3~ACTE Teachers of the Year 4~ Annual Yearly Progress 5~ Random Acts of Kindness 6~ Good News 7~Torchbearer AwardsINSIDE THIS AEN:

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NEW TV SHOW HELPS STUDENTSEXPLORE CAREER OPPORTUNITIESFormer “Survivor” Contestant Hosts Show

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP? Students may have heard thatquestion before and did not have a clue. But now they can get a taste of a vast number ofcareer fields by sitting back and watching a new show produced by Alabama IndustrialDevelopment Training (AIDT) called On The Job. The weekly television show providesstudents, and anyone seeking a career change, with insight into various career fields, as well asjob and training opportunities.On The Job showcases the wide range of careers throughoutAlabama, including unique and often overlooked careers ranging from a television sportscaster

to an operating room assistant.Currently, the show airs onAlabama Public TelevisionSundays at 2:30 p.m. CSTand it can be viewed online atwww.onthejobtv.org.

“Most students when askedwhat they want to do whenthey graduate from high schoolwill tell you they want to workin a fast food restaurant or inretail. They have no idea theopportunities and training thatare waiting for them throughAIDT,” said AIDT DirectorED CASTILE. “On The Jobshowcases job opportunitiesin Alabama and providesstudents the chance to see themany career fields that areopen to them. We saw thisneed to let the public knowabout what the educationsystem can do for them andthat’s how the show cameabout,” added Castile.

Each week producers are inthe field shooting step-by-stepsegments of professionalsperforming their job with thehost of the show participatingin the actual skill or task.

“One day we could be inthe Golden Flake plant makingpotato chips and the next, outin the woods in rural AutaugaCounty with game wardenshaving to run into the woodsto avoid being shot. It’s alwaysan interesting day at work,”said On The Job ExecutiveProducer CHRIS ROQUEMORE.

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Castile said he wants to get the word outabout the show toteachers in Alabamaschools so students canwatch the segment, learnmore about the excitingopportunities available tothem, and learn how theycan prepare to pursue thecareers they see each weekon the show.

The host of the showis no stranger to being infront of the camera.

Former Survivor contestantand Troy native BOBBY JON DRINKARD beganhosting the show in January. Drinkard graduatedfrom Charles Henderson High School in 1995and Troy University in 2003. Upon graduationfrom Troy, Bobby Jon moved to Los Angeles topursue a career in entertainment. In November2003, Bobby Jon represented the state ofAlabama by being named one of CosmopolitanMagazine’s 50 Most Eligible Bachelors across theUnited States. While in Los Angeles, Bobby Jonmodeled for Calvin Klein, Kenneth Cole, and

Ralph Lauren. But his claim to fame is the CBShit reality television show “Survivor.” He appearedas a contestant for season 10, “Survivor: Palau,”and was asked back for the 11th installment ofthe show “Survivor: Guatemala.”

“I’m thrilled to be working with AIDT andAlabama Public Television on the show,” saidDrinkard. “Not only am I back working in themedia, but I’m also hopefully helping other peopledecide about a possible career path or careerchange or maybe making a decision to go back toschool. Anything we can do to help educate andinform people, the better off we are as a state.”

A national survey of site location consultantsconsistently ranks AIDT one of the top stateworkforce training programs in the nation.AIDT is also the first state workforce trainingentity in the world to earn internationalcertification for its quality management system.

Alabama’s Ready to Work programprovides a career pathway for adultswith limited education and employment

experience at 39 locations.Ready to Work’s workplaceenvironment provides trainees

the entry-level skills required foremployment with most businesses andindustries in Alabama.

AIDT now offers Interview T.I.P.S.(Training to Improve Presentation Skills)

to prepare jobseekers to

submit correct applications, demonstrateconfidence, and improve communicationskills with mock interviews and properinterview follow-up. Interview T.I.P.S. isavailable at no cost for job seekersranging from high school studentsthrough adults.

AIDT’s new Skills@Work program is forthose who need help with workplacefundamentals: application and interviewskills, diversity, team skills,communication, using computers andemail. Skills@Work is an evening

programavailable at no

cost for job seekers ranging from highschool age through adult.

