LAE reacts to state's loss of phase one Race to the Top funding “A 'win' would have been 'loss' for students, public education”.

Today's announcement that the state of Louisiana will not receive phase one Race to the Top funding brought a sense of relief to Louisiana teachers. A "win" they feared, would in fact represent a "loss" as the state would have been moving one step closer to implementing unproven strategies that would have done more harm than good, and undermined the spirit of public education.

 
 

The following statement can be attributed to LAE President Joyce Haynes: "This is one loss that is actually a win.

 
 

"Educators know how badly our schools need these funds. But I am afraid that any good that would have come from this money would have been overshadowed by the bad.  From the use of student test scores to determine compensation, to models of assessment that were inconsistent and not fully transparent, we would have been doing just the opposite of what Race to the Top intended.

 
 

"A basic tenet of education reform is to tear down-not erect-barriers to reach those who need it most.  But that is what Race to the Top, as Louisiana envisioned it, did. What educator would want to risk their livelihood to teach students other than the most academically talented?  It goes against our calling but the reality is, teachers are mothers and fathers, homeowners and consumers who must pay for childcare, mortgage, buy gas and groceries.  At the end of the day, we have to earn a dependable salary in order to be able to take care of our obligations. 

 
 

"Louisiana's Race to the Top vision would have ultimately penalized those that teach the academically challenged.

 
 

"Do we need education reform?  Yes.  Was Louisiana's Race to the Top vision the right way to do it?  No.  Because it pitted stakeholders against each other, it was a stumbling block to collaboration-also a tenet to education reform. It failed to truly factor in two other key stakeholders in the reform equation: families and communities. 

 
 

"While the LAE didn't support the initiatives outlined in Louisiana's Race to the Top application, LAE remains committed to education reform and looks forward to working with the Louisiana Department of Education and the education community to ensure all students have access to great public schools."

Race to the Top Funding: Badly Needed, Should Be Spent Wisely. LAE urges state to adopt plans that support students and the entire education community

The announcement by the US Department of Education listing Louisiana as one of the finalist for Race to the Top (R2T) grants may bring badly needed funding to the state. However, the Louisiana Association of Educators believes this announcement may also bring the state one step closer to implementing unproven strategies that will ultimately fail children, educators, and our public schools.

 

Joyce Haynes, the President of LAE, believes the state's R2T application fails to hit the mark and will not improve student achievement and teacher quality.

 

"One area of the state's application that we believe is particularly harmful is using student test scores to determine teacher compensation," said Haynes. "There is little or no research that actually supports the value of linking the two."

 

Haynes adds this approach also provides a stumbling block to serious negotiations around an effective R2T application that can be supported by the entire education community

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"LAE believes that the success of all of our students can only be obtained when all stake holders, not just public school employees, are brought to the table and held accountable for improving student achievement and teacher quality."

 

While the LAE cannot support the initiatives included in the original R2T application, Haynes states the Association remains committed to fighting for education reforms that focus on creating and nurturing "great teachers and leaders"—a critical component to improving student achievement.

 

She adds that the LAE will continue to work with the Louisiana Department of Education and other stakeholders to insure that the revised version of the state's application will focus on proven strategies and programs that improve student achievement and teacher quality.

 

"We fight for the success of all students," said Haynes. "All students deserve great schools—with great teachers and leaders working collaboratively and focused on the needs of children. Public education will improve, and our state will progress, but only when the entire education community works together and the professionalism of all educators is affirmed."

I Can Do It!

I Can Do It!

Classroom management training for Teachers and Para Educators in St. Helena Parish

Saturday, March 13, 2010

St. Helena Central Middle School

8:00 – 1:00 pm

 

The "I Can Do It" one day workshop covers many of the necessary elements for successful classroom management as well as:

  communication and learning styles

  interventions for difficult behavior

  how to create a smoothly flowing classroom

  tools for building positive parent/teacher relationships

  linking with a partner for future support

Participants will:

Learn about the elements necessary for successful classroom management.

Discover communication styles and how they relate to student/teacher/parent communication.

 Learn about interventions for selected difficult behaviors encountered in the classroom.

 Have opportunities to find out about hints that help create the smoothly flowing classroom.

Acquire information that will help build successful parent/teacher relationships.

Have the opportunity to link with a support partner at or near one's grade and/or content level.

 
 

The trainers are experienced successful teachers in Louisiana and the participants will receive training materials and other information to continue focusing on building an effective instructional climate in their classrooms.

LAE's R2T message hits the airwaves

As the "Lone Advocate of Educators," when it comes to Race to the Top, LAE finds ourselves proud to be on the wrong side of public opinion, but the right side of educators and students.  LAE President Joyce Haynes continues the effort to raise awareness on LAE's concerns with the problematic Louisiana R2T application with her appearance on Louisiana Public Broadcasting's (LPB) "Louisiana's Public Square." 

 
 

Taped Monday, February 22 in Baton Rouge, the show will air statewide, Wednesday, February 24 at 7 p.m.  and again on Sunday, February 28th LPB.

     

President Haynes will be joined on the program by: State Superintendent Paul Pastorek,  BESE Board member and DeSoto Parish School Board Superintendent Walter Lee, and  Executive Director of the Louisiana School Boards Association Nolton Senegal.

 
 

In preparation for the taping of this program, we encourage you to participate in the online survey about "Race to the Top," found on http://beta.lpb.org.  The questions are of significant interest to you as educators.

 
 

Check your local listings for station information

2010 AR ASSEMBLY

"2010 APRIL REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY"
The Thirty-Third Annual Representative Assembly will be held on April 23 – 25, 2010, at the Capitol Hilton, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The delegate information will be mailed in mid-February, so be sure to check the mail and hold your election for delegates."

"REGIONAL LEGISLATIVE/MEMBERSHIP CONFERENCES"
LAE will be conducting seven Legislative/Member Conferences around the state in the month of March. Be sure to watch for further information in the next few weeks and make plans to attend the regional conference in your area. The agenda is “jam” packed with useful information on legislative and membership for your organization."

"SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS GRAPHIC NOVEL"
Stone Arch Books is sponsoring a nationwide contest which invites students in grades 3-6 to create their own sports super star. Kids can enter for a chance to have their fictional character featured in an upcoming Sports Illustrated KIDS Graphic Novel. The first place winning student, along with his/her school, will be included in a page at the back of the book. Online voters will choose their favorite sports character from the top five entries posted on the contest website www.CapstoneKids.com.
“We’re inviting kids to use their imagination and create a strong character critical to any story’s success. We’re looking forward to finding some really creative characters,” said Lori Benton, General Manager/Publisher of Capstone Fiction. “Kids have a chance here to vote on who they really want to read about. Their votes will ultimately decide the next character in our series.” The top 50 entrants will receive two free Sports Illustrated KIDS Graphic Novels, one for the student and one for the school library. Contest runs through March 1, 2010."