Educator Effectiveness

Teachers' Top Three from ESE - May 5, 2016

1. Get Involved: Apply for ESE's Teacher Advisory Cabinets
   

   
   
   

   Members of ESE's Teacher and Principal Advisory Cabinets share their experiences and how they're giving input on state policy.

   The Department is accepting applications for the 2016-17 Teacher and Principal Advisory Cabinets. Educators on these cabinets provide crucial feedback and input on ESE policies and resources. Members increase their knowledge of state education policies, build relationships with educators across the state, and position themselves as go-to resources and leaders in their districts. Additionally, members will work closely with ESE staff on a year-long project aligned with a key educator effectiveness initiative.
   
   Applications are available online and are due May 31.
   
   The Teacher Advisory Cabinets are open to all educators who work with students, across grade levels and content areas—including specialists, coaches, and specialized instructional support personnel.
   
   When applying, educators will have the option to select a cabinet in the eastern part of the state that will meet in Malden or the central/western part of the state that will meet west of Worcester. The cabinets will meet five times during the 2016-17 school year, beginning with a full-day kickoff meeting in September. Meeting dates and times are listed in the applications.
   
   To learn more about the cabinets, check out the 2014-15 Teacher Advisory Cabinet Summary    and Principal Advisory Cabinet Summary   .

2. In the News: 2017 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year
   On Tuesday, Commissioner Chester announced that Sydney Chaffee, a ninth grade humanities teacher at Codman Academy Charter Public School in Dorchester, is the 2017 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year.
   
   Chaffee has sought to grow as an educator while remaining in the classroom. Her current responsibilities include mentoring student teachers; serving as humanities department chair; coordinating a weekly, student-led, all-school assembly; serving as a "crew leader" for up to a dozen female students; and coordinating Codman Academy's partnership with the Huntington Theatre Company.
   
   Chaffee believes that every choice students make in her classroom is feedback on her work, and she uses that feedback to improve. "As a lifelong learner, I want to model for my students that real learning happens when we humble ourselves to what we don't know, then grow through questioning and collaboration."
   
   Tuesday's ceremony at Codman Academy involved several students, including senior Omar Grey, who gave a show-stopping poetry performance, and students Latanya Simpson and Tia Murray, who spoke about their teacher. Tia noted that not all heroes wear spandex and capes. Turning to Chaffee, she said, "You wear bright colors and flats, and you still manage to save me academically."
   
   The other Teacher of the Year finalists for this year's award are: Kathryn Contini, a sixth-grade teacher at Blanchard Memorial School in Boxborough, part of the Acton Boxborough Regional School District; and Mary-Margaret Mara, a pre-kindergarten teacher at Chandler Magnet School in Worcester. This year's award brought two firsts: Chaffee is the first Massachusetts Teacher of the Year from a charter school, and Mary-Margaret Mara is the first pre-kindergarten teacher to be name a finalist.
   
   Chaffee will join these educators and other outstanding educators for an awards ceremony at the State House on June 15, 2016. The full press release is available online. Congratulations to all!

3. The Buzz: Kid Commissioner and Commissioner Chester #ThankATeacher
   

   To celebrate the amazing teachers in Massachusetts as part of National Teacher Appreciation week, the Department put together a short video. Watch as Kid Commissioner and Commissioner Chester acknowledge and thank teachers for all they do throughout the year for the students of Massachusetts.