Going on the Record

Today I had the pleasure of meeting two fellow advocates for public education: Major General George W. “Nordie” Norwood, U.S. Air Force (Ret.) and Major General Don Infante, U.S. Army (Ret.) at a press conference for Mission: Readiness. From their perspective, increasing the graduation rate for Florida students through a high quality education serves two purposes: increases the number of  eligible candidates for military service (currently 71% of young adults ages 17-24 are ineligible for a number of reasons) and supports the retention of military personnel whose children attend public schools. Both of these gentlemen understand the challenges that we are facing as educators, particularly with regards to the potential high stakes penalties based on the new Florida Standards Assessment. 

While I would never assume to speak for all teachers, I was asked to speak AS a teacher on this subject. The following is an excerpt from my comments.

 As an elementary Media Specialist and alum of Florida's K-20 public school system, I am honored to be here today with these distinguished military leaders to discuss the importance of high quality public education for Florida's future. Over the last three years I have been involved with implementation of these College and Career Ready standards in my classroom, my school, my district and with teachers across the state. The Florida Standards have resulted in not just a shift in how students learn but how teachers teach.

The process of real learning is messy and rarely linear. Under the Florida Standards, teachers are encouraging students to really dig deep and problem-solve in new and challenging ways. With guidance, we are helping our students work through the productive struggle of acquiring new skills and applying their knowledge in different contexts. Our lessons are designed to mirror real world learning experiences by making sophisticated links between multiple subject areas, standards and skills. Students are learning how to communicate more effectively through active listening, critical analysis and developing persuasive arguments. They are collaborating, creating and sharing their work through the use of technology in new and meaningful ways. These are life long learning skills will serve our students well no matter what career path they choose.

These higher standards for English language arts and math are being fully implemented in all grades this school year and I have seen the difference this approach to teaching and learning has made with my own child. By moving from the previous standards that were a mile wide and an inch deep, his teachers are able to spend more time developing a deeper understanding of more complex and challenging concepts. At the expense of his own personal frustration sometimes, his language arts teacher is assessing his understanding by pushing him to not just choose a correct answer but to explain the "where" and the "why" of his choice. His math teacher is able to help students understand multiple ways to find solutions to problems and has the time and space for students to share their own methods as well. As was intended by the standards, his fourth grade teachers are helping him build a solid foundation for learning that will continue to grow as his makes his way through high school.

As teachers we are devoted to our students. We want them to experience the same pride and joy we feel when are successful. We want them to continue to wonder and explore. We want them to own not just the learning process but the outcome acquisition of knowledge for themselves and their peers. The reality is we're not quite there yet. The implementation of the standards has not been without struggle. As I said before, real learning is messy and teachers have been learning right alongside their students during the transition. We have been developing, questioning and refining our teaching delivery and practice and will likely continue to do so for the next few years. There continues to be anxiety surrounding the delivery of the Florida Standards Assessment and the associated consequences for students and teachers based on those outcomes. I appreciate that our legislature is currently in the process of negotiating a bill that would delay high stakes accountability until the test has been validated.

I have a genuine love and respect for the students, families and colleagues I have the privilege to work with. I believe, as do my colleagues, that we have a duty to provide the highest quality public education to all ensure the success of all students. It is going to continue to take hard work and time, but I believe that proper implementation of high standards for all students are a part of that success. All that I ask is for is patience, and the continued support of our state’s parents, community members, administrators and policymakers as our students and schools continue to make this transition.

I’m pleased that our distinguished military leaders are joining many educators, business leaders and others in urging our state leaders to keep the implementation of these standards on track in a reasonable and judicious way.