GLOBAL
India Blooms. U.S. Consulate General Kolkata partners with Bengal govt, School Education Department to train teachers Upon graduation, they will be better equipped to guide fellow teachers in creating student-centred, critical thinking classrooms that provide students with the English language proficiency and 21st-century skills envisioned by India’s National Education Policy.
The Conversation. When teachers in comic books get more than a thought bubble, watch out for an identity crisis [by D. Lewkowich Univ. of Alberta] In my own work with those who are learning to teach, I have explored making comics with students to allow them to represent and read their own dreams of life in the classroom. Doing this is one means of side-stepping what could otherwise entail imposing a predictable and prescriptive script of expected outcomes and methods in teacher education.
The Educator. New partnership tackles teacher shortage across Australia Teacher education students, who have already undertaken substantial in-school professional experience, will be directly involved in supporting teachers in the classroom and those working remotely.
The Phnom Penh Post. Teacher training facilities upgraded in Phnom Penh Cambodia and Japan are set to inaugurate four new buildings at the Phnom Penh Teacher Education College, thanks to Japanese grant aid. The four new buildings – to be inaugurated on February 9 – include a library and administrative, academic and multi-purpose buildings.
UNITED STATES
Argus Leader. Education committee votes to limit critical race theory instruction in South Dakota’s public schools State agencies and districts also can’t accept or spend private funding for curriculum development, curricular materials, teacher training, professional development or continuing teacher education pertaining to courses on history, civics, U.S. government and politics, social studies, or similar subject areas.
Chalkbeat. Why a small private Christian college in Michigan is having an outsize influence in Tennessee USA Classical Academy’s application to open a school in Williamson County, south of Nashville, outlines plans to use Hillsdale curriculum, teacher training, and expertise.
CW 39 Houston. Texas teacher advocates push back against additional certification requirements This month, the State Board of Educator Certification is expected to weigh whether to move forward with a new testing requirement for new teachers in Texas…” what I’ve seen from my students who have completed edTPA is just a cycle of frustration,” Wagnon explained… But the Texas Education Agency said in a statement, “The edTPA focuses on improving educator preparation in Texas to ensure that beginning teachers have demonstrated their proficiency and readiness to positively affect student learning… Data also shows that the edTPA has leveled the playing field for prospective educators, eliminating the 19% gap in the pass rate between White and Black candidates found on the current pedagogy exam. This diversifies the educator talent pool and makes it easier for school systems to recruit and retain prepared, high-quality first-year teachers, to the direct benefit of students.”
EdWeek.
1) Districts Are Raising Wages to Fix Shortages. Is It Sustainable? In Oklahoma City, substitute teachers this year are getting a $70 daily stipend on top of their regular daily pay: $80 for certified teachers, $65 for bachelor’s degree holders, and $55 for substitutes with just a high school diploma.
2) Teachers of Color Are Linked to Social-Emotional, Academic Gains for All Students The new study reaffirms that teachers of color are linked to positive academic, social-emotional, and behavioral student outcomes and finds that these effects are driven, at least in part, by mindsets and practices aligned to what’s known as culturally responsive teaching… Blazar said his study shows the need for professional development that focuses specifically on culturally responsive teaching. That could help train the mostly white teacher workforce to engage in these practices that benefit students, he said.
Fox News. Human rights org applies Middle East anti-radicalism strategy to combat critical race theory in US Hardwired Global, a human rights organization based in Richmond, Virginia, that has crafted curricula to promote peace and pluralism in the Middle East and North Africa, is launching a new effort to combat “divisive curriculums and teacher training programs” based on critical race theory (CRT)…” The initiative will train teachers across the Commonwealth of Virginia “to counter divisive curriculum with a pedagogy grounded in America’s founding values – inalienable rights, human dignity, freedom of conscience, speech and expression.”
