Olive Oyl

Third graders had a guest teacher on Thursday and Friday this week-- and according to the rest of the crew-- she was a dead ringer for Olive Oyl. As you can imagine, she got eaten alive. By the end of the day on Friday, she only had 7 (out of 20) students still left in the classroom. The others had been shipped off to Mr.Lowe-- other teachers-- home???

I was at a local training for PI 34-- which is the title of a licensure requirement for all newly certified teachers, administrators, or pupil service people. Every 5 years (at least) in Wisconsin, we have to renew our license to teach-administrate- etc. Within those 5 years (in the past) you were required to take at least 6 credits of higher education credits to stay up to date with best practices-- otherwise they wouldn't renew your license. As of August 31, 2004-- that has changed! If you were certified as a teacher- administrator- after August 31, 2004, than instead of copmleting 6 credits, you are required to complete a Professional Development Plan that relates to professional growth and student learning. This plan must span the 5 years of your license and collect data that verifies your goals and objectives. The plan must be approved by a 'Professional Development Team' before you start collecting data-- and then again at the end once you've completed your study-- it's almost like a mini action research project! I was at a training to be certified as 'PDP Team Member'. And although I am not required at this time to complete a PDP (I was certified before 8/04), there are a number of teachers in our building who are!

It was a nice little 'break' from the classrom-- even though it was a lot of 'input' information-- and not a lot of fun stuff!

My other learning experience this week was my Thursday night principal mentoring meeting. This week we invited a woman who focuses on local legislation reform for the Institute of Higher Transformation-- which, in my words, means she advocates for schools that are 'outside' the constraints of the Milwaukee Public Schools-- so-- choice, charter, alternative, etc-- schools that provide parents with a 'choice'-- and provides our local education system with a challenge to perform and succeed. She advocates for the small, local buisnesses in a sense-- instead of the 'Walmart' of Milwaukee Public Schools.

I learned an enormous amount about some of the politics related to charter schools in Milwaukee. I have also begun learning about who our allies are-- It's been quite the lesson in Politicial Science! One part I am especially intriguied with is the part about local democrates that are not supporters of choice and charter-- (they are too heavily influenced by the Milwaukee Public School Union--it would be political death for them to not support the Union)-- versus the outlying republicans who are our biggest supporters-- opportunity for all, I guess.

So, I am continuing to swim in the sea of local charter school politics. It's such an intimidating topic-- there is so much catching up to do! Feel free to send political lessons and bias' my way-- so I can develop a better sense of position for choice schools. Sounds like a great summer conversation-- on a dock-- with a drink in hand :)