Greetings!
There is still nothing more inspiring in our work at Chalkboard than hearing from school districts about how they are empowering educators and raising student achievement. It is the stories of teachers taking on new leadership roles and being revitalized in their careers or the collaborative learning teams figuring out innovative ways to keep all of their students engaged that remind us of how important it is to make wise investments in our educators. Check out the video from the last CLASS meeting; we hope you will be inspired too!
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CLASS™ Collaboration
Meeting Brings 12 Districts Together
On October 28th, over eighty district
superintendents, teachers, union representatives, classified staff and school
board members gathered to hear from each other about their progress or plans
for the CLASS Project. All twelve districts were represented and spent time
engaging with each other through table talks and small group discussions.
Check out the event video featuring Charlie Walker, Chalkboard Board Member: http://bit.ly/3AG0sY.
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Comments on Race to
the Top Recommendations
 Two weeks ago, Chalkboard submitted comments on Oregon's draft Race to
the Top application recommendations. In our comments we commended the working
groups and the design team for their valiant efforts to put forth
recommendations that would raise student achievement in our state. We also drew
attention to policies or projects that could be strengthened or added to the recommendations.
Read the Chalkboard Project comments: http://bit.ly/63Wmk
Read the working group draft recommendations: http://bit.ly/TCk19
Learn more about the Race to the Top funds: http://bit.ly/1bFajV
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Newsletter Trial
In an effort to improve our communications, we are experimenting with
sending shorter, more frequent emails to half of our email list. These
subscribers will receive an update on teacher effectiveness (research and
programs), a shorter Chalk Talk, and an Oregon policy update. Our hope is that
these three emails provide a deeper look into our work, and also into the
research and organizations that are shaping the education landscape in our
state.
If you would like to be one of the subscribers to receive all three
emails, instead of a longer version of Chalk Talk, please let us know at info@chalkboardproject.org.
You can read the first teacher effectiveness update here: http://bit.ly/4alytK
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Welcome our New Team
Member
Stacy Michaelson has joined the
Chalkboard team as our CLASS Project assistant. She comes to us as a graduate
from Willamette University with a Bachelors in Politics and an interest in
education policy. She spent the last year as a legislative aid in Salem and had
previously completed an internship at the Oregon Department of Education.
Stacy's position will be essential to the success of the
CLASS Project as it grows to twelve school districts. Welcome, Stacy!
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Our Voices, Our Schools
 This month we interviewed Sunshine Dixson, REAP, Inc (Reaching and Empowering All People) Board Chair and Community Organizer for Urban League of Portland.
We know that parent and community involvement can make a big impact on the lives of students. What suggestions do you have for schools that want to increase their engagement?
Weave community involvement into the fabric of their education. Offer the students a chance to engage, and circle back around to find out what they discovered through those activities. REAP does an outstanding job of providing hands-on opportunities for their students to be civically engaged. Recently they volunteered to staff the tables at the Oregon Statesman Dinner, work the doors at the OAME trade show, and to be greeters and runners for the Urban League Equal Opportunity Dinner. Each time they volunteer our students are encouraged to share their plans for the future with as many adults as they come in contact with and ask for business cards. I watched two Lincoln High students funnel through a crowd of business leaders gathered for the Portland Business Journal Awards Luncheon not too long ago. After just two hours at this luncheon these two students had shared their goals and aspirations with several groups of people and collected over 54 business cards before they head back to class at Lincoln for the day. I am so proud watching our students time after time lay out their plans for college and a life after to leaders in our community. REAP is bringing up leaders who are not afraid to take on roles now that will equip them for life.
Read the complete interview on Chalkboard's Web site: http://bit.ly/1PFBtm
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Marysville Elementary Needs Your Help!
Marysville Elementary staff and students have had to relocate after a fire last week closed down their school. Schoolhouse Supplies is collecting donations and supplies to help replace what was lost. Learn more and donate now: https://www.schoolhousesupplies.org/ |
Updating the Website -
Feedback?
Over the last few months we have been working to make
improvements to the layout of our website. We took off the drop-down menus,
re-arranged our research and public opinion data, added twitter to the homepage
and condensed a number of sections. Next we hope to add more video and
interactive features.
Have you noticed the changes? Are there sections that could
be more user-friendly? Do you have suggestions for additional information or
new features? Please let us know at info@chalkboardproject.org.
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What's Next for Chalkboard...
Nov 13
OSBA Presentation
Nov 19
Advisory Council Meeting
Nov 30 - Dec 1
DC trip to meet with policy leaders
about CLASS
Dec 11
ODE's Youth Advisory Council Meeting
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