Sacramento Head Start Alumni Association

Teacher Quality Ensuring Excellence

Mar 14, 2002

United States Department of Education
March Satellite Town Meeting
"Teacher Quality: Ensuring Excellence in Every Classroom"
Tuesday, March 19, 2002
8:00 - 9:00 PM Eastern


The effectiveness of all education reform eventually comes down to a
good
teacher in every classroom." - President George W. Bush
Recruiting and retaining excellent teachers has always been a
challenge, but
now that challenge is greater than ever. Current projections indicate
that
America's schools will need to hire 2.4 million teachers over the next
ten
years. Additionally, there are new demands on teachers?´ qualifications,
knowledge and skills as we ask them educate all children to meet high
standards.
To ensure that every classroom has a highly qualified teacher, states
and
districts around the country are using innovative programs to address
immediate and long-term needs, including alternative recruitment
strategies,
new approaches to professional development, financial incentive
programs,
partnerships with local universities, and much more. The March
Satellite
Town Meeting will explore how communities around the country provide
teachers the tools they need to improve instruction and to help all
students
succeed.
During the program, Under Secretary Gene Hickok and a panel of school
leaders from communities across the country will explore such questions
as...
* What does the research and practice show about reforming teacher
certification, licensure requirements?
* What is the effectiveness of alternative teacher certification
programs (e.g., Transition to Teaching, Teach for America, or Troops to
Teachers)?
* How can research-based professional development improve the quality
of teaching and increase student achievement?
* What is the impact of mentoring programs for new and experienced
teachers?
* What are the barriers to innovation and improvement in teaching?
* How can schools and districts partner with postsecondary
institutions and schools of education to recruit and retain the best
teachers?
* How can parents and community organizations help ensure teachers are
prepared to teach?
Panelists Include:

* Dave Gordon is the Superintendent of Elk Grove Unified School
District in Sacramento, California. The district is noted for the
Teacher
Education Institute (TEI), created in 1993 to attract and retain high
quality teachers through a high quality, fast track, and intensive
teacher
credentialing program. (http://www.egusd.k12.ca.us/
).

* Cheryl Krehbiel is a Standards and Instruction Specialist with
expertise in science and early literacy. She is a National Board
Certified
teacher through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards
(http://www.nbpts.org/ ).

* Eugenio Longoria is a classroom instructor and Literacy Coordinator
at Bell Multicultural High School in Washington, DC. Eugenio graduated
from
Baylor University in 1996 with a distinguished background in Economics
and
International Trade but chose to enter the education profession as a
1997
recruit of Teach for America. (www.teachforamerica.org/tfa
)

* Dr. Ruth Nathan is a university professor and classroom teacher.
Presently, she is an instructor with University of California,
Berkeley's
Reading Certificate Program. Additionally, she works with area school
districts to ensure classroom teachers use the latest research-based
instruction.

* Jeff Davis, Via Satellite. Mr. Davis is the Field Director for the
Call Me Mister based in Clemson, South Carolina. The program is a
collaboration among Clemson University and three private historically
black
colleges (Benedict College, Claflin College and Morris College) to
recruit,
train, certify and secure employment for 200 black males as elementary
teachers in the public schools of South Carolina.
(http://www.callmemister.clemson.edu/staff.htm
)

******************
VIEWING OPTIONS
******************

To PARTICIPATE:
All you need is to locate a facility with satellite downlink
capability. Or,
call your local cable access station or school board channel and have
them
register to obtain free satellite coordinates! Use our ON-LINE
REGISTRATION
SYSTEM, and select this month's Town Meeting or the "SERIES OPTION" to
register your participation for the entire Town Meeting season at
registerevent.ed.gov

To WATCH LOCALLY:
Use our on-line registration system to find a local meeting, or to look
for
a local television broadcast: registerevent.ed.gov

Live and Archived WEBCAST:
The Department of Education provides live and archived web casts of the
Satellite Town Meeting. Individuals viewing the live web cast will be
able
to send instant messages and questions for the guests and the
Secretary. To
view and learn more, please visit:
www.connectlive.com/events/edtownmeetings


PAST PROGRAMS:
Limited free VHS copies are available through the Department of
Education's
publication clearinghouse - just call 877-4-ED-PUBS or visit:
www.ed.gov/about/ordering.jsp

Please send any inquiries to:
Satellite.Town.Meeting@ed.gov
or
call 800-USA-LEARN.