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I just got home from an Informational Session/ meeting with Chancellor Rhee tonight where she, President Parker and the contract negotiations team clarified some of the things circulating in the newspapers about the contract negotiations. I had my turn to share my concerns:
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"Chancellor Rhee, you expressed that you are all for rewarding great teachers". She was listening intently to me.
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I continued, "I am with you on that. I watched your Charlie Rose interview wherein you said ' ...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' I absolutely agree with you on this".
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I went on further, "What are you willing to do to have excellent, effective, and high quality teachers in DCPS?"
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She was very candid and straightforward as she talked about giving extravagant bonuses to hardworking teachers, funding for high quality professional development trainings, continued support... she said a lot of things that are overwhelming to me because she is indeed willing to give everything just to retain and to have the best teachers in DCPS.
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I was already smiling, but I needed to hear what I wanted to hear from her. I followed up, "How about supporting the great teachers in their quest for excellence?...I got an email yesterday from President Parker that the funding for those who want to pursue the National Board Certification was cut."
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She replied, "You know what, if this is just about the National Board Certification, we can talk about that".
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"Thank you." I was already excited to share this with my colleagues so we can schedule a meeting and get all our data ready in case she asks for evidence of student achievement or any documentations.
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Yes, I did hear her say she is all for supporting great teachers and giving them high quality professional development so she can have the best teachers in DCPS, then there is no reason not to support the National Board Certification. Who will be the real winners? Of course, OUR STUDENTS. I feel so positive about this.
2 comments:
Dear Ms. Angala--
I am thrilled to hear that you have found the new report on National Board Certification, "Measuring What Matters," useful--and congratulations on getting an audience with the Chancellor, and your thoughtful remarks to her.
As a co-author of the report, this is exactly what we hoped would happen: the report would serve as a tool for opening up conversations about the National Board process and its impact on teaching and-- most important--its impact on student learning.
Your plan to get your data ready for your meeting is a good one. Be sure to mention that student learning is at the heart of the National Board process. All National Board Certified Teachers are required to demonstrate and articulate precisely what their students have learned, and what convincing evidence they have that the students have mastered this content. There are examples in the report of how the process pushes teachers to analyze student-generated data and use the analysis to prescribe next steps.
The 10 NBCTs who wrote the report were excited to see your blog and wish you well. Thanks.
Another link to the report:
http://tinyurl.com/6gcysb
Dear Ms. Flanagan,
Thank you for publishing the report: "Measuring What Matters". You and your team have painted an exact picture of what most teachers experience in our everyday life as educators, and have captured what most of us want to express from our hearts.
Even though Chancellor Rhee has not given her affirmative "Yes" to me last night to continue the support to the National Board in DCPS, she said this is something she is willing to discuss further.
I am very hopeful and optimistic that they can work something out on the negotiations table. We will be ready with any documentations that she may ask us to present.
I believe she is sincere in her promise to support great teachers 100%.
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