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Help Chalkboard Serve Oregon's Students
Greetings!
In the midst of the grave challenges facing our schools it is easy to focus solely on dollars. Chalkboard wants to remind you that we think important decisions about our schools should be based on what Oregonians want and what research tells us will work best for students. Help us serve you, so that we can all better serve Oregon's students. Please take 3 minutes to fill out this brief survey in order to help improve Chalkboard's communications delivery. |
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Working with the Community to Close the Achievement Gap 
On February 25, Chalkboard and the Black Parent Initiative (BPI) gathered leaders from throughout Portland to begin work on closing the achievement gap. The press conference, held at Portland's Faubion Elementary School, centered around a study commissioned by the two groups to examine a lack of equity between Black and White students in Multnomah County. The findings suggest that the gap exists before students enter school and doesn't narrow or widen in grades K-12.
The study will be the starting point for a group gathered by BPI to turn research into action.
Read more about the event, the report,and BPI on Chalkboard's website.
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MentoringEducators.org Launches 
Oregon's Beginning Teacher and Administrator Mentor Program, which pairs experienced teachers with new ones in an effort to increase teacher retention and raise student achievement, has a new website -- MentoringEducators.org.
The Mentor Program is helping ease the burden felt by many beginning
educators all over Oregon. Most importantly, it allows Oregon
children to get the education they deserve. Here's what Jill Davidson,
a first grade teacher and educator mentor had to say about the Program:
"When
I started teaching, I had no support... My deepest regret is that I
wasn't the kind of teacher I could have (should have) been without a
mentor's support. I didn't know how to challenge myself, think outside
the box and grow. That's what having a mentor would have done. The
real beneficiary would have been those first grade students"
The site created by Chalkboard, in partnership with the Oregon Department of Education, features information about Oregon's Mentor Program and provides resources for educators, decision makers, and the general public alike.
Visit www.MentoringEducators.org today.
...Or learn how you can support Oregon's Educator Mentor program by viewing Chalkboard's Advocacy webpage.
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Updated Open Books Project
The
comparable financial data that Open Books is known for has been
updated and strengthened with much more information
about Oregon schools. Data about student achievement, details about
teachers, and the community are now readily available.
A new look for Open Books. A smart idea for Oregonians. A perfect tool for you.
Visit www.openbooksproject.org today!
Check out the Open Books Project Press Release from March 4th. |
Tag, you're it... 
This month Tag features Ty Schwoeffermann, Community and Faith Advocate for the Back Parent Initiative. Mr. Schwoeffermann is a graduate of the University of Oregon and a product of the Portland Public school system. Before BPI he worked for the Obama campaign as a field organizer.
(Below is an abridged version of Mr. Schwoefferman's Tag responses. You can view the complete interview on Chalkboard's website.)
What motivated you to decide to work with the Black Parent Initiative?
My background is grounded in my understanding of who I am and also my belief that America can be as good as its promise. That is precisely why I fit so well with this organization because BPI does not just talk about action, we are also working towards change. The achievement gap is a big problem that I hope I have an impact on over the coming years.
After the release of the Achievement Gap data, what are the next steps you would like to see taken for the current and future generations of Oregon students?
I realize that this effort is going to take the entire community. At BPI we follow an African Proverb "it takes a community to raise a child". The achievement gap will only close if we as a community decide to make it a priority.
Partnering with other communities of color and any allies to this struggle is also important. Our coalition will be 100% inclusive for anyone who wants to work towards closing the achievement gap.
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In parenthesis
"It's why we're building...to ensure
that anyone entrusted with educating our children is doing the job as
well as it can be done...New teachers will be mentored by experienced
ones. Good teachers will be rewarded with more money for improved
student achievement, and asked to accept more responsibilities for
lifting up their schools. Teachers throughout a school will benefit
from guidance and support to help them improve."
-Remarks by President Obama to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on a complete and competitive American education, March 10, 2009 |
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Legislative Update
Quality educators remain Chalkboard's focus for the 2009 Oregon Legislative Session.
Oregon's Educator Mentor Program is currently in the Governor's budget, but faces possible cuts. Find out how you can prevent these cuts.
House Bill 2115 and Senate Bill 443 which would create a professional development clearinghouse have had public hearings and remain in committee.
Learn more about Chalkboard's legislative work on our Advocacy Page.
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Working Wonders Contest
The Oregon Education Association invites you to capture stories about the great work being done in Oregon schools and submit them as entries to the Working Wonders 2009 video contest!The contest winners will recieve cash prizes for themselves, the video producer and the school.Find out more at http://www.oregoned.org/videocontest |
Chalkboard President in the News
Recently Sue Hildick, President, Chalkboard Project penned an op-ed in the Oregonian about the need for efficiencies in school transportation.
Read: Schools: focusing on efficiency.
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What's Next for Chalkboard...
March 17Chalkboard Project Open House- Join UsApril 1Libraries of Eastern Oregon Outreach April 8Stand for Children Advisory Board Presentation on CLASS April 17-18Oregon PTA Conference |
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