Outstanding Educator Award--Apply today!

California Teacher Corps Annual
Michael McKibbin Outstanding Educator Award
Your Opportunity to Honor an Excellent Teacher!

The California Teacher Corps is proud to announce the second annual Michael McKibbin Outstanding Educator Award. This award is designed to honor an outstanding educator in California who has completed or is currently enrolled in an Alternative Certification credentialing route.

Michael McKibbin, a retired administrator from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, has been instrumental in establishing and supporting alternative route programs in California. He has been a strong advocate for the selection of the right teacher for students in California and the California Teacher Corps Michael McKibbin Award recognizes and honors his lifetime work.


Application Process

Intern Program Directors throughout California utilize the California Teacher Corps Storytelling Guide (attached) to submit nominations.

Completed applications should be submitted electronically to the California Teacher Corps board@cateachercorps.org or in person at the statewide CCTC regional meetings no later than November 29, 2011.

Successful candidates will have attributes that align with the California Teacher Corps Vision, Mission, and Goals including but not limited to the following:
Exemplary educator who has made a positive, powerful impact on his/her classroom or school, including leadership roles

Second-career professional whose previous career will resonate with the general public

Highly-qualified and expert in his/her subject matter

Working in a high-need school, location, subject area or underserved communities.

The award winner is expected to attend the California Teacher Corps annual conference (February 9-10, 2012) in Napa Valley. It is expected that the Intern Program pay for conference and travel costs for the Intern. The nominating Director should submit a brief cover letter stating that, using program or regional funds, he/she is willing to pay for the Intern's travel and conference expenses.

To learn more about last year's winner, Baljeet Gill, go to our website. For additional information, contact the California Teacher Corps board at board@cateachercorps.org


Nominations Must be Received by November 29, 2011

National Board Certification--Take One!

Learn about the Take One National Board Certification Program
When: Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Where: Oakland Education Association, 272 East 12th Street, Oakland CA 94606
Time: 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
There will be subsidies provided if the teacher works in a school that is "high-need." A California indicator would be an API statewide rank of 5 or less, but NBPTS also uses the federal guidelines of 51%+ of students on free or reduced lunch or Title I status
Please register with Lisa.Spielman@ousd.k12.ca.us
Background:
The Targeted High Need Initiative (THNI) is a program designed to promote the growth in the number of National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) teaching in schools with the greatest need. The Initiative is in its sixth year. In 2006, The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) created THNI Take One! sites to permit teachers who are not yet ready to complete the full certification process to benefit from some of the key professional development aspects of the full certification process.

Take One! is a product in which an educator completes one of the four portfolio entries included in the full certification assessment. Scores can be banked and applied later to eligible teachers who pursue National Board Certification. This program supports learning communities in schools, provides exposure to the National Board Certification process in a way that is less intense and more manageable.

Approximately 40 percent of teachers completing THNI Take One! continue to pursue National Board Certification. Even those who do not continue gain valuable professional development and insight into the reflective teaching focus of National Board Certification.

The teachers who participate in the Take One! process will be encouraged to complete National Board Certification as soon as they are eligible.

Teacher must be "high-need." A California indicator would be an API statewide rank of 5 or less, but NBPTS also uses the federal guidelines of 51%+ of students on free or reduced lunch or Title I status.

The THNI Participants can be accepted through the end of a calendar year which is the end of the NBPTS registration cycle. The Take One! portfolio entry for 2011 participants must be submitted to NBPTS by April 15, 2012.

SMSHBX Gallery Open House for Educators

You're invited to the Educators' Open House at SMSHBX Gallery

FREE! Educators' Open House

Please join us for a special educators' viewing, director's introduction and walk through of the exhibit. Learn how SMSHBX Gallery can be a resource for the educational community, connect with other educators and share your ideas. Light refreshments will be served. Space is limited.

Day: Friday October 14, 2011
Time: 5:30 -7:30 pm
Location: 1804 Telegraph Avenue
RSVP for the SMSHBX Educators' Open House Here.

Current Exhibit: Works from the 5th Annual Estria Invitational Graffiti Battle + International Water Writes Mural Project

For more info contact Anyka Barber, Gallery Director at 510.473.6303 or smshbx@gmail.com

New Teacher in Oakland Virginia Velasquez-Cruz on TV!

Congratulations to new teacher, Virginia Velasquez-Cruz from Reach Academy in Oakland. She is a local teacher recruited through the Teach Tomorrow in Oakland program. Please click the link to see the story! http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/east_bay&id=8334395

We just never know where our students will end up . . .

I loved this video of author and presenter, Michael Grinder. We always have that ONE kid and Michael was that kid but look at him now. =)

Teacher Organization--Using FlyLady techniques

I'm a fan of Flylady.com for keeping my house from turning into a giant disaster of toys and papers and chaos . . . I saw this post this morning and wanted to share with others who may find it useful . . . especially if you're feeling overwhelmed right now.