Complete infomation on all these programs can be found at www.aidt.edu.

AIDT, part of Alabama’s two-year college system, provides comprehensive workforce recruiting andtraining to identify the best qualified workers for employers who commit to create new jobs in Alabamathrough startup and expansion. AIDT services result in better employees and higher profits, while

improving the quality of life and providing better jobs for Alabama citizens. From automotive to aerospace and maritime and warehousing to biomedical, AIDT researches and identifies the needs of

each company served and uses that information to develop a full range of technical pre-employment selection programs uniquelycustomized to each company. AIDT also provides leadership development, industrial maintenance, and safety assessments.

In addition to training, AIDT is currently providing the following job preparation training:

NEW TV SHOW HELPS STUDENTS EXPLORE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

www.onthejobtv.org

On The Job crew members(left) receive instruction from

representatives of the AlabamaFire College (center) while an

On The Job videographerlooks on.

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8

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JUDY BROWN AND MARK RAINEShave a lot to be thankful for this year. In December, both won prestigiousnational teaching awards during theannual Association for Career andTechnical Education (ACTE) Conventionin Las Vegas, Nevada.

Brown, a National Board Certifiedteacher, was one of three educators fromacross the U.S. competing for the 2008ACTE National Teacher of the Year award.Raines, a former television anchor andreporter who began teaching in theTuscaloosa City Schools System in 2000,was one of five national teachers competingfor this year’s national Outstanding NewCareer and Technical Teacher award.

ACTE is one of the country’s largestassociations dedicated to preparing studentsfor successful careers and postsecondarylearning opportunities. Founded in 1926,ACTE currently has more than 29,000members in five national regions. Alabama,Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, NorthCarolina, South Carolina, Tennessee,Virginia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. VirginIslands, and the Bahamas compriseACTE’s Region II. Membership includes:teachers working in many different areasof education; counselors; administrators;superintendents; and postsecondaryinstructors.

Advancing to the finals of these nationalcompetitions was not an easy task. Brown,for example, started the process more than

a year ago. The former Culinary Artsteacher at Madison City’s Bob Jones HighSchool was named Alabama’s 2007 Familyand Consumer Sciences Teacher of theYear. One month later, Brown was namedAlabama’s Outstanding Career andTechnical Teacher of the Year. In October2007, Brown won the Region II ACTETeacher of the Year award, the same yearthat Mark Raines was named the Region IIACTE Outstanding New Career andTechnical Teacher.

The purpose of the ACTE Teacher ofthe Year award is to recognize dedicatededucators who are providing students withreal opportunities to have successfulfutures. Recipients of this award must havemade significant contributions towardinnovative programs that promoteacademic achievement.

ACTE created the Outstanding NewCareer and Technical Teacher award toencourage new teachers to stay in theeducation profession. Recipients of thisaward must have shown professionalcommitment in their previous careers andnow must be making significantcontributions to students and theirscholastic success.

Under Mark Raines’ direction, theTelevision Production program at theTuscaloosa Center for Technology has twicebeen named Alabama’s Technical EducationProgram of the Year. In June 2007, hisstudents won Third Place at the 2007

National SkillsUSA Championships inKansas City, Missouri.

This is the only time in recent historythat two different teachers from the samestate have been named ACTE’s nationalteachers during the same year.

To learn more about ACTE, CLICK HERE or HERE.

FEBRUARY IS ALABAMACAREER AND TECHNICALEDUCATION MONTH

Since 2004, students, parents,teachers, and top business professionalsstatewide have come together tocelebrate a new tradition – AlabamaCareer and Technical Education (CTE)Month, February 1-29.

To celebrate CTE Month, localschool systems throughout the statehave planned special activities. Lastyear’s celebrations included career fairs,college tours, and business etiquetteworkshops.

Local career and technicaleducation programs statewide haveplanned similar activities for this year’scelebration. To learn more about CTEMonth activities in your community,contact your local Board of Educationor CTE Information Specialist, ED CRENSHAW, at 334-353-5220.

