I spent Memorial Day with my family and friends and enjoyed the opportunity to relax, at least a little! I know many school districts were using Memorial Day as a make-up day and I was thankful we did not have to be in school! I leave for China in just a couple of weeks and I was glad to have the day with my children!
On Tuesday, I met with a few of my summer co-workers for the Global Initiative Program with the FuHsing School in Taipei. I am saddened that my schedule will not be flexible enough this summer to teach English for this truly amazing program. I know the students will have a great summer at Meredith College!
On Wednesday and Thursday I was in Raleigh for the June State Board of Education Meeting. I had missed the May meeting as I was in DC and it was good to be back with such a dedicated focused group! Wednesday was full of good discussion, big issues and lots of information. The Board listened to presentations including an update from the Blue RibbonTask Force on Compulsory Attendance Age, a new program to increase the number of High School Graduates in Haywood County, and the new World Language initiative in Lee County Schools. North Carolina Public Schools are doing some amazing things! We also had the opportunity to hear from the Teacher Effectiveness workgroup. There was lots of good information to think about and discuss.
On Thursday, the State Board recognized three outgoing advisors. I will miss all three of these very dedicated, passionate and insightful folks next year. Jessica and Jan, you guys have not only been my mentors and co-advisors, but you have become friends I admire and respect. I will miss seeing you guys at every meeting. Dr. Hoke, I will miss your perspective and humor. I am so grateful to have met you.
The SBE also heard updates around Race to the Top and ACRE. The meeting was concluded by a very powerful, passionate and articulate speech by Chairman Dr. Bill Harrison. I cannot do justice to his words in summary and I have posted the video below. I encourage you to watch.
Here are some of the photos from Thursday's meeting as we said good-bye to three advisors.
(Jessica Garner, 2009-2010 NC Teacher of the Year)
(Jan King, 2010-2011 NC Principal of the Year)
(Dr. Jack Hoke, 2009 North Carolina Superintendent of the Year)
(Jan King, Kevin Howell (SBE member), me, and Jessica Garner at the end of Thursday's SBE meeting)For more information regarding the June SBE meeting, please click the link on the right.
To read Dr. Harrison's blog following Thursday's meeting, please click here.
Following the SBE meeting on Thursday, I attended the Teachers and Leaders Subcommittee meeting of the Governor's Education Transformation Commission. During our meeting, we engaged in rich dialogue about IHEs, Teacher Corps, and began talking about Teacher Effectiveness.
On Friday, I was in the office and on the computer! My eyes hurt by the end of the day!
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