In the past 24 years, Earny Miller has accumulated more than 50 coffee mugs, which are proudly displayed at her parents’ home. They were all gifts from her students.
“I appreciated each and every one, but you can only use one coffee cup at a time,” said Miller, a reading specialist at Pleasant Grove Elementary School in Dalton, Ga.
Miller’s late father stored the mugs in a china cabinet.
“He was so proud of her so she gave the extra ones to him. He kept them on display,” said Miller’s mother Betty Dowdy, who now maintains the collection.
A coffee mug is a nice way to thank a teacher for a job well done at the end of the year. But Miller’s collection shows that there may be more memorable and unique gifts students can give, too, said Judy Ashley, a University of Georgia Cooperative Extension school relations specialist.
“Instead of giving the traditional coffee mug, why not give a gift certificate to a coffee shop,” Ashley said.
According to the National Parent Teacher Association, gift certificates to area restaurants, salons or events are also unique, thoughtful gift choices, she said.
If time allows, survey your child’s teachers to find out their favorite books, colors, flowers and restaurants. Then use this knowledge to select a good gift, she said.
“You can then work with other parents to give the teacher his or her favorite book signed by each of the students in this year’s class,” Ashley said. “Or, give each teacher a bouquet of their favorite flower.”
Miller agrees that personal gifts are best. One of her all-time-favorite gifts is a ceramic pot created by a room parent.
“She made the pot and added all the students’ names and their thumb prints,” she said.
Christmas decorations are also among Miller’s favorites.
“I use them to decorate the room and I remember each of the kids when I unpack and display them,” she said. “I have a holiday wall hanging from Joseph Farmer and he’s now 22, a UGA student and the Hairy Dawg mascot.”
Teachers often use their personal funds to purchase items for the classroom. To help lessen the burden on the teacher’s budget, give a hodgepodge of classroom materials like tissue boxes, hand sanitizer, paper, chalk and stickers.
“If you’re not sure what to include, give a gift certificate to an area teachers’ supply store,” she said.
Gifts don’t have to be expensive. Many can be created by the student.
“Help your child write a personal thank-you note individualized for each teacher,” Ashley said. “Or interview your child about the teacher and use the answers in your thank-you note.”
Ask the child what he or she liked best about the teacher or what was the most important thing learned. Ask, too, what flower or cartoon character the teacher is like and why. The child’s response could make for a funny additional anecdote.
Incorporate the child’s answers into a truly one-of-a-kind thank-you note. Include a separate note expressing your gratitude to the teacher.
Special education teacher Jean Marie Reese’s most prized gift is physically and literally priceless.
“One of my students carved a heart and the words ‘I love you’ into a piece of wood,” said Reese, a Banks County teacher. “More than half of our students are on the free or reduced lunch program. Their families don’t have extra money. This personal gift meant so much to me. I have displayed it in my curio cabinet for more than 10 years.”
By Sharon Omahen
University of Georgia
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Put some thought into teacher thank-yous
Clayton State Nursing and Dental Hygiene Programs Awarded $326K Grant from HRSA
The Clayton State University School of Nursing, and the Department of Dental Hygiene, part of the University’s College of Professional Studies, have been awarded a $326,730 Student Disadvantaged Scholarship Grant (SDS) from the federal Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
The grant, for FY2009, will be split almost equally between the two programs and marks the third consecutive year the University has received an SDS grant from HRSA. The School of Nursing will receive $157,952 for the period from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009. The Department of Dental Hygiene will receive $168,778 for the same period.
The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students program was created by Congress under the Disadvantaged Minority Health Improvement Act of 1990 for the purpose of providing financial assistance to disadvantaged health professions and nursing students.
The amount of the individual SDS award was transmitted to Clayton State’s Office of Financial Aid for their records and to the Clayton State Bursars Office for disbursement. The SDS is only used for scholarships for minority or disadvantaged students and funds are applied directly to the recipient’s tuition/fee bill and any remaining balance distributed to the student for the purpose of paying other fees and incidentals associated with their education.
Clayton State University’s student population is roughly two-thirds minorities and has been rated by U.S. News and World Report as the most diverse in the Southeast region of the United States for five out of the last seven years.
A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
New Summer Schedule for School System’s Offices and Welcome Center
Four-day summer work weeks are one of several cost saving measures the Fayette County Board of Education is implementing in what is shaping up to be a tight budget year.
Twelve-month employees at the school system’s central offices and all 30 schools will work 10-hour days from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday with Fridays off. The four-day work schedule is estimated to save the system approximately $60,000-80,000 in energy costs per week.