Alabama CTE Teachers Named

NATIONAL TEACHERSOF THE YEAR

Mark Raines, this year’s national Outstanding New Career and

Technical Teacher, and Judy Brown, the 2008 National Teacher of

the Year, accepted awards during the annual Association for Career

and Technical Education (ACTE) Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A L A B A M A E D U C A T I O N N E W S

2012-2013

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Schools in Alabama must climb higher up the ever-increasing achievement ladder in 2008 to achieve AdequateYearly Progress (AYP). Schools must meet 100 percent of thegoals in order to make AYP as required by No Child LeftBehind (NCLB). Achieving anything less than 100% meansthe school does not meet AYP. The measures for success includegraduation rates, participation rates and proficiency in readingand math.

The goals for achieving AYP have increased in the area ofthe percent of students who must score proficient or higher onreading and math tests. For 2008 the goals are a 90%graduation rate, a 95% participation rate and the followingpercentages of students who must score proficient or higher inreading and math:

So what is the State Department of Education (SDE) doingto help schools prepare for student success?

The Alabama Reading Initiative (ARI); Alabama Math,Science, and Technology Initiative (AMSTI); Preparing Alabama

Students for Success (PASS); and Graduation Coaches areprograms helping students succeed, but there is also anothersupport system that has recently received national attention.

In August 2005, the SDE developed a system of support forlocal school systems to impact school improvement andacademic success with the formation of the AccountabilityRoundtable (ART). The Roundtable is a think tank made up ofthe SDE staff members from all sections that work inpartnership to provide solutions to the challenges of schools.The topics include courses of study, graduation rates, climateand culture, assessment, prevention and support, qualityteaching and staff leadership.

“The Accountability Roundtable has been so effective thatother states and organizations have asked for our help indeveloping their own Roundtable systems, and the Roundtablehas been profiled in a policy brief from the Consortium forSchool Improvement,” said DR. RUTH ASH, Deputy StateSuperintendent of Education.

The main goal of ART is to identify areas for improvementand work to improve student achievement through collaborationand ‘best practices’ that are filtered down to schools andclassrooms. The Roundtable does not do the work of school anddistrict improvement, but it does set the direction of the workand assists with implementation.

The SDE requires districts and schools that do not achieve100% of their AYP goals to develop an improvement planwithin 90 days after the release of state data. Throughout thestate there are 11 regional school improvement coaches (RSICs)that work with school systems and the SDE in a collaborativeeffort to develop plans for improvement.

The Roundtable sends state directors to the districts to meetwith superintendents and central office personnel to hear issuesand concerns. They bring those issues and concerns back to theRoundtable and the State Support Team (SST) for discussionand coordination of improvement plans. Local personnel arecoached and supported as they develop and implementimprovement plans.

An arm of the ART is the SST that provides on-sitecustomized support. The team is comprised of SDE section staff,

ANOTHER STEP ADDED TO THEADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS(AYP) LADDER FOR 2008

The goals for achieving AYP have increased in the area of the percent of students

who must score proficient or higher on reading and math tests

100

80

60

40

20

0 GRADE 3

68%

GRADE 4

72 %

GRADE 5

65%

GRADE 6

56%

GRADE 7

49%

GRADE 8

55%

GRADE 11

77 %

MATH

100

80

60

40

20

0 GRADE 3

77%

GRADE 4

77%

GRADE 5

77%

GRADE 6

81%

GRADE 7

68%

GRADE 8

59%

GRADE 11

86%

READING

2003-2005

2005-2007

2007-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

2011-2012

2013-2014

5

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8A L A B A M A E D U C A T I O N N E W S

ONE OF ALABAMA’S MOST respected and well-knowneducators, Tuskegee University Founder Booker T. Washington,once said, “Character, not circumstance, is what makes a person.”This sentiment was true then and is true now. In addition toreading, writing and arithmetic – it is important that students

know the importance of character education. In a new feature in Alabama Education News, “Random Acts

of Kindness,” educators are encouraged to submit brief articlesabout students in their school or community who go above andbeyond to show examples of honesty, integrity and character. Ifyou notice a student being a shining example of moral fiber –share the news! Already, in schools across Alabama, charactereducation is being taught and expressed through the lives of ourchildren. DR. JAN HARRIS, superintendent of Cullman CitySchools, said character education is one of her top ten prioritiesfor the school system.

