Chess Meet and Greets This Summer

The Starved Rock Chess League Announces Summer Chess Meet and Greets!

All events will be held at Peru City Hall 1901 Fourth St. Peru.

All events are on Thursday Afternoons from 1:00 to 3:00

June 6th, June 20th, July 18th, and August 1st

Sponsored by Ford Farms, PDQ, S&J Electric, and the North Central Regional Betterment Coalition

For more information contact Deanna Carlson at dcarlson.usa@gmail.com

Robin Lasker Excellence in Foreign Language Teaching

Congratulations to Robin Lasker.  The 2nd year Foreign Language Teacher at LaSalle Peru High School has been chosen for the Montserrat Villarruba Award of Excellence through the Illinois Council on the Teaching for Foreign  Languages.

Full details in Saturday's News Tribune.  If they provide a link I will post it here.

Anytime a local teacher is recognized, especially in an area as important as Foreign Language, its a cause for celebration.

Local Educators Ahead of the Curve

Often times I will read something in the paper and think, "Gee, why aren't we doing that?"
So Friday it was an absolute delight to open the Chicago Tribune and see the story from Bonnie Miller Rubin with the headline High School Work Pays Off.  The article details a report from the National Association of School Boards that shows how high schools can greatly influence the potential success for kids who go on to college.  Specifically they mention the importance of more quality guidance counselor time and more Advanced Placement Classes.  If you follow the coverage in the News Tribune of LaSalle-Peru Township High School then you already know Superintendent Steve Wrobleski and the LP Board have already been making a lot of moves in this direction. I'm sure there is more to do, but its nice to see a local school ahead of the curve.

 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/education/ct-met-college-success-1012-20121012,0,7272117.story

Sometimes five minutes of reading can do more to advance an idea, than 100's speeches to 100's of people.

The idea, communities which are serious about valuing education will have more economic vitality than those that don't.

With that idea in mind, take a look at this editorial from the Chicago Tribune on Labor Day 2012.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-jobs-20120903,0,6222554.story

There are so many things going on right now that are so important. It may not be obvious to you on first blush, but the story of the potential for a strike by Chicago Teachers is really important to people who are concerned about the economic vitality of LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam County.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-strike-20120831,0,7044674.story

From the Tribune: Only the Best

Chicago Tribune Editorial on the importance of Great Teachers



http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/editorials/ct-edit-schools-0823-jm-20120823,0,1473834.story

Now is the Time-Encourage an Outstanding Teacher to Become National Board Certified

Encourage an outstanding teacher or counselor to become a

National Board Certified Teacher

National Board Certification offers a way for accomplished teachers to be assessed and recognized, and a way for parents to know their child’s teacher has met high and rigorous standards. The single most important action the nation can take to improve schools is to strengthen teaching. NBPTS develops high and rigorous standards for accomplished teachers and 100,000 teachers across the country and 5,152 teachers in Illinois have demonstrated that they meet those standards by achieving National Board Certification.

 National Board Certified Teachers are among the nation’s most effective teachers who have demonstrated that they meet the highest teaching standards.

The NBPTS certification process takes from one to three years to complete. Throughout this period, candidates:

·         Analyze and reflect on student learning based on small and large group work with students that is supported by video recordings of classroom teaching.

·         Analyze and reflect on student learning using student work samples.

·         Document accomplishments of working with families and the community, colleagues and the profession and evidence of how that work impacts student learning.

·         Respond to online assessment exercises that demonstrate subject-matter expertise.

 NBPTS Certification-The Facts

 A Comprehensive Guide to Developing and Sustaining Teacher Evaluation

 Q&A Guide for Teachers and Other Educators

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) Project

The Illinois State Board of Education is pleased to announce the opening of the 2012 Spring Window for the Illinois $2,000 NBPTS Candidate Fee Subsidy. The National Board Resource Center at Illinois State University will process applications for eligible Illinois teachers. Funding is limited to 500 candidates at this time. Please invite an outstanding teacher or counselor to become a National Board Certified Teacher by forwarding this message to them and adding a personal note of encouragement. You can also send an electronic invitation by completing the online nomination form.

To know:

The National Board Resource Center at Illinois State University assists candidates in finding support while going through the National Board process.

 

The Resource Center provides the following support to candidates free of charge:

1.       Face to face cohorts- organized around larger groups of candidates (6 or more) throughout the state.

2.       Virtual cohorts-online support for candidates in areas of the state where there are low numbers of candidates.

Candidates can also receive support through:

1.       NBPTS support provided through school districts.

University coursework designated for NBPTS.