15th Issue No images? Click here Teach Plus Mississippi HeadlinesTeach Plus Mississippi Applauds the Adoption of a Performance-Based Licensure PathwayOn November 9th, the Mississippi State Board of Education approved a policy change that establishes a performance-based pathway for experienced educators seeking to earn licensure. The policy change enables eligible teachers to earn a 5-year license by teaching in a 5th-8th grade tested subject area for three years while proving their effectiveness through observations and student growth on state tests. The performance-based pathway provides an opportunity for educators who have been effective in the classroom but have had difficulty passing the required licensure exam. “When it comes to licensure, current and aspiring educators in Mississippi know that we need to maintain a high, relevant bar for entering the profession using multiple pathways. That is what’s necessary to ensure that every student in the Magnolia State has an excellent teacher. I applaud the State Board for recognizing that great teachers come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and for implementing a policy change that closely aligns with that focus,” said Sanford Johnson, Teach Plus Mississippi Executive Director. Members of our 2022-23 Teacher Prep & Licensure Working Group were deeply involved in advocating for this policy change. They surveyed participants in MDE’s performance-based pilot program and shared findings with MDE. They also submitted public comments in support of adopting the performance-based pathway. CLICK HERE to read our full statement on the decision. Mississippi Program UpdatesNow that the 2023 campaign season has come to a close, we invited Taylor Vance, Political Reporter for Mississippi Today as our guest speaker for the November Monthly Session. Taylor met with our Policy Fellows for about an hour to discuss the election results, the impact the election will have on Mississippi’s political landscape, and advice for engaging with legislative leaders. Our Fellows were also joined by Lindsay Sobel, Teach Plus Chief of Policy, Planning & External Affairs, who led our training on Power Mapping and Policy Goal Setting. Meet Our 2023-24 Policy FellowsHodricka Burnett, Hollandale School District Hodricka Burnett is a high school science teacher at Simmons High School in Hollandale, Mississippi. She focuses on being a mentor to her students and providing them with opportunities for growth and connection. Hodricka began her career in 2020 through Teach for America and decided to continue to work after her two-year commitment. She earned her BS in Psychology at Mississippi State University in 2019. She also earned her Master of Healthcare Administration from Capella University in 2021. Hodricka is a member of our College & Career Readiness Working Group. Caroline Bartlett, Long Beach School District Caroline Bartlett is an 11th and 12th-grade United States History and Dual Credit Government teacher at Long Beach High School in Long Beach, Mississippi. She serves as the social studies department chair and on the superintendent's teacher advisory council. Caroline has served on the State Superintendent's Teacher Advisory Council for several years. Carrie attended the 2023 Supreme Court Summer Institute and was the Long Beach High School Teacher of the Year (2015-2016). She earned her BA in Political Science from the University of Alabama, a MEd in Secondary Education from William Carey University, and is currently pursuing a Master's in political science from the University of Southern Mississippi. Caroline is a member of our Equitable Funding Working Group. Teacher VoicesJack Fredericks, Senior Writing Fellow, who wrote a recently-published Newsweek op-ed, “How We Mississippi Teachers Bucked the National Trend and Taught Our Kids How to Read” <--Click here to read Jack Fredericks, West Tallahatchie School District “The reading gains in Mississippi are real and we have shown improvement across all demographics and all grades, no matter how you interpret the data. This doesn't mean that we've solved the literacy problem or that all students are reading on grade level. It doesn't mean that we can't recognize our shortcomings and teach with a more intentional eye towards the whole student.” _____________ Alumni Spotlight: Barquita Stanton_____________ Barquita Stanton, alumnus of the Teach Plus SEL Change Agent Network, was recently selected to serve on the Teach Plus National Policy Advisory Board. Joining a cohort of teacher leaders from across the country, the Board members will spend the next year building their knowledge of federal policy, building their advocacy skills, and creating strong relationships with their congressional representatives and staff. Barquita is a 4th-grade ELA teacher at Johnson Elementary School in Jackson. She has a BA in Child Development from Tougaloo College and a Masters in the Art of Teaching from Belhaven University. Upcoming Events & OpportunitiesThe State of Our Union The Atlantic and Mississippi Today will host the State of Our Union event in Jackson on Thursday, November 30th. This day-long event will feature numerous guest speakers and panel discussions. Our very own Sanford Johnson will participate in a panel discussion entitled “Reimagining K-12 Education”. CLICK HERE to register for this event. About Teach PlusThe mission of Teach Plus is to empower excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that advance equity, opportunity, and student success. Since 2009, Teach Plus has developed thousands of teacher leaders across the country to shape education policy and improve teaching and learning, to create an education system driven by access and excellence for all. Want to be involved? Join Our Network or Nominate Teachers to join by visiting our website at teachplus.org/MS or click below: For more information about the Policy Fellowship, please email Teach Plus Mississippi Executive Director Sanford Johnson at sjohnson@teachplus.org. Monthly |