TO:
NC Public School Teachers
FROM: State Superintendent June Atkinson
DATE: May 8, 2014
What will we be teaching in the fall? That question has been asked of me and other staff
at the Department of Public Instruction in the wake of a proposed state bill that was
reported in the news media several days ago. That proposed bill at its most extreme
would end our state’s use of the Common Core State Standards for math and English
language arts. In the text of the proposed bill the language stresses a process for
studying the standards and making recommendations for future content standards. That
study would occur over the next year or longer. The draft legislation could be introduced
during the short session of the General Assembly, which begins on May 14. So, the
short answer to the question that opened this message is that, this fall, North Carolina
teachers will continue teaching the Standard Course of Study that is in place today and
will continue to be so until a new Standard Course of Study is approved by the State
Board of Education.
North Carolina public schools for many years have operated under a five-year review
process for each subject in the Standard Course of Study and that consistent review
process has served us well. Not only has it provided stability from one year to the next,
the consistent review process has ensured that our standards are evaluated regularly to
make sure students are taught the skills and knowledge they need.
As a reminder, since the mid-1990s, North Carolina has had a statewide testing
program in reading and mathematics and select courses at the high school level.
Regardless of which standards are used, we will continue to have a testing program
unless Congress and the General Assembly change these laws. The Common Core
State Standards in mathematics and English language arts/reading are statements of
what students should know and be able to do. As in the past, teachers play a vital role
in how to help students meet these standards.
Regards,
June Atkinson
In this Biweekly Teachers’ Message:
1. State Board of Education Meeting Highlights
2. 2013 NC Teacher of the Year Reflections
3. Roanoke Rapids Teacher Named Top Teacher Search Finalist
4. Mooresville Principal Named 2014 Wells Fargo NC Principal of the Year
5. Home Base Webinar Opportunities
6. Intel® Teach Helps Teachers Engage Students in Digital Learning
1. State Board of Education Meeting Highlights - At last week’s State Board of
Education meeting, members approved LEA and charter requests for Standard Six
flexibility and Course for Credit policy revision recommendations. They also heard
presentations on the Digital Learning Assessment Plan and implementation of the State
Board’s Healthy Active Children Policy. Under new business, Board members
discussed a Memoranda of Understanding with Pune, India, and Lille, France to
promote student, teacher and administrator exchanges. A summary of Board actions is
posted online at http://stateboard.ncpublicschools.gov/minutes-actions/sbeactions/2014-actions.
2. 2013 NC Teacher of the Year Reflections - As my year of service as North
Carolina’s Teacher of the Year comes to a close, I find it difficult to put into words this
humbling year of conversations, debates, collaboration, introspection, inspiration, and
personal growth. It is the recursive process of teaching, reflecting, listening, learning,
and sharing that best describes my year. Yoda, the sage guide in Star Wars, explains
my experience and what I think we, as a profession must consider as we move
education forward. As Yoda guides young Luke Skywalker, he tells him, “You must
unlearn what you have learned. Teach yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.”
A few weeks before my official journey as Teacher of the Year began last summer, I
attended the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching Seminar “Daring
to Lead” with other teacher leaders. In one of our culminating activities, we wrote our
biggest fears and barriers to personal success on a wooden board, and with a great
deal of visualization, grit and determination we broke through the boards and our fears
with our bare hands. I have not shared with many what I wrote on my board.
That day I stood on the precipice of beginning my new adventure out of the classroom
as a teacher ambassador. My biggest fear and personal barrier was the fear of the
“unknown.” I was frightened about the weight of responsibility that the title of North
Carolina Teacher of the Year placed on my shoulders and was incredibly cognizant of
the need for a voice to represent our 95,000 public school teachers in conversations
with all the stakeholders in education. I knew I needed to be a strong representative,
and I needed both to convey what we need in North Carolina to improve education for
our 1.5 million students and to share all that is great about public education. I took my
role very seriously, and the “unknown” of how others would react, what it would be like
to meet with government representatives to discuss education, and how to best
represent our profession was a barrier for me. In the moment that I thrust my hand
toward that board, I thought about my students over the years whom I have constantly
encouraged to take risks in their writing and analysis. When my hand pressed against
the hard, wooden surface and pushed through the splintering pieces, I made a
commitment to “let go of everything [I feared] to lose.” I vowed to listen to others so I
could unlearn and learn what we most needed in our state. I found my voice as the
North Carolina Teacher of the Year and as your representative.
