NEW TEACHERS WORKSHOP

Roger D. Breed, CommissionerSeptember 14, 2012

ESU #2 - Fremont

Mentor Lessons . . . •“There are no children that can’t learn,

but there are some that need a little more time and a different approach. It depends on you to find that time and approach.”

•“Every teacher can bring about high achievement if properly supported, involved and valued. Bring involvement to your job each day and never be shy about requesting support or expecting to be valued.”

“Every student can learn, just not on the same day or in the same way.” -George Evans

“If you think you can or you think you can’t, either way, you’ll be right.”

-Henry Ford

Focus on Learning

Our “hedgehog concept” in Nebraska:

We accept high levels of learning for all students as the fundamentalpurpose of our schools and therefore we are willing toexamine all practices in light of impact on learning.

•249 School Districts•Omaha – 50,372 students•Loup County – 93 students•134 school districts with less than 390 students

Trends: Fewer districts, more smaller districts

Nebraska Public Schools

School Year

TotalEnrollment

TotalMinority FRL ELL SPED

1990-91 272,990 10% NA NA 12%

2000-01 285,482 17% 30.4

%3.6%

15.3%

2010-11 298,314 29.2% 41.2

%6.6%

15.3%

Trends: More minority, greater levels of poverty, more ELL services

Nebraska Public Schools Demographics

Teaching Today•Cushy•Short hours•Summers off•Esteemed by all•Not!

•Select and Sort (1950’s)•Universal Access (CR, IDEA, ADA) (60’s-70’s)

•Universal High Achievement (NCLB) (2002)

•All High School Graduates College and Career Ready (now)

Public Education Mission Change

•Where we need to go:• Improve student achievement • Narrow achievement gaps• Increase graduation and college enrollment rates

PRESIDENT OBAMA’S GOAL America will have the highest

proportion of college graduates of any country by

2020

Federal Agenda: All students high school graduates college

and career ready.

Six ‘R’s1. Relationships2. Results3. Rigor4. Relevance5. Resiliency6. ‘Refrigerator’

Relationships1. Children2. Parents/Guardians3. Colleagues/Support Staff4. Stakeholders/Community

“They may forget what you said but they will never forget how you made them feel.” -Anon.

Results1. Useful feedback2. Remember ‘All’3. Good/Bad

Assessment/Accountability•NeSA•NePAS•To inform . . . •To improve . . .

Rigor

1. Higher levels for all2. Under-represented groups3. Avoid assumptions about limits

Relevance1. State Standards (Reading, Math,

Science, Social Science, Writing)2. 21st Century Connections3. Use technology4. Basics and Critical

Thinking/Creativity

Resiliency1. ‘Can Do’ attitude2. Persist3. Never give up4. Lifelong Learners

Refrigerator1. ‘On’ not ‘In’2. Positive messages have power3. Care is there4. Best hopes and dreams

even in the most difficult times.”

-Allen Klein

“Children remind us to treasure the smallest ofgifts,

Chinese proverb