Celebrating and Honoring Teachers and the Teaching Profession
Childhood Education Volume 84, No 5, p. 294-A
On April 30, 2008, at the White House Rose Garden, President Bush announced that Michael Geisen would be the recipient of the 2008 National Teacher of the Year honor. The National Teacher of the Year is selected by a National Selection Committee, which consists of 15 major national educational organizations, with ACEI doing its part as one of the Selection Committee members.
Michael Geisen, a middle school 7th-grade science teacher from Prineville, Oregon, entered the teaching field from a non-traditional route; he earned his bachelor's degree in Forest Resource Management. While working on his forestry career, he discovered his passion for teaching. He then earned a Master of Arts degree in teaching with a science endorsement and began teaching science at Crook County Middle School seven years ago. He advocates the use of innovative teaching pedagogy to nurture children's creativity
Geisen's passion for teaching, his innovative teaching approaches, and his sense of humor made him stand out among the 56 State Teacher of the Year candidates. Geisen spoke at the Recognition Gala in his honor on April 30 in Washington, DC. He indicated that curriculum should not be designed and learning outcomes should not be measured by focusing only on the left brain. He believes that children must use both their right and left brains to learn. Teachers must prepare children with the knowledge and skills that they require for the 21st century in order to compete worldwide. Through his creative teaching approaches, Geisen has made science fun for many 7th-graders, having a great impact on many students' learning and producing measurable learning outcomes. As the National Teacher of the Year, Geisen will travel nationally and internationally and serve as the spokesperson for the teaching profession.
ACEI sends our congratulations to Michael Geisen as the 2008 National Teacher of the Year. We also want to recognize the many other outstanding teachers who work diligently and provide the best learning opportunities for their students.
ACEI has a long history of honoring teachers and valuing the teaching profession. In 1995, ACEI launched the Week of the Classroom Teacher initiative to recognize dedicated classroom teachers and celebrate the teaching profession. The Week of the Classroom Teacher celebration was held in May each year, coinciding with the National Teacher Day activity. Since ACEI is an international organization, with members in more than 40 countries, we joined the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 2005 by signing the Recommendation Concerning the Status of Teachers and made a commitment to join the public awareness campaign to highlight the contributions made by the teaching profession. Since then, ACEI's annual Week of the Classroom Teacher has coincided with World Teachers' Day, which is on October 5 each year. This year, the Week of the Classroom Teacher and World Teachers' Day celebration is scheduled from October 5 to October 11.
One of ACEI's newly approved Strategic Goals is "to promote excellence in teaching and learning by influencing national and global policies, standards, and pedagogy." In order to promote excellence in teaching and learning, ACEI members must participate in the Week of the Classroom Teacher and World Teachers' Day campaign to draw public attention to the important roles that teachers play for children's learning and within the global society.
This year, the World Teachers' Day theme focuses on promoting better work conditions for all teaching professionals. Many preschool educators and child care providers still receive minimum wage for the important work they do for young children and families. I encourage ACEI Branches to organize public forums and/or organize community-wide campaigns to draw public attention and address preschool teachers' and child care providers' working conditions. Each year in May, during the National Teacher Day celebration, schools, communities, and parents show their appreciation and honor classroom teachers. Child care providers have often been left out from this recognition. ACEI members should advocate on behalf of child care professionals by reminding parents and community leaders about the important influence that child care providers have on their children.
The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) puts an emphasis on accountability. Many public school teachers face the challenge of raising students' learning outcomes. Currently, there is a proposal in Congress to impose test-based pay programs on teachers. ACEI is committed to promoting excellence in teaching and learning by influencing national and global policies. To address the impact of NCLB on teaching and learning, I encourage ACEI Branches to partner with local PTA groups, community organizations, and/or school boards by organizing forums that allow parents, teachers, and community members to share their perspectives and address NCLB-related issues. ACEI must take an active role and advocate on behalf of teachers and children. The ACEI Week of the Classroom Teacher and World Teachers' Day can serve as the best vehicle to accomplish this goal. To help you plan the Week of the Classroom Teacher/World Teacher Day activities, please log on to this link on ACEI's website: www.acei.org/wcthp.htm.
ACEI believes that competent, creative, and committed teachers will enhance students' learning and produce competent individuals who will make contributions to society at the national and global levels. As Michael Geisen, the National Teacher of the Year 2008, makes his rounds to speak on behalf of the teaching profession, each ACEI member can also serve as the spokesperson on behalf of the early and middle childhood professions' children and families. We need more voices to channel our messages. Only when our voices have been heard by policymakers, school administrators, and community members, will positive change occur.
—Karen Liu, President
Resources:
www.acei.org/wcthp.htm
www.ei-ie.org/worldteachersday/en/index.php
www.nea.org/international/wtd07.html