The NEA Foundation

We are delighted to introduce to you the seven globally-recognized scholars, thought leaders, and practitioners, who will serve as the inaugural cohort of our newly formed Senior Fellows Advisory Group.

For many years, the NEA Foundation has formally engaged the expertise, knowledge, and resources of several groups, such as the NEA Foundation Board of Directors, educators, the NEA’s executive leadership, corporate and philanthropic partners, and others. Guidance from our Senior

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I am heartened by the urgent call to action articulated by John H. Jackson to all of us in his recent Huffington Post blog, "A New Take on 'No Excuses' -- Tackling Poverty to Provide Meaningful Opportunity."  

Whether we seek to increase teaching effectiveness, provide widespread and high-quality early childhood education, or enrich the rigor and relevance of curricula (among the goals of the Schott Foundation for Public Education opportunity-to-learn framework), a common underlying

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Through expanded learning opportunities (ELOs), time is being reconsidered in districts across the nation to improve student learning and increase teaching effectiveness in support of 21st century learning goals.

Given the relative newness of many of ELO programs and activities, a thin research base exists about how effective ELOs are spearheaded, developed, administered and governed. The cases and analyses

presented in the NEA Foundation’s newest report, Expanding Learning Opportunities to

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Today, we recognize four young scholars— Bianca Couture, Ashdon Reynolds, Alton Skinner, and Brianna Smith. These students have not only demonstrated a commitment to learning, but also lead by example in their communities, whether through academic pursuits, talent or service to their communities. We honor them today with a scholarship made possible through the Dr. William “Bill” Miles Young Scholars Memorial Scholarship Fund of the NEA Foundation.

A friend and colleague to all

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After you completed your Student Achievement or Learning & Leadership Grant project, were you able to successfully continue the work beyond the funded year? Is so, why were you able to continue? To what would you attribute your success? If not, what were your primary challenges?

Share your thoughts here.

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Bringing it Home, by Harriet Sanford, Huffington Post

I am delighted to share with you my op-ed, linked above, which the Huffington Post posted yesterday afternoon.

It tells the powerful story of parent-teacher home visits in two of our Closing the Achievement Gaps Initiative sites, Seattle, WA and Springfield, MA, and points to the keystone of their success: a dynamic collaboration between the union, the district, and their communities.

I encourage you to read it, to comment on it, and to share

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Parent-teacher home visits, virtually unheard of a decade ago, are rapidly gaining national attention. They are proving to be a way of deepening trust and relationships among teachers, parents and students, and helping teachers better understand the unique academic and other needs of all of their students.

The NEA Foundation's first Issue Brief tells the powerful story of parent-teacher home visits in two of the Foundation's Closing the Achievement Gap Initiative sites- Seattle, WA and

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Just over 100 ideas stand between you and $1,000! Post your innovative idea for how to incorporate game-based learning and interactive technology to help students learn by March 5.

It's as easy as...

    Offering an idea that utilizes a new or existing technology to facilitate learning;

    Submitting an idea that integrates a game or gaming system into classroom instruction, or;

    Proposing a concept for something that hasn't even been

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Now more than ever, savvy teachers and education-support professionals are looking beyond their districts to fund innovative projects.

As an NEA Foundation grant recipient, you understand the importance of securing outside resources to fund your great ideas. Aside from the NEA Foundation, where have you looked to secure funding? Have you been successful in receiving grants or in-kind donations from other sources?

Share your thoughts here.

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Danielle Kovach, a special education teacher at Tulsa Trail Elementary School in Hopatcong, NJ, received the 2012 Salute to Excellence in Education Gala’s top award: The NEA Member Benefits Award for Teaching Excellence and $25,000.

Kovach was one of five finalists for the top honor; each received special recognition at the gala on February 10: the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence, and $10,000.

Watch Kovach’s moving acceptance speech below.

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