With the exception of facilities where summer camps and classes are being held, business hours for all offices and buildings, including the Welcome Center where new student registrations are handled, will be Monday-Thursday from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. and closed on Fridays. This schedule will take affect on June 2 and go through July 25.
Anyone who needs to register a child for school or conduct other business with the school system should make a note of the new summer hours.
Other cost saving measures the school system is considering implementing in the coming school year include leaving vacancies in offices where it is feasible, reducing travel and eliminating out-of-state travel, reducing overtime, reducing the amount of paper and copying costs with the implementation of the eBoard system and reassigning county office staff as vacancies at the school level come open.
Additional measures also under consideration are reducing discretionary duty leave, limiting the number of buses used for athletic events and consolidating bus routes as necessary after the first three weeks of school.
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Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Governor Perdue Signs Legislation Expanding Support for Choice Options within Public Schools
Today Governor Sonny Perdue signed three pieces of legislation into law to expand support for choice options within public schools: HB 881, 831, and 1277. Each of these pieces of legislation further solidifies Georgia’s commitment to raise student achievement across the state.
HB 881, sponsored by Rep. Jan Jones and known as the charter commission legislation, requires charter school petitioners to continue to seek approval from their local board of education. It also enables the petitioner to request charter approval directly from a newly-formed state charter commission if the local board of education rejects the petition, or if the petitioner seeks conditions different from those approved by the local board of education.
In addition, HB 881 changes the way charter schools are funded. Many previously-approved charter schools operate on fewer dollars than traditional public schools receive.
“HB 881 offers Georgia one more tool in the education toolbox to meet students’ unique needs through high quality charter schools,” said Rep. Jan Jones. “It is the result of careful and inclusive collaboration among the Governor’s office, the State Board of Education, Superintendent Kathy Cox’s office, the House and Senate, and numerous parents and outside groups. This legislation will lead to a greater variety of smaller, specialized or innovative public schools that will be held to high achievement standards.”
House Bills 831 and 1277 build further on the infrastructure support for public charter schools. HB 831 enables the State Board of Education to establish a grant program to provide matching funds to charter school organizations for capital improvements or construction of charter schools, while HB 1277 provides charter school personnel access to the State Health Benefit Plan.
“I would like to thank Rep. Kaiser for working with us during the session to resolve concerns that caused me to veto a similar bill last year,” said Governor Perdue. Governor Perdue also issued a signing statement on HB 1277, making it clear that charter school personnel are not to be considered state employees: “My signing of this legislation should not be considered evidence of anything other than policy makers’ intent to allow charter school employees to enroll in the State Health Benefit Plan; no other aspect of a charter school employee’s employment is affected by my signing of House Bill 1277.”
Another piece of charter legislation, HB 1065, was signed into law by Governor Perdue earlier this month and authorizes local charter schools and state chartered special schools to use their SPLOST funds for capital outlay projects.
“Taken together, these pieces of legislation clearly empower Georgia’s parents and local communities to develop and sustain innovative school choice options to improve student achievement across our great state,” said Governor Perdue. “School choice options should be a collaborative offering between interested citizens, local school systems, and the state.”
For more information on these bills, visit www.legis.state.ga.us.
Monday, May 12, 2008
2009 Georgia Teacher of the Year
Leanne Maule, an English teacher from Cartersville High School, was named the 2009 Georgia Teacher of the Year Friday night.
"Congratulations to Leanne Maule and her colleagues at Cartersville High School," Superintendent Cox said. "Leanne is creative, has a passion for education and a heart for the struggling learner. She is an excellent choice for Georgia Teacher of the Year."
As the state Teacher of the Year, Ms. Maule will spend the 2008-2009 school year on special assignment, serving as an ambassador and advocate for the teaching profession. She will give presentations to other educators, as well as business and community leaders, and represent Georgia teachers at state and national conferences. She will also be Georgia's entry in the 2009 National Teacher of the Year competition.
Ms. Maule was one of ten finalists, who were chosen from a pool of over 140 district-level teachers of the year that applied for the state honor. The ten finalists were observed in the classroom and interviewed by a team of judges and then gave a speech during a luncheon held at Georgia Power Co. in March.
"I know this was a very difficult choice for the judges," Superintendent Cox said. "Any of the ten finalists would have done a wonderful job as Georgia Teacher of the Year."
