ESEA Reauthorization - Senate Testimony

Connect with Ellen
by Ellen Moir on Sat, 06/19/2010 - 2:17pm

My recent testimony before the U.S. Senate was a tremendous opportunity to represent new teachers. I was one voice among many pushing our public policy in a direction that supports new teachers and builds a teaching force that provides our kids with the best education possible.

Click on this link for an exerpt of the U.S. Senate testimony-- blip.tv/file/3519159 *

What are your thoughts about the reauthorization of ESEA?

Ellen

 

* View the complete proceedings from the U.S. Senate archives.

Comments

1 comment posted
Hannah Hirschberg's picture
Submitted by Hannah Hirschberg on Mon, 06/28/2010 - 4:03pm

I think that Ellen's point about the selection of mentors is key.  If the mentors are not (dare I use this term?) highly qualified then any mentoring program runs too high a risk of being a waste of everyone's time.  Further, it's important that we define "highly qualified" as not just a master teacher but a master mentor.  How many fantastic teachers do we all know who just can't seem to make that connection with a new teacher, to clearly break down the art of teaching?  By the same token, if we expect people to be professional mentors then we must treat them as professionals.  We must find compensated time for them to fulfill their mentoring duties.