5th Issue No images? Click here Teach Plus Mississippi HeadlinesFor Teach Plus Mississippi, 2022 was a year of long-overdue in-person gatherings, big policy wins, and the launch of new opportunities for teacher leaders in the Magnolia State. Our teacher leaders did amazing work at the local, state, and national levels. We can’t wait for what’s in store for 2023. On behalf of Teach Plus Mississippi teachers and staff members, we wish you a restful and joyous holiday season. We look forward to joining you in the new year! Happy Holidays from Teach Plus Mississippi!Mississippi Program UpdatesSEL Change Agents (l to r) Barquita Stanton, Bre’Ana Marshall, Rebecca Menard, and Kanesha Patterson Teach Plus hosted a virtual showcase for the SEL Change Agent Network on December 13th. Four of our SEL Change Agents from Jackson Public Schools shared details about their projects, their impact on their respective schools, and their plans to continue their work in the future. Each of our SEL Change Agents created a one-pager describing their leadership projects. Click the links below to learn more about their work. Kanesha Patterson, Van Winkle Early Childhood Center Teacher SEL through PBIS Rebecca Menard, Murrah High School Peer-Led Support Group Bre’Ana Marshall & Barquita Stanton, Johnson Elementary School Johnson Elementary School C.A.R.E.S. Teach Plus MS Policy Fellows with Holly Spivey from MDE Our December Monthly December featured a few “festive” Christmas sweaters and a few of our favorite songs from the Holidays. Fellows learned about “Individual Relational Meetings” and how they can be used to build public relationships and advocacy coalitions. Our Policy Fellows were also joined by Holly Spivey, the Director of Government Relations at MDE. Holly shared valuable information about ways teacher leaders can effectively engage policymakers in our policy priorities. Meet Our 2022-23 Policy FellowsLakima Ross, Leflore Legacy Academy Lakima Ross is a 6th-grade teacher leader at Leflore Legacy Academy in Greenwood, Mississippi. She focuses on teaching scholars in the areas of self-independence and literacy skills and challenging them with rigorous learning material to make them all-around successful scholars. She previously held the title of department chair and lead scholar activity coordinator. Lakima was named teacher Most Distinguished First-Year Teacher (2015). Lakima began her teaching career in 2015 after accepting an invitation to participate in the Mississippi Writing Project at Mississippi Valley State University. She has since taught grades 6th-8th across the MS Delta. She earned her BA in English with an Emphasis in Creative Writing. Miketa Davis-Smith, Jackson Public Schools Miketa Davis-Smith is the Lead Exceptional Education Teacher at Lanier High School in Jackson, Mississippi. She is also part of the school's Leadership Team and the JPS Mentor-Mentee Program for 1-3 year new teachers. Miketa was named Teacher of the Month for the months of April 2019, January 2020, and March 2021. She is currently pursuing her National Board Certification, in the area of Exceptional Needs, through the TIME Initiative with Jackson Public School District. Miketa has her BS in Special Education, MS in Special Education, and Ed.S in Psychometry. In addition, she recently received her 2nd Masters’ Degree in Educational Leadership from Jackson State University. Teacher Voices“In order for Mississippi to combat the rising attrition rate among young educators, we must require schools to develop a meaningful mentorship program that promotes strong relationships and a positive school culture. Without this, our schools will struggle to retain new teachers, exacerbating the teacher shortage in the state.” Policy Fellow, Jack Fredericks, featured in Teachers Can't Thrive in a Vacuum in The Sun-Sentinel (Charleston, MS)
Alumni SpotlightErica Scott Erica Scott is a 2020-21 Policy Fellow Alum. She is currently the president of the Mississippi Foreign Language Association. As the president, she speaks on behalf of the organization and communicates with the executive board to plan conferences and professional development for teachers across the state. “My time with Teach Plus has taught me to be a more organized leader. I learned how to collaborate with educators from across the state and I use those skills to connect with the foreign language teachers of Mississippi.” Upcoming Events & OpportunitiesTeach For America Capitol Hill Fellowship (For TFA Alumni) The Capitol Hill Fellows Team is now accepting applications for the year-long program that will support and place a group of Teach For America alumni in full-time, paid congressional staff positions on Capitol Hill in late summer 2023. The program offers Fellows incredible insights into the legislative process and an opportunity to gain national policy-making experience. Fellows participate in monthly professional development sessions to enhance the skills necessary to grow as policy leaders. In addition, Fellows are paid a stipend of $67,000 over 12 months and have access to ongoing mentorship opportunities. Fellows DO NOT lobby on behalf of Teach For America or work on issues related to Teach For America during this Fellowship but instead work on issues assigned by a member of Congress or congressional committee. Each Fellow cohort reflects the diversity of TFA; Fellows represent many regions and both political parties. Applications for the 2023 TFA Capitol Hill Fellows Program are open from Friday, November 18th, 2022, and are due by Monday, January 9th, 2023. Link to Apply: www.teachers.supply.io.
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 |