During my travels to North Carolina schools and universities, meetings in Raleigh with
legislators, out-of-state conferences on education, and my most recent travels in
Washington, DC where other state teachers of the year and I discussed education
policy at the United States Department of Education and with the White House staff, I
have seen the faces and heard the voices of the teachers and students in North
Carolina. You have all impacted my life so much—the teachers who taught me in
Rockingham County, my colleagues in Guilford County, the teachers from the numerous
counties I have visited this year, the pre-service teachers who have shared their
infectious energy with me, and the students who touch my heart as I dream of the
futures they will have. When I shook President Obama’s hand on Thursday, May 1, I
was proud to proclaim that I am from North Carolina. I took all of you into the White
House with me. You were there when he told me to “continue [our] service to our
nation.”
All of the educators in North Carolina do exactly this every day. You give so much to
our country and to our state by teaching our future. This year has been frustrating for
many, but as my term as your representative comes to a close, I hope that you too will
“let go of what you fear,” so we can become a collective voice for what our students
need in our state, and we can move education forward. Thank you for all of your support
and for all you do for North Carolina. – Karyn Dickerson, 2012-13 Burroughs Wellcome
North Carolina Teacher of the Year
3. Roanoke Rapids Teacher Named Top Teacher Search Finalist - Congratulations
to Wendy Tickel, a K-5 exceptional children teacher at Belmont Elementary School
(Roanoke Rapids City Schools) for being selected as a Top Teacher Search finalist for
the Live with Kelly and Mike Show. A parent of a former student nominated Wendy for
the award. Her picture and the nomination letter are available online at
http://livekellyandmichael.dadt.com/uncategorized/top-teacher
4. Mooresville Principal Named 2014 Wells Fargo NC Principal of the Year Congratulations to Mooresville Middle School Principal Carrie Tulbert who last Thursday
was named the 2014 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year. The Mooresville
Graded Schools’ principal succeeds Southside High School Principal Dale Cole
(Beaufort County Schools). In addition to implementing the school’s 1:1 Digital
Conversion (in which every student in grades 4-12 has a laptop), she implemented
another schoolwide program called Capturing Kids’ Hearts that focuses on preparing
students to be productive citizens. During Tulbert’s time as assistant principal and
principal, Mooresville Middle has seen an increase in students’ end-of-grade tests
performance composite from 72 percent (2007-08) to 87 percent (2011-12), a decrease
in suspensions by approximately 60 percent in three years, and a doubling of Algebra I
enrollment with a consistent 98 percent to 100 percent proficiency. Congratulations also
to the other regional finalists:
- Northeast Region: Billie Berry, Camden County High (Camden County Schools);
- Southeast Region: Frances Herring, Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School (Lenoir County
Schools);
- North Central Region: Larry Webb, Eaton-Johnson Middle (Vance County Schools);
- Sandhills/South Central Region: Robin Calcutt, New Century Middle, (Moore County
Schools);
- Piedmont-Triad/Central Region: Amy Rickard, Morris Grove Elementary (Chapel HillCarrboro City Schools);
- Southwest Region: Brad Breedlove, Monroe High (Union County Schools); and
- West Region: Brad Richardson, Forest City-Dunbar Elementary (Rutherford County
Schools).
5. Home Base Webinar Opportunities Managing Roles and Permissions in Home Base - This webinar will be held Thursday,
May 15, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. Webinar topics include specific examples and issues
pertaining to roles and permissions if not assigned correctly, best practices regarding
assigning roles and permissions, and how to monitor roles and permissions and resolve
issues. To register, please visit https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/983332456.
Intro to Open Class - Open Class is a dynamic learning environment that helps
teachers bring social learning and interactive experiences to students. By participating
in this webinar, teachers will learn how Open Class can be used to present course
content, explore subjects using social learning, collaborate on projects, hold active
discussions and more. This webinar is scheduled for Thursday, May 22, from 3:30-4:30
p.m. To register, please visit https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/400270457.
6. Intel® Teach Helps Teachers Engage Students in Digital Learning - Intel®
Teach helps K–12 teachers of all subjects engage students with digital learning,
including digital content, Web 2.0, social networking and online tools and resources. In
addition, the Intel® Teach Elements courses empower teachers to integrate technology
effectively into their existing curriculum, focusing on their students’ problem solving,
critical thinking, and collaboration, which are precisely the skills required in the high
tech, networked society in which we live.
Intel® Teach Elements are free, just-in-time professional development courses that
can be used to provide now, anytime, anywhere professional development. A series of
courses provides deeper exploration of 21st century learning concepts and focuses on
the roles of both the classroom teacher as well as the student in the classroom. The
Intel® Teach Elements courses can be delivered in flexible formats: independently,
facilitated online or a blended approach. Each course provides five hours of e-learning
with 10-15 hours of application work. Facilitated courses range from 30-45 hours.
For more information about the Intel® Teach program, visit www.intel.com/teachers. If
you have questions, contact Deborah Goodman, NCDPI Intel ITA coordinator, via email
at deborah.goodman@dpi.nc.gov.