Mrs. Schmidt Goes to Washington - Day Three

Our day began with watching the CBS news report unveiling Sean McComb as the 2014 National Teacher of the Year.  Sean is a high school English teacher in Maryland.  He represents the class of 2014 TOYS very well.  He is an articulate young man with a passion for teaching and pushing students to perform to the best of their ability.

We listened to a report from NNTOY on the research report:  From Good to Great - Exemplary Teachers Share Perspectives on Increasing Teacher Effectiveness Across the Career Continuum.  In it they identified at the following levels what was most beneficial in influencing the quality of teaching:

PRE SERVICE

• High quality clinical experience
• Content course work

NOVICE

• Mentoring
• Strong administrator
• Teaching assignment aligned to their training

VETERAN/EXPERT

• Collaborative school culture with opportunities for reflection 
• Professional development that is reflective, collaborative, and chosen

The speakers reminded us to say, "This is what I am" - not apologize for our profession.  How we talk about the profession is extremely important, and we must undergo a dialogue change because not anyone can do what we do!  We need to increase our voice for our profession.

After the report, we headed for the U.S. Department of Education to a discussion on developing teacher leadership.  We were divided into small groups and spent time in spirited discussion.  Research supports the importance of leadership pathways for teachers and the U.S. Department of Education is looking for ideas on how to assist school districts with redefining teacher roles.

We returned to the Fairfax for a panel discussion on Common Core.  It was excellent!  The panel members clearly addressed the importance of Core standards for all and a concern about the negativity found in the media.  Once again, teacher voice is so very important.  A promo is out highlighting the Teachers of the Year as they talk about THE CORE of what we do.  I am by a poster highlighting the Missouri TOY.

We got dressed up for the gala held at the Institute of Peace with Arne Duncan as a featured speaker.  Sean delivered an inspiring message about the importance a teacher plays in defining who students are and the influence on a student towards who they become.

Tomorrow we head to the White House to meet President Obama.  It is so rainy here it looks like it will be held inside instead of in the Rose Garden.  Either way, it will be a sunny day for a bunch of teachers from around the country!

Mrs. Schmidt Goes to Washington - Day Two

Nighttime view of the Capitol

In the subway tunnel

Traveling down under D.C. to ride the Metro, a meal at Union Station, and then a rainy walk to the Capitol at night – just something special about D.C.  It is overwhelming to think so any decisions made here that impact our lives across the nation especially when it comes to issues related to education. 

 

Today was filled with SMART Technology training.  We were engaged in a collaborative digital learning environment with lots of hands-on experience with this technology tool.  We were divided into teams and created interactive units related to the monuments.  Our group focused on the controversy surrounding the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Monument which leads us to the essential questions – What do monuments represent?  What symbolism is used?  Does the monument truly represent the ideals of the person it honors?

 We inserted visual learning through video and pictures, activities using Bloom’s taxonomy, and incorporated the Common Core to assure mastery of standards.  As we collaboratively developed our unit we experienced firsthand the power of collaboration – each of us completing part of the unit based upon our talents and interests.

The serenade to babies

The evening ended with a banquet provided by SMART Technology and a slide show of each TOY in their classroom and photos from their awards ceremony, all put to music.  A very touching presentation!  We also presented baby gifts to the three babies that were born since we last met in Arizona this past January.  Each received hand-made beaded moccasins, gift cards, and a quilt embroidered with:  My Daddy/Mommy is my Favorite TOY.  The OK Toy sang “Hush Little Baby” while the proud parents held their babies up for all to see.  Once the banquet was complete we lined up by height in preparation for our visit to the White House on Thursday.  We collected our TOY T-shirts which we will don after the White House for a flash mob dance at a local area in D.C.  

TOYS - KY, IA, WI, Virgin Islands

TOYS - RI, IA

Another very special day - each of us carrying with us the ideals of the teachers from our state.  We will strive to represent their voices!

Mrs. Schmidt Goes to Washington - Day One

On the big screen before giving a speech 

 Maquoketa's Student Rep

It is an incredible honor to represent Iowa teachers at the National State Teachers of the Year event in Washington, D.C., this week.  On Sunday, the Governor's Scholar Recognition Ceremony was held in Des Moines in HyVee Hall.  This event is co-sponsored by the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Farm Bureau.  Each school district is invited to send their top students for recognition.  Each student filed across the stage for a photo with the Honorable Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds.  Each school is then presented with a plaque containing the photo for posting in their building.  As the IA TOY, I was honored to give a presentation to the group of 2400.  What a great group of people all gathered in one area!

After the ceremony, we flew to Washington, D.C., for a week of learning with the other state Teachers of the Year and the formal announcement of the National Teacher of the Year later this week.

A group of STOYS at the National Portrait Gallery

Monday was an amazing day of learning beginning at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery where we learned to about READING PORTRAITURES.  The workshop included specific ways to engage students through examining and analyzing portraits and artwork.  When things settle down, will post more specifics on how we can access Smithsonian resources to enhance content area curriculum to engage students.  Great opportunities ahead!

Posing in the VP sun room

Our afternoon ended with a terrific message delivered by Dr. Jill Biden in the VP mansion.  A great event made even greater as Dr. Biden told of her passion for teaching as an educator in a community college.

Dr. Jill Biden gives an inspiring message to the TOY

With the South Carolina TOY, enjoying the VP napkins and embossed glasses

With the Illinois TOY as we pose by the VP staircase

Tomorrow will be training on interactive white boards.  On Thursday we meet President Obama.  Whose life is this?????

A Week of Miles and Smiles

This past week was filled with miles and smiles!  On Monday, April 14, I traveled almost three hours for an evening session at Central College in Pella, IA.  There I visited with student teachers about the question, "Why Teach?"  It was fun to see the enthusiasm and the positive response to teaching stories.

It is always a joy to share my passion for teaching.  It is also good to include tips for surviving that first year of teaching especially the importance of knowing you are not in this alone.  Finding positive and encouraging people helps us all get through those difficult roadblocks we frequently encounter in our lives.

Members of the Outstanding Iowa Educators Advisory Council

Next stop:  Des Moines, Iowa.

On Thursday, April 17, the Outstanding Iowa Educators Advisory Council met to discuss a variety of current topics - how to help our voice be heard (presenting by a PR rep from the DE, Stacy Hupp),

a review of Iowa Core (by 2010 National Teacher of the Year Sarah Brown Wessling), and ethics in teaching (presented by the BOEE rep Joanne Tubbs).  We began the planning process for a fall conference for education majors across the state.  It is our hope to plan a conference day filled with advice related to education issues as well as content specific insights.  We are seeking a theme for our conference and timely topics as we seek to prepare students for the world of teaching.



 On Friday, April 18, I spent time at Ashford University in Clinton, IA, discussing instructional practices in teaching English as well as sharing stories about being in the classroom.

 

 The weekend brought smiles as my children came home for an Easter visit.  We took time to walk in the pasture for a photo of the greening of spring - a reminder of new beginnings and fresh starts.  As a teacher, each day and each year holds promise of fresh starts and new beginnings.  That's what keeps me teaching and looking with anticipation about a new journey with students - that shared journey of discovery we call Learning.