Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward...Education / Teachers!

Seeing that it's the holiday season, I wanted to do somewhat of a light-hearted post to close out the year.

It's the end of the calendar year.  Students are out of school.  Educators are getting a break.  Education is probably the best gift anyone can give.  Teachers give that gift on a daily basis (the gift that keeps on giving).  Please make sure you thank all those in education who dedicate their lives to ensuring that children receive the education they deserve. 

It seems like a lot of people in education agree that they want the best for students, but certainly a lot of details get in the way.  It's my New Year's hope that we, in the state of Tennessee, can continue to really work together--AS A COMMUNITY--to ensure that students get the services they need in order to secure their education.  Anything that gets in the way of that goal should get out of the way.  We have a New Year on the horizon...a chance to start fresh, without bias, and with passion for the children of the State of Tennessee.

There you go...that's my holiday "mushy" post.

Of course, I can't leave you hanging without a few NEWS LINKS:

- Great Schools Partnerships starts to step up in helping find a way to make the L&N Building a site for the regional STEM Academy.
- How will the new Congress impact education funding? Interesting thing mentioned in this article: a court in October ruled the "high quality teacher" designation was too broad because it left room for alternative-path teachers into the classroom.  The bickering continues.  Peace is all I ask for!
- Northeast Tennessee continues to get assistance from Niswonger Foundation.  Great that this is getting coverage!
- CTE and STEM are linked! That is, "Career and Technical Education" and "Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math."  Some people don't speak education-wonk-alphabet...
- Education is tied to the economy, and Chattanooga understands that.
- Tennessee principals now have more notes than EVER on teachers.  This is all part of getting a better picture of teachers in the classroom. 
- TSU's new president tries to save the school from losing its accreditation.
- Should students have input into their teacher's evaluation? Some are building a case.  It's worth considering.