“We have a systemwide character education plan that Icommunicate each week through my weekly calendar to allemployees,” Harris said. “I have met with local youth ministersand they also emphasize the theme of the month and word of theweek at their churches. They tell me some of our ministersemphasize the themes from the pulpit!” An active plan toimplement character education not only benefits students in theform of successful social development, but benefits those aroundthem as well. Make sure you submit any stories about impressivedisplays of student character to aen@alsde.edu.

Regional Inservice Center Directors (11 across thestate) and SDE regional staff (ARI, AMSTI andSchool Improvement). Regional staffs are assignedby Inservice Center regions statewide to providesupport to the local education agencies.

The Roundtable is coordinating several projectsin 2008 to continue the process of coordinating,planning and implementing professionaldevelopment opportunities for Local EducationAgencies (LEAs) and schools.

“Increasing the graduation rate, school climateand culture, school improvement, and our annualsummit are a few of the many collaborative effortswe are coordinating this year,” said Ash.

The directors of the Instructional ServicesDivision have assembled a workgroup made up ofmembers from all sections to focus on increasing thegraduation rate. This workgroup has begun byorganizing informational sessions for school systemsand schools to become familiar with the manyinitiatives, programs and services offered by theSDE that focus on increasing the graduation rate.These sessions will provide information and data, aswell as give participants a chance to have a face-to-face conversation with the members of the SDEwho administer these programs to determine which

services best fit the needs of their system.A cross-sectional workgroup will soon be formed

to work with Prevention and Support Services increating a survey that will assist in diagnosing theclimate and culture of schools that are struggling.This workgroup will study current research andwork with national experts to create an instrumentthat will determine areas of weakness in the climateand culture of the schools. This will be done so thatimprovement efforts can be informed and deliberatein addressing all aspects that impact studentachievement.

The SDE Summit, which will be held in April2008, is a professional development opportunitydesigned for LEA personnel to work together as ateam, embracing the Roundtable model ofcollaboration, and focusing their efforts oncontinuous improvement in their districts. Many ofthe sections within the SDE will offer collaborativesessions that will help district personnel understandhow to support multiple initiatives and how theywork together to strengthen student achievement.

The bar will continue to be raised for AYP untilthe goal hits 100 percent in 2013/2014, and theAccountability Roundtable will continue to developplans to help schools and students reach those goals.

Random Acts of Kindness Spotlight Character Education

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G O O D N E W S I N A L A B A M A S C H O O L S

Opelika Teacher Uses ACCESSProgram To See Husband In IraqAN OPELIKA TEACHER is using a new Alabama network tovisit with her husband in Iraq. She saw him Wednesday, January16th, for the first time since August 2007.

The Alabama Connecting Classrooms, Educators, &Students Statewide (ACCESS) program is used for distancelearning in rural classrooms, but theOpelika City School System helpedAMANDA SMITHER see her husband inFalluja, Iraq. With the press of a fewbuttons, she finally got to see her husband, U.S. MarineCorporal MATTHEW SMITHER, thousands of miles away.

“He looked handsome,” said Smither, a third-grade teacherat Morris Avenue Intermediate School.

The Smithers had not seen each other since August 2007.They tried to use ACCESS before Christmas, but he wasn’t ableto make it. “Last time I didn’t get to, and it was kind ofdisappointing. So to get to do it this time was great,” she said.

BARBARA MITCHELL came up with the idea to use thedistance learning technology to reconnect military families. She said she got a lot of help from FreedomCalls.org.

“This all started back when we were setting up ourequipment for our ACCESS lab. We discovered we could use itto contact the bases through Freedom Calls,” said Mitchell,technology coordinator for Opelika City Schools.

Smither and his wife are still in their first year of marriage,and finally being able to see each other is a welcome comfortwhile he finishes his tour.

“It’s three months and counting, so I’m really lookingforward to the day I actually get to hug my wife again,” he said,over the video conference.