About Leanne Maule
A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Ms. Maule began teaching in 1991 in Goose Creek, S.C. She came to Cartersville in 2000 and joined Cartersville High School in 2002.
In her application, Ms. Maule said her own experience as someone who struggled in school motivated her to become a teacher.
"I made a vow to myself that I would strive to become the high school teacher ... who saw every child's potential," she wrote. "My students know that I genuinely have their best interests at heart."
Ms. Maule's classroom is creative and interactive. She incorporates the arts into almost every lesson, including the creation of a Renaissance Festival, a Shakespearian puppet show and dramatic interpretations of poetry. She believes that high school lessons should be fun and exciting. Her students agree.
One of her former students wrote of Ms. Maule: "I will never forget, as long as I live, her inspiration and the enthusiasm I always see in her everytime I open her door."
Gifts and Sponsors
The Georgia Teacher of the Year banquet, and other recognition events run by the Georgia Department of Education, rely almost completely on donations from sponsors. Superintendent Cox and the GaDOE's Recognitions Program wish to thank the sponsors who made this year's event possible:
- Platinum Sponsors: Washington Mutual, AirTran Airways, Intel, Lenovo, SMARTer Kids Foundation
- Gold Sponsors: Blue Bell Creameries, L.P., Georgia Power Co., The Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), The Coca Cola Co.
- Silver Sponsor: Georgia Association of Educators (GAE)
- Bronze Sponsors: Keith Plaques, Shaw Industries, The School Box
- Copper Sponsors: Chick-fil-A, Nystrom, Publix Super Markets, Inc., Rick Shrewsbury, The Kroger Company
Clayton State University Signs Faculty Exchange Agreement with Hunan University of Technology
Photo Caption: Standing across from one of the seven campuses of the Hunan University of Technology are (left to right); Dr. Zi Wan, HUT President Hanqing Wang, Dr. Thomas K. Harden, and HUT Vice President Taigang Liu.
Clayton State University President Dr. Thomas K. Harden and Assistant Professor of Marketing and Merchandising Dr. Zi Wan recently returned from the People’s Republic of China with a signed agreement that will open a new chapter in the University’s history.
“Clayton State University is proud of our already-existing international flavor; including our international faculty, international students and the opportunities our American faculty and students have to teach and further their educations abroad through our Fulbright-Hays grants and our Study Abroad programs.,” says Harden. “This new relationship with the Hunan University of Technology promises to open some exciting new doors for both Clayton State and the region.”
Although Harden’s name is on the final document, he makes it clear that Wan’s efforts were vital to the success of this initiative. A native of Hunan Province who originally lived within 100 miles of ZhuZhou, and who speaks the same Chinese dialect as that spoken in ZhuZhou, Wan has been a faculty member in Clayton State’s College of Professional Studies since 2006, and is the coordinator of the University’s Chinese International Programs… a task she undertook almost as soon as she joined the Clayton State faculty, and a position she is uniquely qualified for, given her international background.
“As a graduate of universities in China, the UK and the USA, and having an extensive and strong network to work with many of the universities in Hunan Province, I am able to communicate, and to improve understanding between our university and HUT, which was critical in establishing the connection between the universities,” explains Wan. “If this connection is successful, it will allow us to go further with other Chinese universities.”
Wan previously worked for almost 10 years as a faculty member in the international education programs at Hunan University, one of the top universities in China and one of the oldest universities in the world. As a result of that experience, and through her background as an international student, she knows that China presents a huge international education market for Clayton State.
“I began to work and establish the cooperative international programs with China when I was first employed by Clayton State with the strong support of Dr. Harden and Provost Dr. Sharon Hoffman,” she says. “Without the support and help of Dr. Harden, Dr. Hoffman and Director of International Education Dr. Robert Welborn, all of whom put a lot of effort into the Chinese International Programs, we could not have had this achievement.
“I want to contribute to the benefit of both the USA and China, to promote closer international cooperation between the two institutions and to promote better understanding between the people of the United States and the People’s Republic of China through educational and cultural interchange.”
Wan and Welborn reported on their efforts to Dr. Richard Sutton, director of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia’s Office of International Education, in November 2007. Sutton noted at that time that, “this is a new model of international educational program in the University System of Georgia…”
The international educational partnership program between the Clayton State and HUT is on track to add another component, a curriculum agreement that would allow HUT students to finish their bachelor’s degrees at Clayton State. Shortly after returning to Georgia, Harden invited President Wang to personally come to Morrow to work out the final details of this second agreement.
