Events, Teacher Evals, and Food for Thought

A few things to share with you...

TUESDAY, JULY 20: Knoxville School Board Candidate Forum (co-sponsored by the United Way and the League of Women Voters)...
Why? These leaders will be making decisions about the future of education in this community. If we expect more from education, then we need to pay attention to who is in office!
7:00 PM
Fulton High School Auditorium in Knoxville
Park on the Broadway side of the building! Districts 7 and 9 will be featured.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 21: Community Forum on the Future of Teacher Evaluations
Come get an overview of the new evaluation system and share your feedback about what you hope to see in this evaluation system.
3:30 PM
Holston Middle School Library

MONDAY, JULY 26 and TUESDAY, JULY 27: Straight to the Top Conference in Kingsport
Governor Bredesen, the City of Kingsport, Harvard University, Bill Sanders (the researcher behind TVAAS) and Commissioner of Education Tim Webb team up to talk about how education reform ties in with the economic development of our state.
There is a cost, $99, for one person to attend. $75 per person if you get a group of 4 or more to go.

For those of you interested in what's happening on the new TEACHER EVALUATION SYSTEM, check out THIS ARTICLE written by the Tennessee Report.
Don't forget that the Tennessee Teacher Evaluation Advisory Committee has an active website.

Just food for thought:
IS RTTT MONEY A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD?
Clarksville struggles with this. And I think it's a good point.

If we see Race to the Top as money that is just there to start some flashy programs that aren't sustainable or plugging budget gaps, the money will be wasted.
If we see Race to the Top as a larger movement of raising expectations for teachers, students, parents, community organizations, businesses, and others related to education, it will be a success. This should be a larger community effort where everyone stands up and says, "How can I help?"

Stay cool in this heat!