Smither said she’s grateful Mitchell and the school system aremaking this possible. “It’s amazing. I feel like I have a big supportsystem and caring people behind me. It feels really good,” she said.

Mitchell said they hope to offer the video conferencingopportunity to any student or teacher with family overseas.The Smithers will celebrate their first anniversary together whenhe gets home around the first of May. Courtesy ABC WTVM-9

State Board Member: Mrs. Betty PetersSuperintendent: Dr. Mark D. NeighborsPrincipal: Mr. Nino B. Mason

Alabama Students Win NationalAchievement in Writing AwardTHREE ALABAMA STUDENTS recently received certificatesfor Superior Writing from the National Council of Teachers ofEnglish (NCTE). The Achievement Awards in Writing areconferred by NCTE in recognition of excellence in writing byhigh school juniors.

ANNA LEE HARRIS, Eufaula High School, Eufaula;ELIZABETH LOCKER, Florence High School, Florence; andMARGARET PATE, Grissom High School, Huntsville, wererecognized for their writing ability in two forms: first, in asample of their best writing in any form or genre, draftedand revised over time; and second, in an impromptu essay ona subject set by the Achievement Awards Advisory Committeeand responded to by all candidates for the award. While the firstsample is written under conditions chosen by candidates andtheir teachers, the impromptu essay is written during asupervised, 75-minute period.

A total of 595 students were selected as outstandingwriters in the 2007 NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing.The recipients were chosen from 1,937 students nominated intheir junior year by their teachers from the 50 states, the Districtof Columbia, Canada, the Virgin Islands and American schoolsabroad. The number of nominees from each school is based onthe school’s total enrollment in grades ten through twelve: onenominee per 500 students.

The NCTE notes these students have demonstrated superiorability and also notable versatility in writing. The NCTE urgethat others also recognize and commend these student writers andthe teachers who helped to elicit such excellence.

Eufaula High School: State Board Member: Mrs. Betty PetersSuperintendent: Dr. Barry R. SadlerPrincipal: Mr. Steve HawkinsFlorence High School: State Board Member: Mrs. Sandra RaySuperintendent: Dr. Mary Kendy BehrendsPrincipal: Mr. Michael W Lewey IGrissom High School: State Board Member: Dr. Mary Jane CaylorSuperintendent: Dr. Ann Roy MoorePrincipal: Mr. B. Thomas Drake

From January 22 until February, 2008, allcertified education personnel in the state ofAlabama are being asked to “Take 20.”Take 20 minutes out of your day to participatein the online survey – voice your opinions, andmake a difference in Alabama education.www.Take20alabama.org

REMEMBER

Scholar Athlete Milk Mustache of the Year. SAMMY recognizes graduating seniors who are outstanding scholar athletes in U.S. high schools. Based onacademics, athletic excellence, leadership and community service. Apply for SAMMY 2008 scholarships online HERE. DEADLINE: Mar. 17

Alabama Elementary (K-6) and Secondary (7-12) Economics Teachers of the Year are teachers who have made outstanding contributions to the teaching ofeconomics. Eligible candidates must either teach a course in economics OR integrate economics into other courses at any grade level K-12 in the public orindependent schools of Alabama. CLICK HERE or call Toll Free (866) 326-0585. DEADLINE: Mar. 14

Nominate a Kid Who Cares. Kohl’s is offering youth volunteers ages 6 to 18 the opportunity to win a $5,000 college scholarship. Scholarships are awarded toyouth who have excelled as community volunteers. For more information, visit your local store or CLICK HERE. DEADLINE: Mar. 15

2008 American Stars of Teaching. The U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher-to-Teacher Initiative is calling for nominations. Parents, students, colleagues,school administrators and others can nominate exemplary teachers who are improving student achievement, using innovative strategies in the classroom andmaking a difference in the lives of their students. Nominate HERE. DEADLINE: Mar. 31

The Legacy Project’s annual Listen to a Life Essay Contest provides for meaningful conversations between youth and older adults that can result in positiveexperiences for both. The Legacy Project also sponsors other contests and provides resources that encourage connections across generations. CLICK HERE.DEADLINE: Mar. 31

