Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/129419
Times have changed, and teachers need to get out in front of those changes, or risk getting run over by them. like we do students, in the hopes that the pressure of being given a poor grade will miraculously improve the school. For the most part, however, I saw the idea of using multiple measures to evaluate teachers gain a strong foothold. The president and the secretary of education care. From personal experience I can tell you: President Obama and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan are genuine, committed people. A strong American education got these men where they are, and they are not shy about telling you that. We can debate the merits of how they are going about education reform, but in a time when Congress is content to do little but watch generation after generation of teachers be children left alone, here are two men and countless others who work with them, determined to do better for all of us. I see that as a win. momentum and empowerment when you see yourself as someone always at the mercy of thoughtless, faceless others. We can absolutely continue to engage in open, honest discussions about the challenges we face, but we should do that from the driver's seat as an empowered teacher corps poised to make the great changes in education we all want and need. The time for action is now. Teaching has always been a rewarding profession. For too long, we've toiled in isolation waiting for others to train us, prepare us, protect us, develop us, evaluate us, lead us, and fight for us. For a time, I was content to let that happen. But decisions were made that I did not agree with and that directly affected my students. I'm no longer willing to sit in the backseat with others at the wheel of my destiny. I'm ready to lead and to act, to be a voice and a force for teachers. Sometimes, we are our I'm struck by the differences between the own worst enemy. life I live and play in and the one we educate A stereotype has emerged of the American kids in. The classroom, the schools, the teacher that is unflattering, and while this teaching methods in many places look like saddens me, it's something we must fight. they've looked for a hundred years. The For any number of reasons, we teachers world kids live and will work in is comare seen as accountability-fleeing, incom- pletely, utterly different. We must change if petent job-keepers with cushy pensions education is to remain relevant. that threaten the very safety of the AmeriLet's build new ways of educating kids can economy. that honor where they're are at now and This is not me, nor is it anyone I know prepare them for the lives they'll lead tomorwho teaches young people. Fight that stereo- row. It's scary, certainly, but we should never type every chance you get, with every word cease to act due to fear. We should make creyou utter. ative leaps because we have vision, passion We cannot, and should not, position and courage. ourselves as victims. It's hard to gather That's how I'd like to be remembered. We need to make sure our voices are heard and our wishes are respected. And we can do that through CTA. Let's write those amazing lessons, allow creativity and collaboration in our classes, demand time to meet with colleagues, and create the professional learning communities that will grow us to greatness. Let's fight back against every misguided decision, vote in every election, call every congressman, and brag about every success to anyone who will listen and especially to those who won't. It's an exciting time of opportunity in education. Will we be bold enough to seize it? I hope so. May 2013 www.cta.org 37