Comments on: Wanted: Teachers http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/ Superintendent of Schools writes about learning and school management in rural Western New York. Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:20:06 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 By: pedersondesigns » Blog Archive » Looking for Work… http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-2861 pedersondesigns » Blog Archive » Looking for Work… Thu, 29 Mar 2007 20:26:45 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/#comment-2861 [...] Kimberly Moritz is looking for new teachers. This post reads better than any job posting I’ve ever read. It’s much more important than her finding good teachers. It’s helping good teachers find her. [...] [...] Kimberly Moritz is looking for new teachers. This post reads better than any job posting I’ve ever read. It’s much more important than her finding good teachers. It’s helping good teachers find her. [...]

]]> By: Karen Janowski http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-2791 Karen Janowski Mon, 26 Mar 2007 15:00:44 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/#comment-2791 Kimberly, Love your post - will you consider moving out to Massachusetts? We need more innovative principals in this area! Even the fact that you are so transparent on your blog speaks volumes. To Chris, You ask why would anyone pursue teaching at this point? To me, it is the most exciting time ever to be an educator! Look at all the tools and resources that are available in unprecedented ways. It is possible to engage students in ways never before possible. (Of course, I know that YOU know that!) I am an instructor in a graduate program for Special Education and infuse the technology throughout my entire course. My students so got Web2.0 and brought it back to their classrooms and to their schools. It's a ripple effect, but it's got to begin somewhere. Karen Kimberly,
Love your post – will you consider moving out to Massachusetts? We need more innovative principals in this area! Even the fact that you are so transparent on your blog speaks volumes.
To Chris,
You ask why would anyone pursue teaching at this point? To me, it is the most exciting time ever to be an educator! Look at all the tools and resources that are available in unprecedented ways. It is possible to engage students in ways never before possible. (Of course, I know that YOU know that!)
I am an instructor in a graduate program for Special Education and infuse the technology throughout my entire course. My students so got Web2.0 and brought it back to their classrooms and to their schools. It’s a ripple effect, but it’s got to begin somewhere.
Karen

]]> By: kwhobbes http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-2755 kwhobbes Sun, 25 Mar 2007 03:21:23 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/#comment-2755 Kimberly, I really didn't expect much different from the up and coming teachers. At our school, we have had intern-teachers for the last three years that I have been principal. I have yet to see any real innovation in any of them. No one goes out on the limb, no one is really trying new things. But, maybe it isn't them. Maybe it is the training universities that need to be shook up. Maybe we need to redesign these departments and make sure everyone who is in them knows what a blog is and can use a wiki, podcast, vodcast and other web2.0 materials. Jus the other day I scared my IT person by suggesting we check out something like Zoho or eyeOS instead of reinvesting in more MSOffice. (I love when they get that guppy gulp face going ;) But really, we need to look at how this next generation of teachers is being trained. Are they being allowed to experiment and challenge? Yes highstakes demands that teachers make sure content is covered but it can be covered without killing the love of learning in the student. Your questions will rock the interview process. Maybe we need more people who weren't good at school or, like me, didn't always walk the tight and narrow. It's funny how I watch my students and those who are pushing the boundaries often remind me of the people that I knew in school. Not disrespectful, most of the time, but willing to challenge, using the appropriate methods, when we didn't agree with policies and willing to take our consequences if we felt it was important enough. Hey, we did some other stuff too. Good luck with your search. Let me know how many fall off their chairs? I'd love to see their faces :) Kimberly,
I really didn’t expect much different from the up and coming teachers. At our school, we have had intern-teachers for the last three years that I have been principal. I have yet to see any real innovation in any of them. No one goes out on the limb, no one is really trying new things. But, maybe it isn’t them. Maybe it is the training universities that need to be shook up. Maybe we need to redesign these departments and make sure everyone who is in them knows what a blog is and can use a wiki, podcast, vodcast and other web2.0 materials. Jus the other day I scared my IT person by suggesting we check out something like Zoho or eyeOS instead of reinvesting in more MSOffice. (I love when they get that guppy gulp face going ;) But really, we need to look at how this next generation of teachers is being trained. Are they being allowed to experiment and challenge? Yes highstakes demands that teachers make sure content is covered but it can be covered without killing the love of learning in the student.
Your questions will rock the interview process. Maybe we need more people who weren’t good at school or, like me, didn’t always walk the tight and narrow. It’s funny how I watch my students and those who are pushing the boundaries often remind me of the people that I knew in school. Not disrespectful, most of the time, but willing to challenge, using the appropriate methods, when we didn’t agree with policies and willing to take our consequences if we felt it was important enough. Hey, we did some other stuff too.

Good luck with your search. Let me know how many fall off their chairs? I’d love to see their faces :)

]]> By: Pat Aroune http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-2754 Pat Aroune Sun, 25 Mar 2007 02:30:43 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/#comment-2754 Kim - I have been impressed with your leadership throughout the past eight months. I agree that the type of questions asked in an interview need to include an exploration into a candidates willingness to utilize their individual creative capacities. How about a question that asks the candidate if they were the building principal, how would they help to promote infusing technology in a classroom, a department, and a building? Maybe a question like this would give some insight into the candidates perception of their role into the ownership of change? A candidate that does not recognize they have a role, and relies upon administration to provide a specific direction, may not have the individual initiative necessary in this day and age. We do not need anymore lemmings in the profession. Keep up the great thought, in time, G-town will reap the benefits of your . work. Pat Kim – I have been impressed with your leadership throughout the past eight months. I agree that the type of questions asked in an interview need to include an exploration into a candidates willingness to utilize their individual creative capacities. How about a question that asks the candidate if they were the building principal, how would they help to promote infusing technology in a classroom, a department, and a building? Maybe a question like this would give some insight into the candidates perception of their role into the ownership of change? A candidate that does not recognize they have a role, and relies upon administration to provide a specific direction, may not have the individual initiative necessary in this day and age. We do not need anymore lemmings in the profession.