Students Encouraged to Take ATRIP Into the Classroom. The Alabama Teacher Recruitment Incentive Program (ATRIP) is designed to inspire Alabama’s highschool seniors to become teachers. ATRIP will award more than $2 million in scholarships to high school seniors based on financial need and academic success,and to professionals seeking an alternative degree in teaching. For more information and application, CLICK HERE. DEADLINE: Mar. 31

22nd Annual Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS) Conference, May 24-29, LSU Health Sciences Center and The Westin New Orleans at CanalPlace in New Orleans. CLICK HERE. DEADLINE: Apr. 30

AWARDS, OPPORTUNITIES AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

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F E B R U A R Y 2 0 0 8A L A B A M A E D U C A T I O N N E W S

Prestigious Torchbearer AwardPresented to Nine Alabama SchoolsNINE PUBLIC SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE received theprestigious title of Torchbearer School and each was awarded$15,000 during a recognition program January 29th inMontgomery. The Torchbearer School Program was created in2004 to recognize high-poverty public schools in Alabama thathave overcome the odds to become high-performing schools.

ALABAMA SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION JOE MORTON

presented representatives from each local system with theprestigious award. “These nine schools exemplify the hard work,dedication and commitment of students, teachers, principals andstaff,” said Morton. “These schools have shown they canovercome adversity and rise to the top of the achievement laddereven though the odds may not be in their favor. They are trulysuccess stories.”

In order to receive the Torchbearer School title, along with a$15,000 monetary reward, the schools had to meet all of thefollowing criteria as applicable:

Identified as Meeting the Challenge School, Advancing theChallenge School and Exceeding the Challenge Schoolaccording to the state rewards plan.Have at least 80% poverty rate (percent free/reduced meals).Have at least 80% of students score Level III or Level IV onthe reading section of Alabama Reading and MathematicsTest (ARMT).

Have at least 80% of students score Level III or Level IVon the mathematics section of ARMT.Have at least 95% of Grade 12 students pass all requiredsubjects of Alabama High School Graduation Exam.High schools have a graduation rate above state average.Be in existence at the time of the award.

NOTE: Criteria in bold denotes changes in the criteria for the2007-2008 school year

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2007-2008 TORCHBEARER SCHOOLSSchool System SchoolBirmingham City North Birmingham Elementary * Birmingham City Wilkerson Middle * Huntsville City Lincoln Elementary * Mobile County Anna F. Booth Elementary **Mobile County Indian Springs Elementary * Mobile County George Hall Elementary *Mobile County Mary W. Burroughs Elementary *Montgomery County E.D. Nixon Elementary *Selma City Edgewood Elementary *

*Torchbearer 2007-2008**Torchbearer 2005-2006, 2006-2007, and 2007-2008

Managing EditorMitch Edwards

EditorMichael O. Sibley

Contributing EditorsEd Crenshaw l Anne P. Graham l Edith Parten

Graphic ArtistsMary Nell Shaw l Charles V. CreelAE

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AFF

Alabama Education News (USPS #387-290) is published monthlyexcept for June, July, and December by the Alabama Department ofEducation, P.O. Box 302101, Montgomery, AL 36130-2101. Periodicalspostage paid at Montgomery, AL.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Alabama Education News,P.O. Box 302101, Montgomery, AL 36130-2101.

Alabama Education News is composed by the Alabama Department ofEducation’s Communication Section and printed by Walker Printing ofMontgomery. This publication, authorized by Section 16-2-4 of the Code ofAlabama, as recompiled in 1975, is a public service of the AlabamaDepartment of Education designed to inform citizens and educators aboutprograms and goals of public education in Alabama.

No person shall be denied employment, be excluded from participationin, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in anyprogram or activity on the basis of disability, sex, race, religion, nationalorigin, color, or age. Ref: Sec. 1983, Civil Rights Act, 42 U.S.C.; Title VI andVII, Civil Rights Act of 1964; Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Sec. 504; AgeDiscrimination in Employment Act; Equal Pay Act of 1963; Title IX of theEducation Amendment of 1972: Title IX Coordinator, P.O. Box 302101,Montgomery, Alabama 36130-2101 or call (334) 242-8444.

