November 16-22 is American Education Week, an event that emphasizes the importance of investments and teamwork in keeping Wisconsin's education tradition strong.
And we have many reasons to celebrate our public schools.
During my 15 months as president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, I have met amazing educators who are invested in their schools, their students and their communities.
Educators like Bonnie Cronk, who teaches multiple business classes including Accounting I, Accounting II and Keyboarding/Computers, at Glenwood City High School. She prepares students for the increasingly competitive work world of the future. Bonnie could retire, but she loves her work and her students. She's concerned, though, that under the current school funding system career and technical classes like hers are in danger of being eliminated.
Kate Millan is a social studies teacher in the Goodman-Armstrong Creek School District. Kate teaches seventh-grade Civics, eighth-grade World Geography, ninth-grade World History, 10th-grade U.S. History, 11th-grade 20th Century History and 11th-grade American History. She also teaches Advanced Placement Psychology and Criminology to students from the Crandon, Laona, Tomahawk and Beecher-Dunbar-Pembine School Districts through distance learning. Small district educators do it all!
Her students often ask her to attend their after-school activities - and she travels more than 500 miles each year to do just that. Kate says being there for students is one of the most important things an educator can do because it trickles over into the classroom.
In September, I met with Ken Sajdak, who teaches at the iQ Academy Wisconsin, a virtual public high school based in the School District of Waukesha. The teachers at iQ are Wisconsin licensed in their content areas. They are fully contracted employees of the district and, like members from around the state in many different learning environments, absolutely committed to high standards and a quality education for each of their students.
Tuesday, Nov. 19, is Education Support Professionals (ESP) Day. In recognizing the quality educators who are our ESP members, I am proud to remind everyone that Laura Vernon, Milwaukee Public School security officer and an MPS employee for 33 years, was named the National Education Association's 2008 ESP of the Year.
This week is a time to celebrate the thousands of dedicated professionals just like Bonnie, Kate, Ken and Laura who build the foundation for Wisconsin's future in our public schools every day. They are all dedicated to their students, their communities and their professions.
Education support professionals and teachers across the state know that investments in our students reap priceless dividends.
Since my first year as an English teacher in Rhinelander and during my 26 years as a library media specialist at West Junior High School in Wisconsin Rapids, I witnessed these positive results firsthand.
Investments in resources, including time, are essential. The support of parents and those who may not have kids in our schools is vital.
Equally important is the support of local business leaders. They help strengthen public education through their partnerships with community schools, their involvement and advocacy for quality school programs, and their support for employees who are parents or who mentor students. They understand that the success of public schools is important to the success of local economies.
The benefits of a great school go beyond individual benefits to each student. Quality schools attract new businesses with quality jobs, encourage existing businesses to stay and help property values increase. Investing in schools improves everyone's possibilities.
Join me in celebrating the investments and teamwork that make Wisconsin's public schools great, not only during American Education Week, but throughout the year.
And we have many reasons to celebrate our public schools.
During my 15 months as president of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, I have met amazing educators who are invested in their schools, their students and their communities.
Educators like Bonnie Cronk, who teaches multiple business classes including Accounting I, Accounting II and Keyboarding/Computers, at Glenwood City High School. She prepares students for the increasingly competitive work world of the future. Bonnie could retire, but she loves her work and her students. She's concerned, though, that under the current school funding system career and technical classes like hers are in danger of being eliminated.
Kate Millan is a social studies teacher in the Goodman-Armstrong Creek School District. Kate teaches seventh-grade Civics, eighth-grade World Geography, ninth-grade World History, 10th-grade U.S. History, 11th-grade 20th Century History and 11th-grade American History. She also teaches Advanced Placement Psychology and Criminology to students from the Crandon, Laona, Tomahawk and Beecher-Dunbar-Pembine School Districts through distance learning. Small district educators do it all!
Her students often ask her to attend their after-school activities - and she travels more than 500 miles each year to do just that. Kate says being there for students is one of the most important things an educator can do because it trickles over into the classroom.
In September, I met with Ken Sajdak, who teaches at the iQ Academy Wisconsin, a virtual public high school based in the School District of Waukesha. The teachers at iQ are Wisconsin licensed in their content areas. They are fully contracted employees of the district and, like members from around the state in many different learning environments, absolutely committed to high standards and a quality education for each of their students.
Tuesday, Nov. 19, is Education Support Professionals (ESP) Day. In recognizing the quality educators who are our ESP members, I am proud to remind everyone that Laura Vernon, Milwaukee Public School security officer and an MPS employee for 33 years, was named the National Education Association's 2008 ESP of the Year.
This week is a time to celebrate the thousands of dedicated professionals just like Bonnie, Kate, Ken and Laura who build the foundation for Wisconsin's future in our public schools every day. They are all dedicated to their students, their communities and their professions.
Education support professionals and teachers across the state know that investments in our students reap priceless dividends.
Since my first year as an English teacher in Rhinelander and during my 26 years as a library media specialist at West Junior High School in Wisconsin Rapids, I witnessed these positive results firsthand.
Investments in resources, including time, are essential. The support of parents and those who may not have kids in our schools is vital.
Equally important is the support of local business leaders. They help strengthen public education through their partnerships with community schools, their involvement and advocacy for quality school programs, and their support for employees who are parents or who mentor students. They understand that the success of public schools is important to the success of local economies.
The benefits of a great school go beyond individual benefits to each student. Quality schools attract new businesses with quality jobs, encourage existing businesses to stay and help property values increase. Investing in schools improves everyone's possibilities.
Join me in celebrating the investments and teamwork that make Wisconsin's public schools great, not only during American Education Week, but throughout the year.
