Calling All Teachers: Help Inform Education Prep Policy
by Robyn Howton, Rodel Teacher Council
The teaching profession demands much of the people who enter it. High-quality teacher prep is essential to ensuring that new teachers are ready to help students achieve their full potential from the first day they enter the classroom, and to retain young, talented educators in the teaching profession. As a teacher, I know the key to providing all Delaware students with a world-class education begins with assuring we have a well-trained, prepared teachers to lead the way.
This year, as a National Hope Street Group Teacher Fellow, I have the opportunity to provide input on improving teacher prep programs, and engage Delaware teachers in providing voice to education policy conversations. Seventeen National Teacher Fellows across the country are conducting focus groups in their home states to gather teacher input in the area of teacher preparation programs. My goal is to hold at least eight in-person and virtual focus groups reaching teachers in all three counties of Delaware, by October 30th. I am especially interested in speaking with teachers in hard-to-staff schools or subject areas (such as English language learners).
I have a one month window to conduct these focus groups and engage as many Delaware teachers in this conversation as I can, so I need to act quickly. I would appreciate any help you could lend to host a focus group, join the conversation online, or share this opportunity with others in your network.
- Host a focus groups. Contact me (robyn.howton@bsd.k12.de.us) for more information on how you could host a 40-60 minute focus group at a school, other meeting location, or online through Google Hangout.
- Join the conversation online through Schoology, Facebook, or Voxer. Join the Schoology Virtual Focus Group, using the code is N4DMX-MPN3X. For those interested in participating through Facebook or Voxer email me your user name so that she can add you to the group.
- Share this opportunity with others in your networks and encourage them to host a focus group or join the conversation online.
I am ready to hear what Delaware teachers believe is essential to teacher preparation! Please email me (robyn.howton@bsd.k12.de.us) if you would like to host a focus group, join the conversation online, or can connect me with someone who might be willing to host.