Copies available in Braille or other forms upon request.

ALABAMA

EDUCATION NEWSVOLUME 31 • NO 5 FEBRUARY 2008

President l Governor Bob Riley

District 1 l Randy McKinney, President Pro Tem, Gulf Shores

District 2 l Betty Peters, Dothan

District 3 l Stephanie W. Bell, Montgomery

District 4 l Ethel H. Hall, Vice President Emerita, Fairfield

District 5 l Ella B. Bell, Montgomery

District 6 l David F. Byers Jr., Vice President, Birmingham

District 7 l Sandra Ray, Tuscaloosa

District 8 l Mary Jane Caylor, Huntsville

State Superintendent of Education and Secretary and Executive Officer of the Alabama Board of Education l Joseph B. MortonAL

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EDITORIAL OFFICE: 334-242-9950E-mail comments and story ideas to: aen@alsde.edu

For a complete list of agenda items, visit the AlabamaDepartment of Education’s Web site www.alsde.eduunder “Board of Ed.”

✍ Resolution Commending Judy Brown, Associationfor Career and Technical Education, 2007 Careerand Technical Education Teacher of the Year

✍ Resolution Commending Mark Raines, Associationfor Career and Technical Education, 2007 NewCareer and Technical Education Teacher of the Year

✍ Resolution Proclaiming February 1-29, 2008, asAlabama Career and Technical Education Month

✍ Approval of a Teacher Education Program, SamfordUniversity, Birmingham, Alabama

MARCHMarch 13 Alabama State Board of Education MeetingMarch 27 Alabama State Board of Education Work Session

Arts Education MonthWomen’s History Month / National Reading Month

Transition Awareness Month(Students with disabilities transitioning from high school into postsecondary)

Feb. 3-9 National School Counseling Week

Feb. 10-16 Child Passenger Safety Awareness Week

Feb. 14 Alabama State Board of Education Meeting

Feb. 28 Alabama State Board of Education Work Session

BLACK HISTORY MONTH / CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION MONTH

FEBRUARY

WINSTON COUNTY’S BAKER CHOSEN ALFATEACHER OF THE MONTH

Two basic philosophies have guided Dana J. Baker throughouther teaching career. The first – “All students can learn … just notin the same way on the same day” – she read on a mural on herfirst day of student teaching. The second – “Do what you can …where you are … with what you have” – she heard in church.

No wonder Baker, who holds a master’s degree in educationfrom the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a bachelor’sof science in education from the University of North Alabama,has been selected Alfa’s Teacher of the Month for February. As thismonth’s winner, she will receive $1,000 from Alfa Insurance, and her school, WinstonCounty High School, will receive a matching award from the Alabama FarmersFederation.

“My room is not the quietest or most orderly one on the hallway, but I am anadvocate that learning does not have to occur in straight rows of student desks with theteacher lecturing at the front of the room,” said Baker, who teaches biology, chemistryand physics to freshmen through seniors at her former high school in Double Springs.

She admits that the No Child Left Behind Act yanked her from her “comfort zone”when she found herself facing a biology class filled with timid students with learningdisabilities. “I faced a crossroad,” said Baker. “I could become bitter and resentful,taking my frustrations out on innocent people who needed my help, or I could roll upmy sleeves, jump into the arena and accept a new challenge. I am so happy that I chosethe latter because rather than changing my students, as I had in the past, theseinclusion students changed me.”

She tells of one deaf student who was eager to do the research on genetic disorders,but was reluctant to make a presentation on the subject because she has “butterflies inher stomach.”

Once she realized that it was normal to feel that way, she made her presentationand earned the applause of her classmates.

“While she was rewarded with increased self-esteem and a good grade, I wasrewarded with far more,” said Baker. “This class had revitalized my joy of teaching.”

During 2008, Alfa Insurance and the Alabama Farmers Federation will honor oneoutstanding teacher from each of Alabama’s eight state school board districts, as well astwo principals and two private school teachers.