Teach Plus

This past Teacher Appreciation Week, Teach Plus teacher leaders had the opportunity to advise Education Secretary Miguel Cardona about reimagining the teacher role, bilingual education, and the achievements of our students. Thank you, Dr. Cardona, for intentionally listening to some of the brightest teachers in this nation and for leaving a message for the students of our Teach Plus teachers. Let’s do it again soon! #teacherappreciationweek #teachers #education #EducationPolicy

(1/6) “I studied history at the University of Michigan, and I played music for fun. I thought, ‘Okay, I'll graduate, and then I'll go start a band.’ That's what I did. We were called ‘Or, The Whale.’ I ended up moving to San Francisco and played in the band while waiting tables. It’s the kind of job where you can take a month or six weeks off to tour and then come back and work it again. It was an awesome experience. By the time I got to my late twenties, I’d met my wife and gotten married. When I turned 27, I was still playing in the band, but it felt like I was transitioning into a different part of life. It got to the point where I didn’t want to tour and sleep on floors anymore. My friend from San Diego had become a teacher. He was moving up to the Bay Area to take a job; actually, at the school I’m at now. He said, ‘Let me take you to lunch and I will convince you that you should be a teacher.’ He told me how he got into teaching — his path. He was able to still work and go to school while getting his master's degree and credential. After that lunch, I decided teaching was something I should look into. The next morning, we found out that my wife was pregnant. So, I ultimately completed my student teaching with a nine month old. That was pretty intense! But I'm really glad it happened that way. It wasn’t like I’d known I was going to teach since I was a little boy. It was very much, ‘This is cool. I’m interested in these things. Teaching could be awesome. Let’s see what happens.’” –Alexander Robins History Teacher at Terra Linda High School 2022-23 Teach Plus Policy Fellow San Rafael, CA #teachersintheirpower #orthewhale #teachersoflinkedin teachersintheirpower.com

This #BackToSchool season, Teach Plus is highlighting educators' advice for students and other educators, their hopes for this year, their sources of joy, and more. “My hopes for my students are for them to end this upcoming school year with a clear plan for post graduation, including acquiring state and local services for people with intellectual disabilities. ... My hopes are to work as a team with each student and their family to ensure their post-secondary transition success!” - Philadelphia High School Life Skills teacher Kaitlin McCann #teachers #educators

“The solution to creating the next generation of strong “math people” starts early, and it involves families and schools working together to change mindsets.” In this week’s Newsblast: Teach Plus Texas Policy Fellowship alumnus and Senior Writing Fellow Lance Barasch on how we can all be math people. Read more and subscribe: https://lnkd.in/eDarTYMZ

Watch: Teach Plus Senior Writing Fellow and Indiana Policy Fellowship alumnus Ronak Shah shares how a middle school science experiment inspired one of his students to go into medicine.

This #BackToSchool season, Teach Plus is highlighting educators' advice for students and other educators, their hopes for this year, their sources of joy, and more. “I hope that my students take risks that create opportunities for growth and success.” - Teach Plus Arkansas Policy Fellow Jessica Wiley #teachers #educators

When it comes to building school cultures that are inclusive of Black educators, all staff members have a role to play. Read on to see what teachers like you can do – plus get ideas to take to your school leaders. (Via Center for Black Educator Development and Teach Plus) https://lnkd.in/gKBBcRTX

How does your school cultivate "math people"? Senior Writing Fellow and Teach Plus Texas Policy Fellowship alumnus Lance Barasch, a self-professed "math guy," wants us to change the mindsets that lead students to think they're bad at math. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eKyJ9948

“I have heard from many NM educators about the critical role of these programs in their lives. We must focus on improving them instead of repealing the rule.” In this week’s Newsblast: Teach Plus New Mexico advocates for the Teacher Leader Development Rule. Read more: https://lnkd.in/esPagZTr

The New Mexico Public Education Department officials have proposed a change that would strike teacher leadership programs from official department rule. Read Teach Plus New Mexico's policy statement: https://lnkd.in/e6ycWaXC Teach Plus New Mexico network members shared their perspectives on the power of the programs in The Santa Fe New Mexican and Albuquerque Journal: “It will remove the accountability and transparency for the Public Education Department to actually implement these programs. These programs could cease to exist under guidance.” — Executive Director Hope Morales, who also participated in the program as an educator “It totally opened up my world in terms of [being] a teaching professional beyond just my classroom.” — Policy Fellowship alumna Alisa Cooper de Uribe “I teach these kids; I work with them everyday. They’re amazing, amazing individuals. They deserve teachers that are being supported, that are being educated, that are being guided, that are being enriched.” — Policy Fellowship alumna Dawn Bilbrey “Taking the teacher leader programs out of state rule devalues teacher voice and its power in ensuring students in New Mexico have the opportunities they need to thrive. In 2018 when the rule was being created, I was one of 200 teachers who provided public comment stating, 'As a veteran teacher of 11 years, I can say I have never felt more equipped, elevated or championed.' I continue to believe this eight years later.” — New Mexico network member Silvia Miranda