Member News -- August 30, 2016
Subscribe to NNSTOY Member News.  Review past issues.

How Star Wars Explains
U.S. Civil Rights History
Nate Bowling Style

In a recent conversation with Bill Gates,  Nate Bowling (Washington 2016) explains the importance of relevance in the classroom, including what he calls the "power of nerddom. " Watch the video and read the Gates blog about their conversation.
Washington Policy Update
The Fifth Indicator

One requirement of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that is getting a lot of buzz in Washington is the requirement that states include a non-academic indicator as part of their accountability plans. This fifth indicator is to be weighted less than the four academic indicators of school success. 

Each state will determine its fifth indicator, however the law identifies some possibilities, including school climate, advanced coursework, student engagement, educator engagement, and readiness for college.

Read up on how states and organizations are thinking about the topic in articles published by the American Youth Policy Forum, Teach Plus, Huffington Post and EdWeek.

Note: Jane West's Washington Update will return in September.

Good News!
(No Dues!)

In July the NNSTOY Board of Directors voted to eliminate dues for membership for both STOYs and Finalists.

Remember: NNSTOY does count on contributions to do our work. Consider making a donation  anytime, particularly during our holiday fundraising campaign.


Wear your NNSTOY digital badge proudly!
If you are an NNSTOY member, you can highlight your membership with this nifty digital badge. Use it the signature line in your email signature and on your social media pages. To get one, email a request to Joe Fatheree: Joe@NNSTOY.org. 

Becoming a Teacher Leader by Degrees
Walden University Scholarships for STOYs

One of the benefits of being a State Teacher of the Year in 2015 or 2016 is that you qualify to receive a full-tuition scholarship for an advanced degree from Walden University. To receive this gift, follow the process outlined on the Walden webpage.

This year Walden is also offering five full-tuition scholarships to STOYs whose year of recognition was prior to 2015. Review the process to apply for one of these scholarships on the NNSTOY webpage. 

Applications are due by October 15, 2015. They can be sent directly to Keith.Michel@WaldenU.edu. 
STOYs Offer ED Guidance on Equity 
English Language Learners

Last week five State Teachers of the Year participated in a conference call with Dr. Monique Chism of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) to discuss strategies to achieve educational equity for English Language Learners. 

Teachers on the call were Katie Brown (Washington 2014), Leticia Guzman Ingram (Colorado 2016), Rich Mayorga (Arizona 2003), Dorina Sackman (Florida 2014) and Lee-Ann Stephens (Minnesota 2007). The call was moderated by Katherine Bassett (New Jersey 2000).

Conversation Highlights.  Leticia Guzman Ingram  (Colorado 2016) described an "unseen bias" in decision making that is causing deep problems that are very difficult to fix. 

Dorina Sackman (Florida 2014) described an educational system in which second language learners regularly are relegated to mediocre teachers, sometimes due to ignorance, and others because of arrogance.

Rich Mayorga (Arizona 2003) talked about the complex issue of access, pointing out that EL students often are excluded from A.P. and gifted programs. 

Katie Brown (Washington 2014) urged ED to make sure states are fully funding education so that public education truly is free for all students. 
Relief for Flood-Ravaged Louisiana Schools 
How Educators Can Help Restore Classrooms

More than 200,000 students were out of school immediately following the flooding that devastated Louisiana. According to a Politico  interview with state education chief John White, roughly 70,000 will remain out of school until after Labor Day. 

Educators can help Louisiana teachers replace classroom supplies at the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana (where Louisiana teachers can also request assistance) and  through  Donors Choose.
What We are Reading
New and noteworthy ideas about education from around the country.

Why America's Leadership Fails,
David Brooks,  NY Times
New Ways to Engage
S toryCorps

This school year, NNSTOY is once again partnering with  StoryCorps  to bring you  The Great Thanksgiving Listen
(TGTL) , a national education project based on a simple idea: find an elder you love and interview them about their life. 

Download the  StoryCorps App  to record and archive your interview in the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, where it will become an invaluable resource for future historians and provide families with a priceless piece of history. Last Thanksgiving, over 100,000 Americans participated across all 50 states to capture the voices of an entire generation in a single weekend. This Thanksgiving, empower your students once again to make history with their loved ones. 

NNSTOY teachers are invited to access an advanced copy of the 2016 TGTL Teacher Toolkit, by joining the new  StoryCorps in the Classroom 
Teacher Facebook Group; a forum to share best practices, classroom content, and ask questions directly to StoryCorps staff.

Review more strategies to lean into NNSTOY teacher leadership, understand member benefits and engage with the organization.
Resources for  Teaching & Leading   
Policy & Advocacy

Fault Lines: America's Most Segregating School District Borders , EdBuild
ESSA's Well-Rounded Education , Scott D. Jones and Emily Workman, Education Commission of the States
Street-Savvy School Reform , Paul Hill and Ashley Jochim, Education Next
10-Year Trends in Public Opinion , Education Next
Title I and Inequality ,  U.S. News
Practice
Absences Add Up , U.S. Department of Education, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the Ad Council
The Effects of Teacher Match on Academic Perceptions and Attitudes, Anna Egalite, North Carolina State University, and Brian Kisida, University of Missouri
Kudos, Shout-Outs & Accolades
News from the NNSTOY community.

Jody Zepp (Maryland 2015) meets with Claes Nobel after speaking at George Washington University for Scholars Day. Zepp was named the 2015 Claes Nobel Educator of the Year
Alex Kajitani's  (California 2009) article "Another Year, Another Principal" was published in  EdWeek  and on the NNSTOY blog . Kajitani offers tips to help educators manage a change in principal, writing,
 "Just as a new teacher forms their impressions about students and teaching based on their first few years in the classroom, a principal is forming their initial impressions of the school based on what they see and hear in the first few months. So. . . don't sit back and wait for the principal to figure out what you're working on." 

The August ECET2 conference sponsored by the  Maine State Teachers of the Year was featured in a post by Paula Bourque. 

Dora Borja Miura (NMI 2016) was recently chosen as a Presidential Awardee for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching . 

Rebecca Mieliwocki's (NTOY & California 2012) article "The Lifeline Every Teacher Leader Needs" was published in EdWeek and on the NNSTOY blog . Mieliwocki encourages teacher leaders who find themselves in emerging roles to align themselves with a leader who can advise and encourage them. She writes, 
"If you find yourself entering the uncharted territory of being a teacher leader, chances are you're writing your job description as you go. In this wonderful new frontier where teachers lead teachers, much is new and much is unknown. What I do know is that without the support of leadership, and their commitment to guiding my development, I would be just getting by, not getting ahead."

* If you have items of interest about yourself or other members, please forward them to laurie@nnstoy.org.

#TeachersLeading