Greetings!

CLASS Project rolls out in Sherwood and Tillamook

The Chalkboard Project made news this month by announcing that we expect to invest $2.25 million in the Sherwood and Tillamook school districts over the next three years. Our largest grants ever will implement a new and expanded career architecture for teachers and classified staff in these two districts. The CLASS Project stands for Creative Leadership Achieves Student Success. Working together, teachers and administrators confront the question “What will a teaching career look like in this district?” The answers reveal new ways of thinking about the profession, with new paths to enrichment for teachers and for students.

“This is a true transformation in our profession,” said Terrel Smith, Sherwood teacher union president. “It’s a system built by teachers for teachers.”

Chalkboard and local school officials officially launched the CLASS Project in two events April 22 in Sherwood and Tillamook. The Forest Grove school district is developing its own CLASS Project. The grant application is currently under review.

Learn more about CLASS

Listen to a story about the CLASS announcement on OPB Radio

Listen to OPB’s Think Out Loud tackle the issue of teacher pay

View a photo gallery from the Sherwood press conference

Check out the thank you ads to Sherwood and Tillamook

Education chairs pledge to sponsor professional development bill in 2009

The two co-chairs of the legislature’s education committees said this month they are committed to passing a professional development bill for teachers in 2009. This is a high priority for the Chalkboard Project because research shows that teacher quality is the most significant single factor in classroom achievement.

Sen. Vick Walker (D-Eugene) and state Representative Peter Buckley (D-Ashland) explained their support for a bill in an Op Ed published in newspapers including the Eugene Register-Guard, the Albany Democrat-Herald, and the Coos Bay World.

Here’s an excerpt: “We must make sure the same professional learning opportunities are delivered to educators all over our state. They must have hands-on, high-quality professional development workshops delivered to them no matter where they teach. We must assure that every educator from Gold Beach to Pendleton has access to the information they need.”

Read the full article

Allen Foundation gives Chalkboard grant

The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation announced this month that it's giving the Chalkboard Project $150,000 dollars for communications and civic engagement in 2008. The money will make it possible for Chalkboard to conduct more outreach to the public and to teachers directly. In May, we’re planning an important survey of educators in collaboration with the Oregon Education Association. The grant will even help create a Chalkboard blog!

Learn more about the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation

Chalkboard and OEA team up for teacher survey

Teachers, watch your email. Chalkboard and the Oregon Education Association are collaborating on an important survey about professional development for teachers. One of the most important goals that Chalkboard and OEA share is to improve professional development opportunities for teachers. We can only do that if we have solid information about what’s happening in Oregon schools. The Teaching Research Institute at Western Oregon University is managing the survey to insure it remains independent and secure. If you’re a teacher, please take a moment to make your voice heard. If you do not receive a link to the survey, send an e-mail to info@chalkboardproject.org.

Wanted: Part time Finance Specialist

Chalkboard is looking for a part-time Finance Specialist to coordinate and manage our budget and finances. For more information, see the job description on our web site.