“Someone has said, China is an IT society,” says Wan. “The people there are craving knowledge and information global-wide. In this sense, China is the biggest IT market globally. If we do not embrace the market, someone else will. The sooner we act, the better, if we believe that we have advanced knowledge or information.”
ZhuZhou is one of the most important transport hub cities in China, one of the first heavy industry cities developed after the founding of the PRC government in 1949. It has the population of 3,500,000 and it is located in southeastern China. Previously known as the ZhuZhou Institute of Technology, HUT has 35,000 students spread over seven campuses.
“Signing this agreement represents a substantive step in the cooperative international educational programs between Clayton State and HUT,” says Wan. “The signed agreement for the faculty exchange will no doubt enhance the communication and understanding between the two universities.”
Indeed, such is the understanding already that Harden and Wan have been honored by being appointed visiting professors of Hunan University of Technology. Because of her significant work in the Chinese International Program, Hoffman has also been honored by being appointed a visiting professor of Hunan University of Technology.
A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding, comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
Cartwright: Graduates Need to Build on Education With Experience
Newly commissioned second lieutenants and ensigns need to use their knowledge from college, but also must be willing to pick up more knowledge through practical experience, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said here yesterday.
Marine Gen. James E. Cartwright, speaking at Norwich University, said the new officers will find themselves in unexpected situations in places like Afghanistan, Iraq and other countries.
The general recalled a time when local citizens needed assistance while he was on a relief exercise in Thailand.
"A farmer came up and grabbed me by the sleeve and said, 'We really need some help. Our elephants are stuck on a piece of high ground. They're sick, and we can't get any food to them.'"
After finding the location on a map and traveling to Bangkok to get some supplies, Cartwright and his sergeant major tracked down two young Army captains who had just been commissioned as veterinarians. "I don't think they had more than two months between them with their rank on their shoulders," the general said.
Cartwright told them what the circumstances were and got a local doctor to tell them how to take care of an elephant. The veterinarians were tasked with administering antibiotics to the elephants.
The next morning, two helicopters inserted the soldiers into the jungle, the general said. With Cartwright in one helicopter and the sergeant major in the other, they "roped" down, and the veterinarians followed.
"We sat there for a second to let them get their eyes adjusted," the general said. "About the time their eyes adjusted, you could hear a little bit of a meow from a tiger."
He said they felt the rustling of the brush and realized they had been set down in the middle of the area the elephants were in. Despite the circumstances, they carried out their mission.
"That night at the bar, they were heroes, but they had new shorts on," Cartwright jokingly said.
He said that type of unpredictable experiences await newly commissioned officers.
The general said much of the knowledge young officers need isn't taught in school. "A lot of what you've learned in school is going to be important," the vice chairman said. "But there are a lot of other things you have yet to learn. Don't throw anything away, because you never know when you're going to need it."
Author: Air Force Tech. Sgt. Adam M. Stump is assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff Public Affairs Office
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Math Whizzes Show Talent at Competition
With pencils frantically figuring, fingers flying across calculators and brains firing with knowledge, students used all of their resources battling to become the winners of the 2008 Fayette County Elementary Math Bowl.
It took a total of 26 word problems to find the winning teams of the fourth grade bowl. Students fought hard to stay in the game, answering 11 tiebreaker questions beyond the regular 15 before winners were finally determined.
The 2008 winning teams for fourth grade are (first place) Oak Grove, (second place) East Fayette and (third place) Peachtree City. Fifth grade winners include (first place) Huddleston, (second place) Kedron and (third place) East Fayette.
Teams of three students work together to solve a total of 15 timed word problems. More problems are added in the event of a tie. Students qualify for the county tournament by winning their school-based math competitions.
“All of these students are already winners representing their schools and should be very proud of their accomplishments. We are very proud of them,” says Math Coordinator Lynn Ridgeway.
Each participant received a certificate of participation. Additionally, the first, second and third place winners are awarded a trophy to take back to their schools and each team member receives a math book to help get a head start on the next grade level of math. Also, the three winning teams from each grade level will have their names engraved on the plaque of champions that is displayed in the math coordinator’s office at the LaFayette Educational Center.
This marked the 8th annual Fayette County Elementary Math Bowl featuring math teams from each of the school system’s 17 elementary schools.
2009 Georgia Teacher of the Year Named
Leanne Maule, an English teacher from Cartersville High School, was named the 2009 Georgia Teacher of the Year Friday night.
Her selection was announced by State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox at the Georgia Teacher of the Year banquet held Friday night at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta.
