Today’s CCJEF v. Rell education funding ruling recognizes the necessity to do more for students in the greatest need—those attending schools in high-poverty communities. While the court emphasized that the majority of Connecticut schools and students do very well compared to other states and countries, schools in high-poverty districts have continuing challenges and achievement gaps.…
DetailsWhile we enjoy the day off this Monday, we must remember that Labor Day is much more than a long weekend. Working men and women make this country what it is, and their success or failure is the success or failure of the entire nation. Unions have played a proud role in the history of…
DetailsNew guidelines distributed to superintendents this week have the potential to increase the effectiveness of local Professional Development and Evaluation Committees (PDECs) and ensure teachers’ voices are heard in discussions about teacher evaluation and professional learning. The guidelines were developed by the Performance Evaluation Advisory Council (PEAC) after CEA and AFT-Connecticut brought teachers’ concerns to…
DetailsSchool is starting in most Connecticut districts this week, and temperatures are forecast to be in the upper eighties for parts of the state today and tomorrow. For schools without air conditioning, that can make for a very warm start to the school year. Connecticut state law does not set a maximum temperature for public…
DetailsA message to teachers from CEA President Sheila Cohen Another school year means another year to have the honor, the opportunity, as well as the responsibility, to touch the “tomorrows” of your students. In my life, it was my third-grade teacher, Mrs. Crowley, who lit a spark in me. She helped me to see possibilities…
DetailsTeachers and students are heading back to school! NEA editors have compiled a list of some of the best articles and resources to help you—whether new or veteran—be ready for the fall semester. Classroom Setup Creative Classrooms on a Budget Take a walk through the elementary, middle, and high school classrooms of three DIY divas…
DetailsIt was an incredible opportunity—spend ten days in and around Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park leading a professional development course and learning about the park and its mission. Woodstock Academy biology teacher Valerie May jumped at the chance. “It was a big honor to be asked to lead the workshop,” May said. May has worked with…
DetailsVisit neamb.com/BTS to find the resources you need to prepare your classroom and yourself as you get ready to head back to school: Classroom organization project ideas: Get inspired to organize your room with these clever projects! Watch as a professional organizer helps 3 teachers create functional classrooms—and get ideas to spruce up your own…
DetailsThe state Mastery Examination Committee is scheduled to meet again on September 21 as it prepares to answer key questions posed by the General Assembly, including whether Connecticut’s Mastery Examinations, and in particular SBAC, respond to student needs and inform teachers of student progress. In the meantime, Connecticut Commissioner of Education Dianna Wentzell told superintendents…
DetailsHamilton is the most exclusive show on Broadway, yet Cheshire English teacher Dawn DeMeo was able to join a couple hundred other teachers to not only see the show, but talk to its creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda, earlier this summer. Both opportunities were thanks to the Broadway Teachers Workshop, which aims to inspire teachers and directors…
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