Keep up the great thought, in time, G-town will reap the benefits of your .
work.

Pat

]]> By: Jeff http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-2748 Jeff Sat, 24 Mar 2007 19:06:10 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/#comment-2748 Thanks for this post. I was beginning to think this converstion was off the radar of most administrators. Seeing as how adminstrators usually pass through schools, maybe one day one with your passion will pass my way. to jccfundamentals: try http://adifference.blogspot.com Thanks for this post. I was beginning to think this converstion was off the radar of most administrators.
Seeing as how adminstrators usually pass through schools, maybe one day one with your passion will pass my way.
to jccfundamentals: try http://adifference.blogspot.com

]]> By: jccfundamentals http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-2727 jccfundamentals Fri, 23 Mar 2007 12:07:15 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/#comment-2727 You are so right. But as I struggle to not teach math the way I was taught, I look around, and there are few examples for me to follow. You know that I try new ideas all the time, but it is hard, because I've never seen it done, never seen how it works, so it's a constant experiment. I find that I often have to look outside my department to find new ideas, and see if they will work in a math classroom. I fight my urge to be like Mr. Schlaegater everyday, and I loved that man! You are so right. But as I struggle to not teach math the way I was taught, I look around, and there are few examples for me to follow. You know that I try new ideas all the time, but it is hard, because I’ve never seen it done, never seen how it works, so it’s a constant experiment. I find that I often have to look outside my department to find new ideas, and see if they will work in a math classroom. I fight my urge to be like Mr. Schlaegater everyday, and I loved that man!

]]> By: Scott http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-2719 Scott Fri, 23 Mar 2007 05:39:03 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/#comment-2719 Right on, Kimberly. I love the way your interview questions shake things up and set a tone that challenges the status quo. Have you read Miguel Guhlin's post about blogging's role in professional development? http://www.edsupport.cc/mguhlin/archives/2007/03/entry_2963.htm He asks:"What are administrators doing to create environments that support teacher construction of personal learning networks? Glad to be able to point to your good example. . . Right on, Kimberly. I love the way your interview questions shake things up and set a tone that challenges the status quo. Have you read Miguel Guhlin’s post about blogging’s role in professional development?

http://www.edsupport.cc/mguhlin/archives/2007/03/entry_2963.htm

He asks:”What are administrators doing to create environments that support teacher construction of personal learning networks?

Glad to be able to point to your good example. . .

]]> By: mj http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-2716 mj Fri, 23 Mar 2007 01:58:00 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/#comment-2716 This topic is very timely. I am currently enjoying some down time at the NYS Social Studies convention. As I read the program to decide which classes I was going to attend, my goal was to find those that promoted 21st century skills. Luckily, I was able to find one or two. But I must share one presentation in particular. His name is Bill Reilly. I posted about him on my blog. Here's the link if you are interested. http://nlcommunities.com/communities/mjdudek/default.aspx This topic is very timely. I am currently enjoying some down time at the NYS Social Studies convention. As I read the program to decide which classes I was going to attend, my goal was to find those that promoted 21st century skills. Luckily, I was able to find one or two. But I must share one presentation in particular. His name is Bill Reilly. I posted about him on my blog. Here’s the link if you are interested. http://nlcommunities.com/communities/mjdudek/default.aspx

]]> By: Chris Lehmann http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-2714 Chris Lehmann Thu, 22 Mar 2007 19:14:03 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/#comment-2714 I'm really not surprised by the reaction folks have to Will. In this era of "accountability," why would ANYONE want to go out on a limb and innovate? (And yes, I know that I'm talking to someone who, like me, tries to do so every day.) Here's the follow-up question that keeps me up at night, given the increasing levels of teacher-bashing, curriculum-mandates, high-stakes testing... who will be the next generation of teachers and administrators? Why would someone young, bright and passionate go into teaching today when all of the media message about teaching is one that would discourage anyone with a sense of innovation from coming into the profession? I’m really not surprised by the reaction folks have to Will. In this era of “accountability,” why would ANYONE want to go out on a limb and innovate? (And yes, I know that I’m talking to someone who, like me, tries to do so every day.)

Here’s the follow-up question that keeps me up at night, given the increasing levels of teacher-bashing, curriculum-mandates, high-stakes testing… who will be the next generation of teachers and administrators? Why would someone young, bright and passionate go into teaching today when all of the media message about teaching is one that would discourage anyone with a sense of innovation from coming into the profession?

]]> By: kpruitt http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/comment-page-1/#comment-2712 kpruitt Thu, 22 Mar 2007 17:51:53 +0000 http://ghsprincipal.edublogs.org/2007/03/22/wanted-teachers/#comment-2712 It is good to see leardership participating in the conversation. You're right we do need to look for candidates that have passion, but we also need to make a firm, commitment to catching up the rest of the staff. I don't think my school is ready for 21 Cent Skills, but we can do a better job of teaching and modeling good learning behaviors. Sprinkle in more digital literacy opportunities and you may have your staff teaching newcomers in no time. Take Care Ken It is good to see leardership participating in the conversation.

You’re right we do need to look for candidates that have passion, but we also need to make a firm, commitment to catching up the rest of the staff. I don’t think my school is ready for 21 Cent Skills, but we can do a better job of teaching and modeling good learning behaviors. Sprinkle in more digital literacy opportunities and you may have your staff teaching newcomers in no time.

Take Care
Ken

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