"Congratulations to Leanne Maule and her colleagues at Cartersville High School," Superintendent Cox said. "Leanne is creative, has a passion for education and a heart for the struggling learner. She is an excellent choice for Georgia Teacher of the Year."
As the state Teacher of the Year, Ms. Maule will spend the 2008-2009 school year on special assignment, serving as an ambassador and advocate for the teaching profession. She will give presentations to other educators, as well as business and community leaders, and represent Georgia teachers at state and national conferences. She will also be Georgia's entry in the 2009 National Teacher of the Year competition.
Ms. Maule was one of ten finalists, who were chosen from a pool of over 140 district-level teachers of the year that applied for the state honor. The ten finalists were observed in the classroom and interviewed by a team of judges and then gave a speech during a luncheon held at Georgia Power Co. in March.
"I know this was a very difficult choice for the judges," Superintendent Cox said. "Any of the ten finalists would have done a wonderful job as Georgia Teacher of the Year."
ABOUT LEANNE MAULE
A graduate of Eastern Michigan University, Ms. Maule began teaching in 1991 in Goose Creek, S.C. She came to Cartersville in 2000 and joined Cartersville High School in 2002.
In her application, Ms. Maule said her own experience as someone who struggled in school motivated her to become a teacher.
"I made a vow to myself that I would strive to become the high school teacher ... who saw every child's potential," she wrote. "My students know that I genuinely have their best interests at heart."
Ms. Maule's classroom is creative and interactive. She incorporates the arts into almost every lesson, including the creation of a Renaissance Festival, a Shakespearian puppet show and dramatic interpretations of poetry. She believes that high school lessons should be fun and exciting. Her students agree.
One of her former students wrote of Ms. Maule: "I will never forget, as long as I live, her inspiration and the enthusiasm I always see in her everytime I open her door."
GIFTS AND SPONSORS
The Georgia Teacher of the Year banquet, and other recognition events run by the Georgia Department of Education, rely almost completely on donations from sponsors. Superintendent Cox and the GaDOE's Recognitions Program wish to thank the sponsors who made this year's event possible:
- Platinum Sponsors: Washington Mutual, AirTran Airways, Intel, Lenovo, SMARTer Kids Foundation
- Gold Sponsors: Blue Bell Creameries, L.P., Georgia Power Co., The Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), The Coca Cola Co.
- Silver Sponsor: Georgia Association of Educators (GAE)
- Bronze Sponsors: Keith Plaques, Shaw Industries, The School Box
- Copper Sponsors: Chick-fil-A, Nystrom, Publix Super Markets, Inc., Rick Shrewsbury, The Kroger Company
Friday, May 9, 2008
Don’t Let Summertime Stop Learning
(ARA) – Perhaps it’s an idea carried from elementary school that leads us to believe that summer is a time when school and learning should be put on the back burner. The excitement of being outside, of course, can squash the desire to pursue educational activities, but do we have to choose physical exercise over exercising our brains?
Summer education offers the opportunity to keep the brain as active as the rest of our body, but it doesn’t have to mean sitting inside watching the world go by. There are many options available to students of all ages that allow for the combination of fun and learning.
“Summer learning should be fun. It’s a great time to check out the neighborhood library and help your child make a Read and Watch program,” says Ronald Kar, Ph.D., program chair of Instructional Leadership for Argosy University, Sarasota Campus.
Neighborhood libraries are filled with books children love and movies based on those books. Children can go to the library, check out the book and then, when they have read the book, watch the movie version. Librarians are parents’ best friends and will help children and parents identify age appropriate books and movies. Parents can then talk to the child about the surprises and differences from book to movie and spend quality time reading, watching and talking with their child.
“It’s important to understand the relationship between reading and talking. And the best way to get children talking is to begin a conversation with ‘Tell me about...’” says Kar.
Dr. Kar emphasizes the importance of physical activity during the day, with long breaks for reading. He encourages children and parents to watch the book-based movie together in the evening.
He also recommends visiting museums and talking with children about the exhibits. “It is important for parents to encourage their children to talk about what they see and experience. One of my favorite suggestions to parents is turn off the car radio and engage their children in conversation about the world around them.”
For older students or professionals seeking to expand their knowledge, online and blended learning offers students the option of spending less time in the classroom while still gaining a quality education.
“Those taking courses online have the option of completing coursework anywhere, any time -- even while sitting on the beach in the summer sun,” says Marcy Trew, Department of Education chair at Brown Mackie College -- Akron.
