Joe Williams' Blog
August 5, 2008
DFER Fellow Claire Lowenstein on Bob Wise Event
At a DFER event earlier this week, Bob Wise, former Governor of West Virginia,
former Congressman, and current president of the Alliance for Excellent Education, spoke about his new book: Raising the Grade: How High School Reform Can Save Our Youth and Our Nation. Meeting him was a wonderful experience since teachers rarely have the opportunity to discuss education with policy makers. He is so friendly and open to discuss his views on education. The part that impressed me the most from our brief discussion was how he wished that he had spent more time concentrating on education policy when he was Governor and in Congress. His passion about the work with the Alliance for Excellent Education is apparent when he is speaking about the dilemma America has within our middle and high schools. Also, how his mission is to build public will and that will improve our graduation rates.
Continue reading "DFER Fellow Claire Lowenstein on Bob Wise Event"....
Posted by Joe Williams on August 5, 2008 12:25 PM
July 30, 2008
Rhode Island: Help for McKee
My friend Angus Davis, up in Providence, is holding a fundraiser for Cumberland (Rhode Island) Mayor Daniel McKee tomorrow night, from 6 to 8 p.m. at 10 Brown Street, Providence.
You may recall that McKee played a leading role in pushing the recent Mayoral Academies legislation that passed in Rhode Island.
Suggested contributions are $500/sponsor and $250 suporter and can be sent to:
Friends of Dan McKee, P.O. Box 7663, Cumberland, RI 02864.
Posted by Joe Williams on July 30, 2008 7:48 AM
July 25, 2008
DFER Fellow Claire Lowenstein on Teachers and Obama II
By Claire Lowenstein
Below represents the achievement of 2 meetings, 7 hours of insightful and cooperative conversation, numerous emails, ambitious editing, new friendships with people who care about education, and the beginning of a group that will continue past the DNC platform input to effect the NYCDOE educational system. We finished feeling Obama's community organization roots in action and are optimistic for a better future.
Our Final Platform Ideas on Education for the DNC as prepared at today's meeting by four educators in the NYC public schools:
Continue reading "DFER Fellow Claire Lowenstein on Teachers and Obama II"....
Posted by Joe Williams on July 25, 2008 10:20 AM
NY Assemblyman Michael Benjamin Joins The Heroes Page
The Bronx legislator is the latest to join the growing ranks.
Help us continue to support good, reform-minded politicians by making a contribution today.
Posted by Joe Williams on July 25, 2008 10:15 AM
July 23, 2008
Shadow Group Attacks Jared Polis For Supporting School Choice
It's starting to get nasty in Colorado's second congressional district race. Television ads began airing this week by a group called Colorado Counts, which is run by Steve Adams, former president of the Colorado AFL-CIO, according to the Rocky Mountain News.
The ads slam Polis for his support of public charter schools (he founded several) and for his previous support of a voucher bill in Colorado when he was on the state Board of Education.
"Call Jared Polis . . . tell him to fix his education ideas," a narrator says in the ad.
My sense is that Polis is pretty busy as he prepares for the winner-take-all Aug. 12th primary, so instead of calling him, why don't you consider making a contribution via his campaign web page so he can respond to the attack.
Posted by Joe Williams on July 23, 2008 10:48 AM
July 22, 2008
DFER Fellow Claire Lowenstein on Teacher Mentors
By Claire Lowenstein
Barack Obama gave a speech last year in Philadelphia on his vision of education in this country. He explained how important mentor teachers are in retaining strong and dedicated teachers in schools: "We know that when you pair experienced mentor teachers with new teachers, those new teachers are much more likely to stay in the profession. So let's make sure we start developing more mentor teachers so we can start recruiting and keeping the new generation of teachers we need." This pairing is vital because then teachers will feel appreciated and supported, and are also held accountable for student performance, growth and production as educators.
Last month, there was an article in Education Week written about how a new mentoring program was found helpful for novice teachers in New York City. Research at the New Teacher Center at the University of California showed how beneficial it was for new teachers to meet with veteran teachers on a consistent schedule.
Continue reading "DFER Fellow Claire Lowenstein on Teacher Mentors"....
Posted by Joe Williams on July 22, 2008 11:59 PM
July 21, 2008
DC Digs Fenty/Rhee Reforms
Education Reform Now has a new poll out that finds voters in the District of Columbia are thrilled that somebody is finally doing something about the shame of the nation, otherwise known as DCPS. (Disclosure: I am the executive director of ERN.)
Seems Obama is onto something with the whole change/Yes We Can thing.
A lot of action along the Potomac, where some union leaders now are protesting plans to allow Chancellor Michelle Rhee to speak and answer questions about a proposed new teacher contract at rank-and-file discussion sessions. (The accusation is that Rhee and union president George Parker are trying to bypass the union's elected leadership and appeal more directly to actual teachers.)
The ERN poll shows that a convincing two-thirds of district residents indicated they approved of Mayor Fenty’s work to improve public education since officially taking responsibility for the district’s 65,000-student public school system in June 2007.
Continue reading "DC Digs Fenty/Rhee Reforms"....
Posted by Joe Williams on July 21, 2008 11:43 PM
