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Opportunities for teachers
Sign up now to present at MEA-MFT Educators' Conference
MEA-MFT members interested in presenting a sectional at the 2001 MEA-MFT Educators' Conference in October may request a presenter's form from Debbie Hanna, MEA-MFT (phone: 800-398-0826 or e-mail: dhanna@mea-mft.org).
MEA-MFT members attend national ER & D training
Several MEA-MFT members attended the Educational Research and Development (ER & D) Winter Institute in Washington, D.C. this January.
The ER & D program, created by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), offers cutting-edge, research-based professional development for teachers in topics ranging from classroom management to math and reading.
The ER & D training is "without question the best training offered anywhere," according to Dennis Haverlandt, president of the Great Falls Education Association and a participant at this year's Winter Institute. Other MEA-MFT members who attended the winter training include Colleen Osbourne, Rita Browne, Amy Guldseth, and Jennifer Luoma of Butte Teachers Union; Karen Marks, Robin Walker, and Dave Severson of the Missoula Education Association; and Carol Haverlandt, Vickie Donisthorpe, and Pat Rosenleaf of the Great Falls Education Association.
Most of these folks attended the ER & D foundations program training last summer. They learned classroom management techniques and returned to their schools to share the knowledge with colleagues and serve as local site leaders for professional development.
They returned to the Winter Institute, accompanied by local presidents Dennis Haverlandt and Dave Severson, to create professional development plans for their school districts. Local presidents are part of the professional development teams.
The whole idea behind ER & D is "union-sponsored, union-controlled, research-based professional development," Haverlandt said. His local, for example, is working with the Great Falls school district to provide ER & D training for teachers. "School districts recognize the quality of the ER & D program," he said.
The Butte Teachers Union has been using ER & D training for about 15 years. Increasingly, MEA-MFT K-12 locals are discovering the benefits of this high-quality professional development program.
To learn more about ER & D, contact Erik Burke, MEA-MFT's public policy director, at 800-398-0826, 406-442-4250, or eburke@mea-mft.org.
Christa McAuliffe fellowships
The 2001-02 Christa McAuliffe Fellowship will go to a full-time teacher (K-12) who has taught for eight or more years. The awardee must return to a teaching position in the current place of employment for at least two years after the fellowship. The fellowship, about $28,000, may be used for a one-year sabbatical of study, research, or academic improvement.
To apply, contact Carol Gneckow at the Office of Public Instruction (phone: 406-444-2417 or e-mail: gneckow@state.mt.us). Applications must be postmarked by April 6, 2001 and must include a proposal related to one of the following priority areas:
1) align curriculum and classroom assessments to state content standards;
2) use large-scale assessment data and other school/district/state information to improve instructional programs;
3) use technology to enhance standards-based instruction, provide needs-driven professional development, and/or manage information; or
research and develop models of program evaluation to identify the effectiveness of needs-driven, research-based professional development that assists with implementation of the Montana School Improvement Initiative.
Disney American Teacher awards
The Walt Disney Company is accepting nominations for Disney's American Teacher Awards. The program salutes honorees with monetary awards and national recognition at an awards gala.
MEA-MFT members have a good track record in this event: Jim Schulz, Helena; Curt Prchal, Billings; and Gordon Hahn, Glasgow have all been named Disney honorees in recent years.
Nominations will be accepted until March 31, 2001. You can make nominations by phone toll free at 1-877-ATA-TEACH (1-877-282-8322) or submit the nomination online at disneylearning.org
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