As the lead editor of Pass The Chalk’s editorial team, I’m personally very excited to share some news with you: We’re officially enabling comments on the blog, starting today.
We heard from many of you that you wanted the opportunity to add your voice. And as a blog that seeks to join the online conversation about education and spur dialogue about the issues of the day, we wanted to give all of our readers the chance to chime in with their thoughts, opinions, and ideas.
So starting today you can!
The purpose of this blog is to facilitate an ongoing dialogue on education issues and the broader social justice issues that impact our work as educators.
We encourage your comments; your ideas and concerns are important to ensure that more individuals are active and informed participants in the discussion about education inequity in America and across the world.
We observe the following ground rules when it comes to comments on the blog:
Hey y'all, @BexwithanX here. Last week we all celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week, and it was AWESOME. Here are some of the highlights from us and others in the social media world. PS: Don't forget to celebrate teachers year round. They deserve the love.
As I handed back their aced exams, my seventh graders tried to hide their proud-but-too-cool-to-show-it smiles. Not me. I beamed, unhesitatingly conceding 5 minutes of hard-earned free-time. Some of the girls huddled together. “Look,” one said, “we’re just like Ms. S—really good at math!”
Another, her A-paper in hand, walked up to the board, took the eraser, and padded it all over her shirt. “No, now we’re just like Ms. S—really good at math…and covered in chalk.”
Photo courtesy of Kristin Szczepaniec
I only know Teach For America’s new co-CEOs from a distance. In Matt Kramer, I see a man who wants to empower others to be agents of the change they want to see. In Elisa Villanueva Beard, I see a woman who has stepped into history as Teach For America’s first Latina CEO. The announcement of their new roles came during the first few days of Black History Month; how apropos, then, for Elisa to be the mother of sons named Langston, Malcolm, and Marshall. These august names of African-American history have three leadership lessons to offer our new CEOs.
Photo by Winold Reiss via Wikimedia Commons
First the Pope, and then Wendy Kopp! This week Teach For America announced that its founder and CEO would become chairman of the board and welcomed Elisa Villanueva Beard and Matt Kramer as its new co-CEOs! Here are some highlights of reactions to the big news I've seen out there in the Twitterverse.
This is one of three letters sent to the Teach For America community today announcing leadership changes at the organization.
February 13, 2013
Dear Members of the Teach For America Community,
We are honored and humbled by the board’s decision and the opportunity to serve as co-CEOs of Teach For America. For the last eight years, we’ve worked side by side to maximize Teach For America’s potential as a force for justice for our country’s most disadvantaged children and disenfranchised communities. We are thrilled to be able to build on that progress in our new role, in partnership with our extraordinary colleagues and the entire Teach For America community.
This is one of three letters sent to the Teach For America community today announcing leadership changes at the organization.
February 13, 2013
Dear Members of the Teach For America Community,
I write today to share some exciting news. Yesterday the Teach For America Board of Directors appointed President Matt Kramer and Chief Operating Officer Elisa Villanueva Beard co-CEOs of Teach For America, effective March 1. I will continue to contribute actively to the organization as chair of the board, succeeding Walter Isaacson, who will become chair emeritus after his seven superb years of service. I will also continue serving as CEO of Teach For All. These changes strengthen Teach For America by elevating two exceptional, proven leaders while enabling me to spend my time where I can add the most unique value.
This is one of three letters sent to the Teach For America community today announcing leadership changes at the organization.
February 13, 2013
Dear Teach For America Friends and Partners,
As chair of the board for the past seven years and a supporter of Teach For America since its early days, it has been remarkable to watch its evolution into one of our country’s most important institutions that is fighting for educational equity. Today, it is my honor to announce a decision that marks the next step in Teach For America’s story.
Yesterday, the board voted to appoint Teach For America Founder and CEO Wendy Kopp as chair of the board. President Matt Kramer and Chief Operating Officer Elisa Villanueva Beard will become co-CEOs of Teach For America, effective March 1. I will remain on the board as chair emeritus. Dick Parsons will serve in the newly-created role of lead independent director, ensuring strong and independent governance of the board.
Stacey Mitchell is the Managing Director of Staff Diversity and Inclusiveness at Teach For America.
This month, Teach For America staff members gathered in Tulsa, Oklahoma to think more deeply about the role we can play to advance the agenda Native communities have set for themselves. Since that retreat, a quote from Jacob Tsotigh III, Program Administrator, University of Oklahoma Outreach, keeps ringing in my head: We live in poverty, but we are not poor.
In 2010, Teach For America launched the Native Achievement Initiative to expand educational opportunities for Native children. To learn more, watch this video.
We believe education is the most pressing issue facing our nation. On Pass the Chalk, we'll share our takes on the issues of the day, join the online conversation about education, and tell stories from classrooms, schools, and communities around the nation.
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