Washington DC, Day 4

I was really excited for today. We started off with a meeting at the hotel for the official introduction of the new Teacher Leader Model Standards. Teacher leadership is a new concept for education, one that is considered a quality of 21st Century schools. With all the new programs and school improvement processes that go on in schools, schools need teachers to become leaders for those processes. The standards spell out what exactly teacher leaders do and set the foundation for professional development and evaluation criteria.

After this meeting, we headed over to the National Department of Education. I had been looking forward to this roundtable discussion for months. We all separated into topic groups where we had an hour to discuss our topic, after which we presented our ideas and questions to a panel of department members in a townhall meeting format. I appreciated that the department took this time with us, though I am skeptical as to how seriously they took our comments.

My table discussed school leadership. My colleague from Oregon asked this question: If there has been a strong movement to standardize teacher evaluations, why has there not been an parallel movement to do the same for administrators? Her question was not answered by the panel, although after the meeting, a department member pulled her aside to tell her that A) That is happening and B) It hasn’t been a priority because the public attention is on teacher performance, not administrator performance.

I also presented out for our group on our suggestion that administrative prep programs need to be more practicum-oriented. You cannot learn to teach via a textbook; similarly, administrators cannot learn to lead via a textbook. Specifically, we feel that the less tangible elements of administration – things like conflict resolution, dealing with the media, and evaluation of instruction – should be practiced by administrative candidates in their prep programs. Often administrative candidates find themselves doing nothing but student discipline in their internships, which does not provide them with the real-world principal responsibilities they will encounter later in their careers. That experience is important not only for learning but for discovering whether or not principal work is a good match for an administrative candidate.

Jay from Washington, me, Kathy from Arkansas, and Elizabeth from Oklahoma at the DOE.

After the DOE meeting, we went to the office of … where we had a less intensive meeting. Their office is on the top floor of a building directly across from the capital, and our reception took place on their balcony. It provided a lovely moment of reprieve from the hectic schedule and meetings. After some refreshments and mingling, we listened to some speeches, and discussed some issues of concern. One particular issue raised, which is of concern to me, is that of online education and what it means for learning and public schools.

The view from our last meeting of the week.

While I was running around DC discussing educational issues, my mom was visiting with my cousin who drove in from Virginia for the day. Unfortunately, I missed her by five minutes, so I didn’t get to see her at all. I haven’t seen her for over ten years, so I had been looking forward to the visit. I guess I will have to try to make it work another time.

That evening, Target sponsored a bus tour of the monuments, which was a fun and relaxing way to end our week. I am immensely grateful to the Nevada Department of Education, the CCSSO, and everyone who made this trip possible. I feel lucky to have had my mom along with me to make the trip more enjoyable. Mostly, I am grateful to my colleagues, whom I wish could have attended with me and who deserve this trip as much as anyone does.

The 2011 STOYs.

The Washington Monument at sunset.

Washington DC, Day 3

On Wednesday, we headed out to a SMART Board office where we received training for the SMART Boards the company has donated to every 2011 State Teacher of the Year. Unfortunately, they didn’t have a lab for us to work in, and the facilities were small for such a large group. I did get some great ideas on staff development and was refamiliarized with the software for the handheld student receivers, which I needed. We had time to share ideas at the end of the day, and Matinga, the 2011 Michigan State Teacher of the Year had some great ideas and web pages.
After the training, we were bussed back to the hotel where we had an hour to get ready for our black-tie dinner. My mom looked stunning in her black dress, so nice that I felt like wallpaper next to her. We arrived and enjoyed wine and hordourves. When it was time for dinner, we were shepherded to the ballroom where we enjoyed a delicious three-course meal. The first course was a crab timbale with a bisque sauce. The second course consisted of two types of bison, risotto, and fresh vegetables, and the dessert was a chocolate flourless cake with strawberry sorbet.

In the meantime, we heard speeches from various people. My favorite speech was given by Michelle Shearer, 2011 National Teacher of the Year, whose speech inspired me as both a teacher and parent. I also really enjoyed the speech by Lily Eskelsen, Vice Preseident of the NEA, who gave a speech that was both funny and moving.

Day 2: Washington DC

I cannot even begin to tell you how wonderful today was. We started out at the White House. We stood in line for quite some time, waiting for our photos with the president. All of the sudden, the door to the Oval Office opens, and President Obama throws his arms in the air and says, "Well, hello there!" At that point we were ushered in one at a time for our photos. The president graciously engaged in small talk with each of us about where and what we teach.

We then stood behind the president as he introduced the National Teacher of the Year (NTOY), Michelle Shearer. We are all incredibly proud of Michelle and honored to be among her NSTOY class. Michelle is not only an incredible teacher, but an incredible woman, as was made clear by her first speech as NTOY. (How would you like to give a speech immediately after President Obama, arguably one of the best orators of our generation?)

After the ceremony, my mom and I grabbed lunch and then headed to the Capitol building, where we received a tour from a Reid aide. He accompanied us to Senator Heller's office, where we briefly met with the (almost) Senator and where a previous student is aiding.

After this brief meeting, we jetted back to Senator Reid's office while I was interviewed by a reporter from the Las Vegas Sun, where I sat and talked to his education aide and another former student. Senator Reid was running late, but I loved talking to Maria and catching up with her. I didn't think to talk education with the aide until just minutes before Senator Reid arrived. We sat and talked very briefly, had some pictures taken, and had a short, impromptu press conference.

Senator Reid received a note that Senator Inouye from Hawaii had arrived for a meeting, so Senator
Reid ushered my mom and I into his office to introduce me to Senator Inouye, who I believe is the oldest member of Congress.

At that point, we caught a cab back to the hotel. Shortly, we will head down for our dinner. I am both thrilled and excited by my day. I thought I would be nervous, but I wasn't. I mostly couldn't contain myself. I feel so lucky to get this opportunity.

Day 1: Washington DC

My first day in DC has been great. We started off at the Smithsonian, at which point we were separated into groups that went to different museums. My group, which went to the Museum of American Art, spent most of our time at the Alexis Rockman exhibit, observing and discussing. It was wonderful seeing this amazing art and being able to just talk about it and explore how we could use his art in the classroom. If you have never seen his work, you should check it out at his official site. His work has this feel of botanical and scientific drawings, but they carry a social message regarding our consumption patterns and our destruction of our own ecosystem.

My favorite called Golf Course is not available on his site, but I also really liked the one with the cows here. It addresses our need to bioengineer our food and the consequences of that should it go unchecked.

After the Smithsonian, we headed off to the Biden residence, where we attended a reception hosted by Jill Biden, who was incredibly warm and friendly and welcoming. She took care to meet each of us personally; then she addressed the whole group, during which time she focused on the role teachers play in students' lives and particularly addressed the needs of military children.

We headed back to the hotel. Since we had a free evening, I was glad to spend that time with my mom. We walked around, bought some books for my kids, and ate a meat and cheese tray for dinner at an Italian restaurant.

Tomorrow we head to the White House for the National Teacher of the Year introduction. After that, my mom and I get a tour of the Capital by some Reid staff and then have a meeting with Reid himself.

Iwill try to update tomorrow.