Issues Facing Education:
Beth, Jerome, Bridget, Denise
• Graduation Project – housed exclusively in English
Department—share responsibility with other areas
• Retention of Beginning Teacher-mentoring practices,
working conditions (what happens with principals
serving schools where working conditions are poor),
administrative support; too much stress not being
solved by a duty free lunch; planning time is not
protected (too many meetings during and after
school); separation of retention and recruitment are 2
separate issues; address support to attainment of
graduate degrees; position retention (CTE-do not cut
these programs); same for art, technology, second
languages
• Technology—funding for qualified technology
teachers/facilitators, connectivity, and equipment
• Testing – impact at elementary level; what is tested is
what is taught
• Rigor—
--rigor for all
--we on right track-think need to survey exiting
students (graduating students as well as dropouts)
--are we meeting the needs of those who need a
challenge
--under representation of minorities in AP classes
--solution-students in college/university course of
study should be required to take honors classes; will
lead to more racial and economic diversity in AP
classes; preparation must begin at the elementary level
--All this belongs under the umbrella of serving all,
especially at-risk students and disengaged students
James, Sonya, Sharrod, Shawn
• Inequity in available technology (in the hands of the
teachers and the students)
• 21st century Skills
o Graduation project
o Better information in the classroom about job
skills, and the market
o Music, PE, Arts etc only once a week
o Global Literacy and the international travel of our
educators
o Authentic Assessment, teaching out of Silos and
testing out of silos
Addressing the Achievement Gap
o A human resource is
Addressing the needs of the students most at risk
o Drop out rate
o AIG etc
Quality Teacher Retention/Evaluation and position
Retentions
o BEP, C&T,
o Advanced Degrees more affordable
o SALARIES
o Paperwork
o Administrators attitudes to on-line education
3 areas to address as a program of work for advisory
group:
Technology
Advancement of Teaching
Serving all students--at-risk and disengaged students
This “we believe” paper (use a wikki to edit)
Beliefs
Research
Status
Recommendations
Change teacher salary schedule with quantum leaps
2 year term for teacher advisory committee members