of 250 teachers last month, is also continuing her attempts to build bridges with District educators by bringing six of them into her office for a five-week summer fellowship.

The teachers are: Aris Pangilinan (math), HD Woodson High School, a winner of the 2009 Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher award presented by The Washington Post Educational Foundation; Brooke Buerkle (social studies), Columbia Heights Educational Campus, named Outstanding First Year Teacher by DCPS in 2008; Cynthia Robinson (first grade), H.D. Cooke Elementary, who serves on the board of the Capital Area National Association for Bilingual Education; Lynn Lahti-Hommeyer (elementary science resource), Bruce-Monroe Elementary@ Parkview, honored at a 2006 White House ceremony with a presidential award for excellence in mathematics and science teaching; Margaret Slye (literacy professional developer), Scott Montgomery Elementary, a former Teach For America corps member, and Tondra J. Odom-Owens (fifth grade), Savoy Elementary, who co-wrote the current fourth grade learning standards in reading and language arts for DCPS.

Two of the well deserving Fellows are colleagues close to my heart, Aris Pangilinan who's making us Filipino teachers proud, and Tondra Owens (NBCT) who was with my National Board Certification class with George Washington University.
Did I apply? Yes. Did I make it? Obviously no :( I need to do better in phone interviews; there'll be next time.

27 June 2009

DEN at NECC 2009…I was there!

Filed under: Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators, Technology in Education — ms.angala @ 8:22 pm
I'm glad I didn't miss today's DEN's pre-NECC Birthday Party Extravaganza, "I learned a lot of cool stuff!" is an understatement! Many DEN STARs from across the country came to DC early for the 2009 NECC just to attend DEN’s fourth birthday celebration at Discovery Headquarters today.

Here are my favorite presentations from Jen Dorman:

- Power Up Your Professional Learning Network
According to her, there's a need to connect with colleagues both within the educational system and worldwide. The solution? Tap into professional networks and harness social networks for professional learning.

- Get Your ‘Og On
All about blogs, vlogs, and glogs!!! I am already proficient with blogs, and pretty familiar with using vlogs. What's new? Glogs! Glogs are like online interactive multimedia posters, which can be published publically or privately, and can also be emailed. It's so cool, colorful and creative that my students will surely become addicted to once I introduce this to them!

I also went to the session by Steve Dembo and loved his presentation: Top Ten Free Web 2.0 Sites. But the URL I have is a broken link and I can't find his presentation in his blog.



Discovery Education Booth Schedule at NECC
(from the DEN Blog Network)

NECC is just under a few days away, and we hope you’re as jazzed for it as we are! Our home on the conference floor will be Booth #3228 and we’ve got a packed schedule there. You’ll be able to see presentations such as:
  • Discovery the Possibilities with Discovery Educaiton Digital Services
  • Multimedia Einsteins: Discovery Education Science
  • Using Multimedia in the Classroom with Mimio
  • 50 Ways To Use Discovery Education streaming
  • Bring 21st Century Teaching to Your Classrooms: Professional Development that Works
  • Connecting Formative Assessment to the Power of Digital Media
And who will be presenting these sessions? None other than your favorite DE and DEN presenters, including Hall Davidson, Lance Rougeux, Steve Dembo, Matt Monjan, Jen Dorman, Eren Koont, Alex Morrison, and more!

Download the complete Discovery Education Booth Schedule

Don’t forget though, that’s just a fraction of what we’re doing at NECC. Be sure to attend the special Using Multimedia in the Classroom session we’re hosting with Mimio and the four DEN spotlight sessions.

Look forward to seeing you at the conference!

22 June 2009

2009 National Charter Schools Conference

Filed under: DC Public Schools, National Board Certification, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators — ms.angala @ 10:44 am
The 9th Annual National Charter Schools Conference is being held here (right at this moment) in Washington DC from June 21-24, 2009. Keynote speakers include urban schools leaders: New York City Public Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and District of Columbia Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee. Additionally, President Barack Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan were invited to address the conference.

I went to engaging sessions that were mostly about Teacher Leadership and creating Professional Learning Communities. No bulky handouts anymore! Copies of all the powerpoint presentations were given to the participants in a CD, very innovative! Here's a brief summary of my favorite points from the four sessions that I have attended:

- Empowering Teachers to Affect Policy by Steven Hicks and Julie Shively

According to the presenters, who are both National Board Certified Teachers, "Teachers understand - better than anyone - the challenges and rewards of public education and the types of instructional and school improvement strategies that yield the greatest results for their students."