InsideHigherEd. How K-12 Book Bans Affect Higher Education Todd Huston, the Republican speaker of Indiana’s House of Representatives, recently resigned as senior vice president for state and district partnerships at the College Board amid a Twitter campaign that called out his role in pushing Indiana legislation that would bar teachers from promoting “divisive concepts” and possibly cost educators their teaching license for doing so.
Learning Policy Institute (LPI). Teacher Shortages Take Center Stage. Underprepared teachers leave their schools at 2 to 3 times the rate of those who enter with comprehensive preparation. High turnover rates, in turn, can contribute to staff instability that disrupts relationships with students and other teachers, undermines professional learning, and impedes collaboration, all of which are critical to creating the supportive environments students need after nearly two years of disrupted learning.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Preparing a Profession: Perspectives of Higher Education Leaders on the Future of the Early Childhood Education Workforce … higher education is the primary pipeline for preparing effective early childhood educators. There are more than 2,000 ECE professional preparation programs located in institutions of higher education (IHEs) in the United States… Fifty-two percent of center-based early childhood educators hold a postsecondary degree, with 35 percent holding a bachelor’s degree. Comparatively, 31 percent of licensed home-based providers hold a postsecondary degree, with 17 percent holding a bachelor’s degree. Given that a bachelor’s degree is required for a K—12 teaching license in all states, all K—3 educators hold a bachelor’s degree.
NEA News. 5 Ways Strong Educator Unions Help Public Schools #3 RETAIN THE HIGHEST QUALITY EMPLOYEES IN THE PROFESSION. The Learning Policy Institute notes that five major elements that affect a teacher’s decision to enter and remain in the classroom, particularly under-resourced schools: compensation; teacher preparation; hiring and other personnel systems; mentoring and induction support for new teachers; and working conditions.
The Conversation. Students are suspended less when their teacher has the same race or ethnicity Learning about the practices of these teachers will help educators design training for teachers that can help all teachers – regardless of their backgrounds – approach student discipline in ways that do not harm students of color.
The Daily Telegram. Adrian College offering tuition discount for Michigan teachers, admins in Master’s program Teachers can enroll in the program if they are a part of AC’s Master’s in Teacher Education Program. The discount program offers Michigan K-12 teachers and administrators the opportunity to pay only 50% of the college’s tuition rate and up to 18 graduate credits with the discount, with no additional fees.
WFSU News. Florida grapples with 4,500 teacher vacancies The state board on Wednesday approved new bachelor degree programs in teaching at Seminole State College of Florida that would provide graduates with teaching certificates in exceptional-student education and elementary education.
NEW YORK STATE
Times Union. UAlbany students call for ex-SUNY chancellor to be stripped of severance pay Malatras, who officially stepped down on Jan. 14, is set to receive a year of paid leave at a salary of $450,000 followed by a tenured faculty appointment at Empire State College with a starting annual salary of $186,600, according to the finalized separation agreement.
NEW YORK CITY
Chalkbeat. We asked, you answered: Chalkbeat readers share priorities for NYC schools Chancellor David Banks Build the teacher pipeline to ensure a much better teacher-child ratio. I don’t see how Brilliant NYC can be rolled out without smaller classes… Money has to be spent for building space and hiring highly qualified teachers and staff to make this possible…
Gothamist. Comptroller: Teachers leaving NYC schools amid pandemic burnout Sarah Casasnovas, a spokesperson for the city’s education department, said …approximately 5,600 new teachers were hired for the 2021-2 academic year…According to the city’s teacher’s union, the United Federation of Teachers, the school system had to replace more than 5,000 teachers every year even before COVID-19.
SILive. NYC teacher workforce declined during coronavirus pandemic, comptroller report shows In addition to the over 5,600 new teachers hired this school year, the DOE said… It’s also working to bolster the city’s education pipeline by: restoring its alternative certification program to a pre-pandemic scale; creating new programs to support paras and substitutes to enter teacher education programs; and working closely with schools of education to attract candidates through outreach from NYC Men Teach and other recruitment efforts.
