Pathways to Teacher Credentialing

Article: Panel Finds No Favorite in Teacher Prep Pathways
Source: Education Week

Here's the skinny-- After six years, a 24-member national committee found no conclusive evidence to assert superiority between traditional and alternative (e.g., Teach for America) credentialing programs for teachers.

The panel suggested that it is more illuminating "to compare particular aspects of such programs, such as the timing of students’ field experiences, the level of teachers’ content knowledge, or program selectivity, and how they affect K-12 students’ learning." Given these results and the well-know rates of teacher attrition (Ingersoll, 2001), real reform is needed. Further, teaching is a profession that needs professionalizing. It seems that neither traditional nor alternative programs are attracting the best or providing optimal preparation. Thus, rather than compare current options, it might be time to redesign.

I'm still cutting my teeth on how to address this problem, but it is addling.

What is Adventure?

In light of my last post, here's an interesting Ted Talk...

Update number 2: CATOGA

In the attempt to update my readership, I have a some bad news and I have some good news.

As many of you knew, me and partner in crime, JR, had plans to ride across the United States on our bikes this summer. Newt had courageously volunteered to support us. In addition, we wanted to use the opportunity to fundraise for a local non-profit. Unfortunately, our summer is not a vacuum in which life does not continue to happen.

Since our initial commitment, I decided to teach a Sociology course to high-schoolers. JR got engaged (i.e., committed to planning a wedding) and earned a prestigious opportunity to build an internet-based classroom in Ethopia. Further, we ran into communication hurdles with two potential non-profits (Apparently, it is difficult to give people money). Given these complications, the epic bike ride seemed out of reach, and we decided to postpone this endeavor indefinitely.

At first, I was sad, angry, and a little embarrassed. In my mind, this was a true test of my ability, and I was ready to see what I was made of. I was ready to ride away from academia for a while and experience the quiet of Nowhere, USA. Riding across the country with Newt and JR would be unique experience in relationship building. So, needless to say, when we canceled the trip, I had to reconcile the deflation of these expectations.

After spending too long on a closed door, I've grouped and taken advantage of a few reopened doors! I'm going to spend a weekend in LA with Tracy's family. I'm planning to do a few trail races. My dad, my sister, and I are meeting in Colorado to bag some 14ers (ala 2006). In Colorado, I'll see my good friend, Adam, who is always on the precipice of something adventurous. Finally, I'm going to spend some time in Georgia. During these weeks, I will still have the opportunity to be epic, be reflective, and build some relationships!

I cannot iterate enough how valuable this experience has been. My process has been solid. I'm glad I was ambitious, and it was a valuable experience to handle the scaling-down of and eventual shift away from an epic adventure. JR and I struggled a lot in our handling of it all, and I think we both learned a lot. Most importantly, we became stronger as friends. Looking ahead, I am very much looking forward to the new adventure plan. Finally, I am ever-grateful for family and friends that are willing to jump on the trail at the drop of a hat!

Create your own momentum.

Update: DCPS Competition

I've been absent from blogging for too long. I apologize. As a result, I want to update y'all one of my latest adventures.

First, four other graduate students and I recently competed in a case competition in Washington DC. The case was one of engendering public support for the highly publicized (lauded and criticized) DCPS administration of Michelle Rhee. My team (three public policy students, JR, and I) struggled mightily to be innovative, succinct, and powerful with our presentation. The route to our final product was circuitous, arduous, and stressful. Nevertheless, through our deliberation, collaboration, and isolated reflection, we pushed, pulled, compromised, and reached a strong final product.

Our platform revolved around localizing the DCPS agenda. Specifically we proposed innovation grants to provide local stakeholders to apply for money that they could spend in their community; funded showcases to celebrate local ward achievements and continuing progress; and ward organizers to bridge the district leaders with the teachers, parents, and students at the individual school level.

Left to right: Marialena, JR, Michelle Rhee (Chancellor), Danielle, Paul, and me

Without knowing how this platform would be received, we made a pact to be the most jubilant, passionate, and relaxed team. And from the moment we reached DC, we carried out this goal! We laughed, we conversed, and we really enjoyed ourselves. I loved struggling, laughing, and constructing with my teammates, who were becoming fast friends.

In the end, our message and approach paid off. We won 2nd place, which included $3,000 and summer internship offers. Looking back, for me, it was amazing professional development, priceless exposure to the movers and shakers in the ed policy world, and an opportunity to try on my policy legs.