Teachers who are FLYing!
flylady, 9/16/2011 2:36 am

Dear FlyLady, I sent you a testimonial recently about adapting the Office in a Bag for teachers. I've been FLYing at home for years, but still struggle sometimes at work, because I feel so "busy." I have learned how to work around this "feeling-busy" problem. I thought I'd share some more tips that I have adapted for teachers (and didn't even realize until I wrote that other testimonial) but that may apply to other Payroll SHEs: Another use for the FlyLady cling: I glued a magnet to it and stuck it on my filing cabinet at school. I use the calendar and kid stickers at school. I use the Office in a Bag for my school papers. I use the lanyard for my school keys. The timer is used in so many ways I can't even begin. I mainly use it for children with attention issues. It helps keep them focused on a task, and they try to beat the timer. It also helps me clean off my desk at the end of the day when I want to go see my babies. I'm anxious to go and am tempted to leave the mess for tomorrow, but then I see my cling magnet and remember to just give it 15 minutes. I always finish in less time. My clean desk is my shiny sink. I also happen to have an actual sink in my classroom, and I've taught the kids how to keep it clean and water-spot free. We do 5-minute rescues of desks every day and thoroughly clean desks every Friday, which takes less than 5 minutes! I adapted my morning and evening routines to fit school. CHECK YOUR MORNING SCHOOL FLY LIST 1. Do you have your exercise clothes, water bottle, lunch, and snack? 2. Have you checked your Hot Spots and put out any fires? 3. Fill your coffee mug. 4. Unpack your school bag. 5. Did you have any breakfast? 6. Fulfill your to-do list before the bell rings. 7. Have you taken a break this morning? Have you had any water? CHECK YOUR AFTERNOON SCHOOL FLY LIST 1. Did you have any lunch/water? 2. Are you prepared to exercised today? 3. Go do a 5 Minute Desk/Closet Rescue! 4. Have you taken a break this afternoon to just sit and be good to yourself? 5. Are you caught up on grading/filing? 6. Make copies/lessons for tomorrow, including necessary supplies. CHECK YOUR EVENING SCHOOL FLY LIST Check your "Before You Leave" List 1. Lay out your lessons for tomorrow. Are the copies made? 2. Is your DESK CLEAN? 3. Go Put out Your Hot Spots! 4. Leave at a decent hour! (5:30 for me) 5. EXERCISE! START YOUR BEFORE BED ROUTINE AFTER DINNER We need our beauty sleep as well as rest for our bodies and minds. 1. Pack exercise clothes and water bottle. 2. Lay out your clothes for tomorrow. 3. Pack your school bag. 4. Make your lunch and snack. 5. Make a to-do list. 6. Go to bed by 10:00. I also use FlyLady zones in my room: there's art, writing, library, their desks (including other centers), and my desk (including cubbies, since I use them, and shelves). Every week I declutter and detail clean each zone (but the kids bear the brunt of the responsibility here - never do for a child what he can do himself!). However, my desk still has to be clean each day before leaving. Five minutes at the beginning of the day our "community helpers" help me keep our classroom tidy and running efficiently. I use the Librarian, Custodian, Botanist, Secretary, Reporter, and Meteorologist. My plants never die, library books are never overdue, attendance gets taken, the room is always clean, and the Reporter and Meteorologist help me remember to do calendar and weather, and they lead it instead of me (I'm still a SHE and forget things). I carry very little of the mundane load in the mornings. I can start teaching at 9:00 sharp instead of 9:30 - WITH a CLEAN room. *Librarian (returns all library books in book crate, passes out overdue notices, straightens books, arranges pillows in the Reading Corner) *Custodian (erases boards and claps the erasers outside, keeps floor clean, carries heavy stuff like lunches and recess equipment, washes tables, makes sure desks are organized) *Secretary (Files worksheets to go home into each student's file, stuffs Friday packets, takes attendance, answers the phone and intercom, runs errands, replaces lunch tickets.) *Botanist (waters, fertilizes, and prunes plants) *Meteorologist (keeps track of weather charts on bulletin board, calls Time and Temp, leads class in morning weather routine) *Reporter (keeps track of and performs calendar duties, leads class in pattern predicting, reports class news) I hope these tips help other teachers, and that some tips help other Payroll SHEs. The best way to learn is to teach, and writing this testimonial reminds me of things I do well. I will focus on them in the fall and teach them to my student teacher to remind me to use the tools that that I know work. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! Teaching myself while teaching kids to FLY ******************************* FlyLady here; We have a Teacher Control Journal on our website. Check out our FlyShop for our FlyLady Teacher Tools. http://www.flylady.net/pages/FlyShop.asp http://www.flylady.net/pages/teacher_cj.asp Oh and don't forget your water bottle. Our teachers love their water bottle to keep them hydrated. http://www.flylady.net/pages/FlyShop_swb.asp -------- You are not behind! I don't want you to try to catch up; I just want you to jump in where we are. O.K.? Let's Go for Seven in 2011! Get your FREE Cozi Calendar http://www.flylady.net/pages/cozi.asp Copyright 2001-2011 FlyLady and Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved, No reprint to other email lists or websites without FlyLady's permission. You have permission to forward to a friend. Join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TheFlyLady

The Film You WANT To See . . .

UC Berkeley’s Graduate Schools of Education, Journalism, Public Health, and Social Welfare are co-sponsoring an important panel and film screening. The public forum is entitled Interrupting Lives: Curbing Violence in Our Communities. Is There Hope? It features Alex Kotlowitz, producer of the film The Interrupters; Jabari Mahiri from UCB Graduate School of Education; Emily Ozer from UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health; Ron Smith, principal of our OUSD's own West Oakland Middle School; and Susan Stone from UC Berkeley’s School of Social Welfare, along with some community youth speakers (TBD).

The film, The Interrupters, is a powerful film. Juwen Lam of RAD saw this Chicago-based film at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, and says it is highly relevant to the Oakland context and our joint efforts to curb gun violence in our city. The Chicago “violence interrupters” (their job description) use methods informed by public health and epidemiology, employing public health strategies that parallel those used to reverse any epidemic of infectious disease.

The event will be held on Tuesday, September 6, from 7-8:30 p.m., at the David Brower Center Goldman Theater at 2150 Allston Way in Berkeley (near the downtown Berkeley BART station).

Please go to the following website to read more about this event, and please pass the word to whomever you believe would be interested in attending.

http://gse.berkeley.edu/admin/events/interruptinglives.html

If you are unable to attend the public forum, you can see The Interrupters film from September 2-7. See website for details.