During the summer, many schools offer traditional courses in more condensed versions, giving students the opportunity to complete a full course in half the time.
No matter what your age, learning can, and should, be fun any time of the year. Many opportunities for learning that summer provides -- both formal and informal -- could be missed if people save education for the fall.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Clayton State Commencement Ceremonies Saturday at 9 a.m. and Noon
Clayton State University’s will hold its 38th Annual Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 10, 2008.
As has been the case for the past several years, Clayton State will hold two ceremonies. The first, starting at 9 a.m., will be for graduates of the College of Arts & Sciences. A total of 195 graduates are expected to participate. The second ceremony, scheduled for a noon start, will be for the graduates of the School of Business, the College of Information and Mathematical Sciences, the College of Professional Studies, and the School of Nursing. A total of 207 graduates are expected to participate in the second ceremony. Both ceremonies will be held in the University’s Athletics and Fitness Center.
The Honorable Michael Baird will serve as the commencement speaker. Baird was a member of the first baccalaureate class of Clayton State University, earning a B.B.A. in Management (1989). He is also a 1992 graduate of the Georgia State University College of Law where he earned a Juris Doctorate. A native of Clayton County, Baird worked his way through college as a police officer with the Lake City Police Department.
He served as a prosecutor in Clayton County after graduating from law school. In 1996, he was elected to serve as the chief judge of the Magistrate Court of Clayton County and served in that capacity until January of 2005 when he was appointed a senior judge. Baird served as the chairman of the Georgia Magistrate Court Training Council and on the Board of Trustees of the Institute for Continuing Judicial Education at the University of Georgia. In addition to his duties in the court room, Baird taught in the School of Business at Clayton State for 13 years.
The University’s senior faculty member, and a 37-year veteran of Clayton State, Professor of English Dr. Thomas V. Barnett, will once again serve as the faculty marshal for both ceremonies.
A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
John Shiffert
Director of University Relations
Clayton State University
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
State School Superintendent Kathy Cox: Teacher Appreciation Week.... More Teachers Needed!
Over the last five years, I have visited more than 500 schools, including at least one in every Georgia school district. I’ve discovered that each of our schools is unique and has its own character and its own challenges.
But there is one thing that every great school in Georgia has in common: Great teachers!
May 4-10 is Teacher Appreciation Week, a time that we set aside each year to say an extra special “thank you” to our educators and reflect on the power they have in our lives.
Ask any successful person you know and they can name at least one teacher who had a huge impact on them and influenced the direction their life took. Whether it is a corporate CEO, a political figure or a community leader, there’s a good chance they will name a teacher as one of their personal role models.
This week is also a time for us to reflect on the future of teaching.
The truth is that Georgia – like much of the nation – has a serious teacher shortage, especially in some of our most critical areas, like science, mathematics and special education. A few statistics to consider:
- About one-third of our new teachers leave the profession in the first five years.
- About one quarter of Georgia’s teaching workforce has more than 20 years experience meaning they are rapidly approaching retirement.
- While demand for mathematics and science teachers continues to rise, not enough of Georgia’s college students are going into these fields of education. For instance, by 2012, we will need well over 1,000 new science teachers. Yet, in 2007, only 96 graduated from the University System of Georgia.
The good news is that the groups who prepare, certify, train and employ teachers are all sitting at the table together to solve this problem. We are talking about beefing up our teacher preparation programs and looking at alternative ways to bring teachers into the classroom. We are collaborating to give our teachers the best professional development possible. And we are working on new evaluations that will give teachers the feedback they need to become even better.
We are also exploring new, innovative ideas for recruiting and retaining high quality teachers. For instance, we are developing new induction programs that would give teachers on‐going support and training during those all‐important first years of teachers. But we need your help.
If you are a student or someone who is contemplating a career change, consider becoming a teacher in Georgia. It is one of the most rewarding, fulfilling professions in the world. If becoming a teacher isn’t for you, consider volunteering at your neighborhood school or offering your assistance to a teacher you know.
And this week, take a moment to thank a teacher. Send your child’s teacher a card or an e‐mail to express your appreciation; or find the address of a teacher that had a big impact on your life and just send them a quick note of thanks.
A small gift or token of appreciation is nice, too. But for a teacher, there is no greater reward than hearing from a student or a parent that you made a difference in someone’s life.
To all of Georgia’s teachers, thank you for everything you are doing for our students. We appreciate you!
Kathy Cox, a parent and a veteran classroom teacher, is Georgia’s Superintendent of Schools.
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