Reflections on the City:

I love Washington D.C. Every time I am there I am just so happy to see the monuments and the museums. My roommates and I arrived midday Friday to D.C. and spent a good portion of the afternoon walking around the monuments and the museums. I always wish I had several more moments to see everything. Throughout the weekend we ate some amazing food and got to see some of the cities night life (including a chance to see some college friends!)

Reflections on the Summit:

There was amazing energy in the convention center, all focused on educational reform. Or at least that is what I would like to think. It was obvious that some people were there only to make connections or party with old friends, but overall a good sense of togetherness on a cause. When the summit started on Saturday morning they shuffled all 11,000 teachers into a room through 2 doors for the first session, a little chaotic. The first session included a great pump up speech from the chancelor of D.C. schools  Kaya Henderson. She was brought up to the stage by the music of a local marching band (which reminded me of my own lovely students!) Wendy Kopp spoke about all that has been accomplished and what still needs to be done in educational reform (surprisingly, not very inspirational for the founder of TFA, she always seems a little lackluster in public). Several other speakers where introduced and a panal was brought out for discussion. The panal included Michelle Rhee (former chancellor of D.C schools), Joel Klein (former chancellor NYC schools), Geoffery Canada (Waiting for Superman), Dave Levin (Co-Founder KIPP schools) and others. The panal was interesting as it was said by several panalists that teachers unions aren’t to be villanized, but at the same time we need to villanize them to get our students further ahead. As with future sessions, common themes would come out in needing to get rid of unions but not, we need to get more behind the educational reform movement as the civil rights movement of our day and this all needs to be done now.

In the afternoon sessions I attended there are several things I was struck by. Michael Johnston (former Delta TFA alum, and Colorado State Senator who passed a recent education bill in that state) had some comments about working with teachers unions. He said that it comes out many times that teachers are villanized by associating with the unions while the decisions that education reformers really come from the top of the union organizations, not necessairily from the members. Andres Alonso (Baltimore Schools Superintendent) also pointed out that teachers unions do their job, protecting the teachers. This point was not taken well by Adrian Fenty (former D.C mayor who hired Michelle Rhee) who seemed to villanize unions the most out of all people I heard speak. Overall the afternoon panels slightly ran together with common statements being restated over and over again.

Finally, the final session was awesome. The session started with Arne Duncan (Secretary of Education) talking about the need for reform, and applauding the work that has been done. President Obama made a short video for our session as well. The remainder of the session was reflections on what to do after TFA and how to keep a part of the educational reform movement even when not in the classroom. There also was an awesome performance by John Legend (accompanied by a KIPP schools band). Overall a very inspiring message came out that we all can change the lives of students as teachers, or in any other profession we choose. This is the civil rights issue of our day and it is up to us to help gaurentee a quality education to all students regardless of their demographics.

Now What

I came back from summit excited to continue teaching my students. When I finish this year I have a renewed belief that I will continue to be a part of the education reform movement even as I pursue my graduate degree next year. We can change education in America, I will do my part.

On a happier note, it is beautiful out! It was 70 degrees and sunny today and is supposed to stay this way through the weekend! This is great because track just began and I am coaching this year. Go Cowboys!

Student 1- Jack- Jack is a quiet student who is respectful and kind. He helps those around him, even when he dosen’t necessairily understand. He raises his hand, never speaks back and is an overall wonderfully behaved student. Unfortunately Jack is not the best academic student. He trys very hard and puts forth his best effort, but it only ends up as d’s and c’s on his tests and other grades. But to earn these grades he is working his tail off.

Student 2- Drew- Drew is a horror in the classroom. He has a tendency to steal markers and pens from my desk as well as a love of making inappropriate gestures behind my back. Drew could easily be a b student in my room, however, he never does any work and tends to talk during tests resulting in a zero. Thus he has an F average in my room.

Flash forward to this past Tuesday: After a long day (starting with Drew dancing behind my back during 2nd period), I am told that I am to go to bus duty in the afternoon. Bus duty is a horrible invention. You have to stand outside for an excrutiatingly long 40 minutes after school to watch the students get on their buses. About half way through duty, students are getting a bit rowdy. I am watching this all unfold with very little desire to calm them down when I get a light tap on the shoulder. I turn around and its Jack who has tapped me. “Excuse me Ms. H, but can you tell Drew something.” I turn around and ask whats going on and Drew says “You gave me an F”. Jack says, “You aren’t given grades. We earn them”. Drew counters with “I do my best and you put an F on my report card”, Jack replies as he starts walking towards his bus “If you try harder and don’t play , you’ll earn a good grade”

After this comment by Jack, Drew stayed silent for most of the remainder of the bus loading process. I was happy that regardless of what my students might remember about mitosis in 10 years, they will hopefully remember that you earn your grades, just as you earn everything else. Nothing is given to you. 12 year olds can be so right sometimes.