Revised Issue No images? Click here Teach Plus Mississippi HeadlinesIn the weeks since our August Kickoff, Mississippi Policy Fellows have focused on understanding the lay of the land concerning their respective issue areas. They are also learning how they can share their classroom experiences as they advocate for policy change. Meanwhile, several of our Fellowship alums have taken advantage of exciting leadership opportunities. Mississippi Program UpdatesTeach Plus Policy Fellowship Alums Earnestine Williams (back row, 1st on the left) and Kimberly Archie (back row, 3rd from right) with MDE’s Trauma-Informed Toolkit Committee Two alums of the 2021-22 Policy Fellowship, Kimberly Archie from Jackson Public Schools and Earnestine Williams from the Western Line School District, participated in MDE’s Trauma-Informed Toolkit Committee. The teachers, counselors, and administrators on the committee are working to provide mental health resources for schools across the Magnolia State. Kimberly and Earnestine were members of last year’s Mental Health Working Group and advocated for mental health legislation with state lawmakers. Teach Plus MS Policy Fellows with staff members from the CEEDAR Center Teach Plus Mississippi welcomed Dr. Rod Lucero and Jan Greer from the CEEDAR Center to our September Monthly Session. Our Policy Fellows learned about CEEDAR’s policy partnership with state education agencies, including here in the Magnolia State. Fellows also learned about op-ed writing from Anya Grottel-Brown, Teach Plus Vice President of Communication. Meet Our 2022-23 Policy FellowsJoviladra Blake, Clarksdale Municipal School District Joviladra Blake is a 7th-8th grade special education teacher at Higgins Middle School in Clarksdale, MS. She has taught in the district for over 14 years. Joviladra earned a BA in Mass Communication/Public Relations from Mississippi Valley State University and became certified through the Teach Mississippi Institute at the University of Mississippi. She is a member of the Teacher Prep & Licensure working groups in this year’s fellowship. Mary Hill Taylor, Choctaw Tribal Schools Mary Hill Taylor is a Response to Intervention and Testing Coordinator at Choctaw Central High School in the Choctaw Tribal School System. She has 29 years of teaching experience and has been a National Board Certified teacher since 2001. She has also served on the Mississippi Department of Education’s Educator Licensure Commission since 2018. Mary Hill attended Mississippi State University, earning her B.S. in Technology & Education in 1993 and M.S. in 1997. She is a member of the Teacher Prep & Licensure working groups in this year’s fellowship. Alumni SpotlightValerie Steele and Shelley Putnam Valerie Steele Senior Research Fellow Valerie Steele, a 2020-22 Policy Fellow and current Senior Fellow, was selected to serve as a Senior Research Fellow this Spring. In this role, she will join 24 other teacher leaders in co-leading a national Teach Plus research initiative. She will also advise our current cohort of Policy Fellows in conducting their own research. Valerie is an 8th-grade teacher at Brandon Middle School in Brandon. Valerie also sponsors the Brandon Middle School Special Olympics club, Unify. Valerie was a recipient of a Mississippi Public Educators Classroom Grant, allowing her to introduce Equine Facilitated Learning into the public school system. Shelley Putnam, a 2018-19 Policy Fellow and 2020-21 Senior Fellow, was recently selected to join the Teach Plus Senior Writing Fellowship, a highly selective program for Teach Plus alumni to deepen their op-ed writing skills on timely and critical topics, hone their editing skills, and build their platform in the media. As part of the program, the Senior Writing Fellows also mentor Teach Plus teacher leaders in their writing, growing their leadership and mentorship skills. Shelley teaches 8th-grade science at Purvis Middle School in Purvis, Mississippi. She is a National Board Candidate Support Provider for the World Class Teachers Program and a member of the South Mississippi Writing Project. Shelley Putnam, Senior Writing Fellow School Ambassador Fellowship Webinar - National Teach Plus EventThe U.S. Department of Education is seeking applicants for the School Ambassador Fellowship, a program to enable outstanding teachers, administrators, and other school leaders to bring their school and classroom expertise to the Department and learn about and influence national education policy. This year's deadline for applying is December 18, 2022. Teach Plus is fortunate to have staff members and alumni who have participated in and now lead this program. We will hold an informational session for any members of our Teach Plus Community who are interested in learning more about the program and tips for submitting a strong application. Join us on Monday, October 24th at 8 PM ET/7 PM CT/6 PM MT/5 PM PT by registering here. 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 |