This session has revealed to me opportunities at the national, state, and local levels for teachers in developing policies that affect the classroom! I am grateful that I was given a chance at a national level to share with my colleagues my experiences as a teacher in DC Public Schools. As a citywide teacher leader, I learned a lot of strategies that I can use whenever I sit on the table with the education policy makers in my school district. The most important things that I will remember are these tips:

Tips for teachers in discussing education policy:

Prepare (Know the issue)

- Be ready to present your points succinctly. (30 seconds, 1 minute, 3 minutes)
- Know the opposition's points and be able to counter them.
- Maintain your enthusiasm and sincerity.
- Use a sense of humor and the ability to roll with the punches.
- Know the people you are talking to and their staff. (They can make or break opportunities to speak with their boss).

During the meeting:
- Address the person properly.
- Identify yourself immediately at each contact. have a business card handy.
- Refer to the topic you want to discuss early in the conversation.
- Use your own words.
- Be brief but courteous.
- Establish your own credentials - why are you an expert on this topic?
- If possible give the person something in writing to which they can refer later.
- If something is said off-the-record always respect that and keep it confidential.
- Follow up in writing, making sure to include your contact information.

Cautions:
- Don't begin your discussion with threatening language: "As a citizen..."
- Don't apologize for taking up their time. Just be brief to the point.
- Don't be arrogant, condescending, or threatening.
- Don't argue or back someone into a corner.
- Don't send copies of a form letter, unless you take the time to include a personal note.

- Teacher Leadership in a Learning Community (K-12) by Jay Westover
Equally important is fully understanding what a Professional Learning Community is. A PLC is a collaborative culture focused on results and learning comprised of independent teams...

- working toward the same goal
- through collective inquiry of student data
- and commitment to continous improvement
- to ensure all students learn
In this session, I have learned 5 simple steps in becoming a Professional Learning Community (PLC) that have been effective in helping teacher teams get started in the PLC process. What do we need to create a strong PLC? Here are the 5 Cs of a PLC (for me, it's easier to remember things using a mnemonic):
- Collaboration
- Common Curriculum
- Common Assessments
- Collective Intervention
- Confirmed Instructional Practices
Yesterday's sessions were very informative! Expert presenters were very innovative and knowledgeable about their topic. I left each room equipped with the knowledge that I need on how to engage in collaborative teamwork focused on results and learning; it has also given me the strategies, knowledge and skills to become a better teacher leader. Now I'm ready to roll!

Strengthening My Teacher Leadership Skills

Filed under: DC Public Schools, Professional Development Trainings, Teachers/ Educators — ms.angala @ 8:43 am

Yesterday was Sunday, Father's Day; where was I? I was at the Mt. Vernon Convention Center here in DC for the 2009 National Charter Schools Conference.
Keynote speakers include urban schools leaders: New York City Public Schools Chancellor Joel Klein and District of Columbia Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee. Additionally, President Barack Obama and Education Secretary Arne Duncan were invited to address the conference.
I didn't hear them speak anymore today. I could only afford to go to yesterday's Teacher Initiatives workshop sessions sponsored by the US Department of Education because yesterday's sessions were free. There were a lot of teachers coming from the DC Area aside from those who arrived from across the country. There were many public schools teachers yesterday who I guess, like me, were taking advantage of the free professional development sessions conducted by our national teacher leaders, Teaching Ambassadors and Fellows from the US Dep't of Ed, and/or National Board Certified Teachers.

I always go to national conferences and I am used to engaging in meaningful conversations with my colleagues coming from other districts about education policies, theories, philosophies and teaching practices. But there was this weird feeling yesterday. In the past, when I shared during group discussions or with the big group, after I introduced myself as a teacher from DC Public Schools they politely listened to me, no questions were asked, just "ok, fine". Yesterday, after I introduced myself as a teacher from DC Public Schools, people stopped what they were doing, looked at me, and listened intently.

During small group discussions after going through what we were supposed to do, teachers engaged in small talks with me like "So, how do you like your young and aggressive Chancellor?", "It's very shaky right now in DCPS, how are you affected by this?"...there were many more questions; I guess the one good thing about being a DC Public Schools teacher right now is popularity (or is this really a good thing?)

I went to several sessions, mostly on Teacher Leadership and building Professional Learning Communities (PLC) in schools, and learned a lot, now ready to bring back new knowledge to my school and school district. Before the school year ended, I told one of my colleagues that I am now ready for more challenges and to accept more responsibilities. I still want to be a classroom teacher, but I want to assume a different role now. I believe that I can better serve the students and positively impact young precious lives more if I can directly support their teachers and help strengthen their teaching skills and encourage them to implement the best practices of teaching.

Next year's conference will be in Chicago, just FYI for those who would be interested. What have I learned from yesterday? It's here.

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