Principal Deserves a Pat on the Back

The principal of Beaumont High School, Travis Brown, deserves a pat on the back. He was so adamant on making sure students showed up to school on the first day that he went to the neighborhoods to inform students and their families that attendance was expected. He knocked on doors of high-absentee students and rode the streets on a fire truck making the announcement over the loudspeaker.

His dedication to education is very inspiring—especially in the face of the failing St. Louis Public Schools! If more individuals had this genuine and passionate concern for the students—making the children the top priority—then these schools can finally begin to turn around. Because improvements in the cities education system are desperately needed now!

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/education/story/C556072BAE6E4E44862574A7000C647E?OpenDocument

Alternative Teacher Certification

A few days ago the St. Louis Post Dispatch highlighted a new law that took effect on August 28 allowing for business professionals to gain teacher certification in Missouri by completing the American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence program.  Programs like these are sorely needed to attract more teachers to Missouri who already have real world experience and want to share it with our children.

It was very disheartening to see Otto Fajen of the MNEA call the program a "quick and dirty way"to address teacher shortages.  His concern of how long these teachers will last is nullified two paragraphs earlier.  According to program administrators, 85% of the program's teachers are in the classroom three years after being certified and 95% of the principals it surveyed found ABCTE-certified teachers to be as effective or more effective than its traditionally certified peers.

Hopefully, Missouri will recognize more programs like the ABCTE program.  A broad spectrum of experienced individuals teaching in our classrooms can only better our children's education. These experienced professionals know what it takes in the real world to succeed and that is knowledge our children need to advance in life.