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 Fellows will support further our local education reform projects that are co-developed by union leaders, educators, districts, and school administrators. Such work is a signature feature of the NEA Foundation Closing the Achievement Gaps Initiative and Institute for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, in which collaborative efforts aim to ensure a high-quality education for all students.

Drawing upon the unique talents and expertise of this prestigious group, the Foundation aims to bring critical thought leadership to deepen and accelerate improvement of systems to increase teaching effectiveness and the quality of academic and non-academic supports to students and their families.

Members of the NEA Foundation’s Senior Fellows Advisory Group are:

• Michael Fullan, Professor Emeritus of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto.

• Gloria J. Ladson-Billings, Kellner Family Professor of Urban Education in Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

• Luke Merchlewitz, second grade teacher in Winona, MN, and adjunct faculty member at Winona State University.

•  Susan Moore Johnson, Jerome T. Murphy Professor in Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and academic dean from 1993 to 1999.

• Pedro Noguera, Peter L. Agnew Professor of Education at New York University and former teacher, focusing on the influence of social and economic conditions in the urban environment on schools. 

• Mary Pinkston, high school math teacher in Delaware’s Brandywine School District, where she has been named Brandywine High School, District, and State Teacher of the Year.

• Jerry D. Weast, recently retired Superintendent of the Montgomery County Public Schools, the largest and most diverse school system in Maryland.
  

Read more about our inaugural Senior Fellows Advisory Group.

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 dynamic must change. This dynamic is about how we all work together—or not—to achieve these ends. All have a role to play—parent and teacher, principal and paraprofessional, civic authority and civil society, corporate chief executive officer and district chief academic officer.  

By virtue of my work as president and CEO of the NEA Foundation, I have seen, and our Foundation has begun to document, deep collaboration among teachers unions, districts and communities to create systematic opportunities for parents and teachers to work together in new ways, and for expanding academic and non-academic supports to students resulting in richer learning experiences in and outside of schools. I wholeheartedly agree with Dr. Jackson: to close achievement gaps, we must systematically close opportunity gaps. For these efforts to be sustained, I would respectfully add that we must begin to close “collaboration gaps” as well.

Harriet Sanford
President & CEO

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 Close the Achievement Gaps: Lessons from Union-District Collaborations, provide examples of ELO programs that have been jointly designed and collaboratively operated by leaders from the school district, teachers' unions and community.

We urge you to read this report and to share it broadly. Questions or ideas? Please let me know.

Sincerely, 

Harriet Sanford
President & CEO

A friend and colleague to all of us, Bill served as NEA Foundation Director of Programs until April 10, 2010. His legacy was one of countless students whose lives were transformed by his service as a teacher, school administrator, and leader in educational philanthropy. The NEA Foundation was honored to lay claim to Bill’s expertise and vision throughout the last three years of his life. He helped guide our effort to empower educators, schools, and districts in their quest to rethink and renew their work on behalf of students.

In each of these four students, we see a story of exceptional achievement made possible by the hard work, passion, and professional commitment of the teachers who inspire them.

On behalf of the Dr. William "Bill" Miles Young Scholars Memorial Scholarship Fund benefactors, and the NEA Foundation Board of Directors and staff, please join us in congratulating our new scholars.

Bianca Couture, Springfield, MA

Bianca Couture has been an Alto and Alto Section Leader with the Central High School Madrigal Singers in Springfield, MA since 2009.  Since the summer of 2010, she has interned at the Children’s Chorus of Springfield where she helps teach children musicianship skills and organizes musical acts.  In addition, Couture has performed with the Western District Chorus and in three Central High School Plays.  

A senior this year, she ranks 16 out of 408 in her class and presently holds a 4.0 grade point average.

Ashdon Reynolds, Springfield, MA

Ashdon Reynolds is a lead percussionist in Springfield's High School of Science and Technology Band Program.  As member of the Sci-Tech Band leadership team, he also mentors elementary and high school students weekly in conjunction with the school's Mentoring Through Music Program.  Reynolds has performed at many Springfield venues including churches, the Arts Alive Music Festival and the Winterfest Music Festival.  He has also performed nationally with the Drum Corps.

Reynolds aims to compose his own music and to influence and inspire whole communities--to show that music can save lives.  He plans on attending Berkley School of Music to pursue a degree in music performance and music composition.

Alton Skinner, Springfield, MA

Alton Skinner’s interest in music started with the Springfield (MA) High School of Science and Technology Sci-Tech Band.  During his sophomore year, he began to play the alto saxophone.  As a result of Skinner’s rapid growth as a musician and his dedication to music, he is now the leader of more than 300 students as President of the Band Program.  He has performed at many Springfield venues and with the United States Navy Band. 

Skinner hopes to major in Music Performance at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and plans to pursue a varied music career.

Briana Smith, Springfield, VA

Briana Smith is a senior at West Springfield High School in Springfield, VA and currently has a 3.9 grade point average. Smith has a passion for writing and reading fiction.  She also enjoys participating in her school's Dynasty Step Team and is currently the captain.  Smith interns at Cultural Tourism DC and is also a member of Active Minds, YOUnity (a minority affairs club) and the History Honor Society.

Smith has been accepted at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA where she will major in Interdisciplinary Studies with a double major in Elementary Education and Medieval and Renaissance Studies.  She plans to be a third grade teacher.

Share your thoughts here.

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 it with others. Questions? Let me know.

 Harriet Sanford
 President & CEO

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 Springfield, MA. I encourage you to read it and to broadly share it.

Want to learn more about the union-district collaboration that is making programs like this one possible? Read the Rennie Center case study that features our work in Springfield.

Questions or ideas? Please let me know.

Harriet Sanford
President & CEO

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 invented yet.

Post your best idea to the C2i: Gaming Challenge on the Open Innovation Portal by March 5, and you could become one of up to 10 selected to receive a $1,000 award. While you’re there, become part of the conversation! Rate and comment on ideas that have already been posted.

For more information on how to participate visit the Foundation's C2i page.

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.

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.