Announcements and Calls

Transcription

1 c c c c N e w s Announcements and Calls Help Shape NCTE Positions by Submitting a Resolution: If you have concerns about issues that affect your teaching or positions you would like to support, and you think NCTE should take a stand, you have an opportunity to be heard! Propose a resolution that may be voted upon and passed at NCTE s Annual Convention. If passed at the Annual Business Meeting for the Board of Directors and Other Members of the Council, proposed resolutions become part of the Council s position/philosophy on questions related to the teaching of English and can assist the Council in developing action programs. For further details on submitting a resolution, or to see resolutions already passed by Council members, visit the NCTE website ( or contact Lori Bianchini at NCTE Headquarters ( , ext. 3644; resolutions@ncte.org). Resolutions must be postmarked by October 15, Diana Hacker TYCA Outstanding Programs in English Awards for Two-Year Teachers and Colleges Call for Submissions: This annual award honors twoyear teachers and their colleges for exemplary programs that enhance students language learning, helping them to achieve their college, career, and personal goals. Categories for submission for the 2010 award, in both credit and noncredit programs, are as follows: Reaching across Borders (Partnerships with Business; Partnerships with High Schools, Colleges, and Universities; Service Learning; Interdisciplinary Programs; and Distance/Distributed Learning); CCC 61:1 / september 2009 W467

2 C C C 6 1 : 1 / s e p t e m b e r Fostering Student Success (Transfer and Honor Programs; Serving Special Populations; Programs Teaching with Innovative Methods of Instructional Delivery; Mentoring and Tutoring Programs; Writing across the Curriculum); Enhancing Developmental Education (Preparing for the Workplace; Serving Special Populations; New Models for Building Writing and Reading Programs; Programs Teaching with Innovative Methods of Instructional Delivery; and Program Assessment); and Enhancing Literature and Cultural Arts (Programs Teaching Literature with Innovative Methods of Instructional Delivery; Collaborative College and Community Cultural Arts Programs or Events; College Literary Arts Programs). The programs may be exclusively English programs or combination programs with other disciplines, college services, and community or workplace groups. Colleges may enter a program in more than one category, if appropriate, but each entry must be submitted separately, and no program will receive an award in more than one category. The colleges selected for the awards and for honorable mention will be honored at the TYCA Breakfast at the CCCC Convention in Louisville in March The programs will be judged on the following criteria: (1) programs are developed as thoughtful responses to the educational needs of students; (2) programs show creative and innovative strategies that solve problems and provide solutions that go beyond the usual borders, cross traditional lines, and break barriers; (3) programs can be shared as models that can be adopted or adapted so that other teachers and colleges can benefit from the concept; (4) programs demonstrate collegiality and the collaboration of those who participate in them or are affected by them; (5) programs are able to demonstrate that they are successful in meeting their goals by careful use of appropriate evaluative measures; (6) programs reflect the importance of being sensitive to the cultural community by recognizing the special needs of diverse groups, promoting the concept of a multicultural society, and reaching out to the unique needs of the community; and (7) programs reflect pedagogy informed by sound language theory and practices. Applicants must submit a completed submission form, a brief description of their program (60 words or fewer), and a narrative of the program (1,000 words or fewer). Submission materials must be postmarked by November 10, Please visit for more information on the award and to obtain a submission form or submit a nomination online. For additional information, please contact Linda Walters, NCTE, 1111 W. Kenyon Road, Urbana, IL ; phone , ext. 3632, tyca@ncte.org. W468

3 A N N O U N Cc Ec Mc Ec NNT S e wa sn D C A L L S Nell Ann Pickett Service Award Call for Nominations: This award is granted each year to an outstanding teacher whose vision and voice have had a major impact on two-year college professionalism and whose teaching exemplifies such outstanding personal qualities as creativity, sensitivity, and leadership. The award, presented at the annual CCCC Awards Ceremony, consists of a plaque from NCTE and free registration to the following year s CCCC convention. Candidates must meet the following criteria: Major impact on two-year college professionalism. Service qualifications: Positive contributions to professional leadership with a clearly national reach and an inclusive vision demonstrated in such activities as mentoring, publication, or work uniting the goals and efforts of organizations and groups that promote two-year colleges. Teaching qualifications: Past or present excellence in teaching that exemplifies such outstanding personal qualities as creativity, sensitivity, and leadership. Any person may nominate a service award candidate who meets the award criteria by sending an overview of the applicant s qualifications in no more than two double-spaced typed pages and a current vita. The selection committee may request other supporting materials. The 2010 award committee will select the winner from nominations postmarked no later than November 15, Please send two-page nominating materials to: Linda Walters, Nell Ann Pickett Service Award Committee, NCTE, 1111 W. Kenyon Road, Urbana, IL , tyca@ncte.org. TYCA Fame and Shame Award Winners: The Two-Year College English Association (TYCA) has announced the winners of the 2009 Public Image of the Two-Year College Fame and Shame Awards. Fame Award The 2009 TYCA Fame Award went to Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden, for commitment to the mission of community colleges. The fact that she has chosen to continue to teach at a community college after her husband became vice president speaks volumes about her dedication to two-year college ideals. Biden said in a statement, I have always believed in the power of community colleges to endow students with critical life skills, and I am pleased that I can make a difference by doing what I love to do, teaching people who are excited to learn. W469

4 C C C 6 1 : 1 / s e p t e m b e r Though she does not have to work, let alone teach at a two-year or fouryear college/university, Biden is thought to be the first second lady to hold a paying job while her husband is in office. She could have chosen to teach at George Washington University, or Georgetown University, or the University of Maryland, but instead she picked a community college because she feels passionately about them. A 28-year veteran educator and community college instructor for nearly a quarter of a century, Biden currently teaches two classes at Northern Virginia Community College, Alexandria campus: an English as a second language course and a developmental English course. In addition to Biden s two master s degrees, she also earned a doctorate in education from the University of Delaware in Her dissertation was on retaining students in community colleges. Biden intends to assume a role as a public advocate for community colleges as second lady, and she also may advise the Obama administration on related education policies. Honorable Mention Brush with Destitution Fuels a Desire to Succeed, an article written by Peter Schworm and printed in The Boston Globe, January 21, 2009, is awarded Honorable Mention. The story discussed how an opportunity for a higher education provided by Bunker Hill Community College enabled a homeless individual, Maximilien Yelbi, to comprehend his talent and build a sense of self-worth an experience that enabled him to ultimately state, I felt free. Shame Award The 2009 Shame Award went to U.S. News and World Report for Kim Clark s January 9, 2009, article, Community Colleges: Cheaper but Not Necessarily Better. Therein the author warns those who might opt for low cost community colleges rather than pay the rising tuition costs at four-year colleges, Counselors across the country warn, however, that sometimes students get what they pay for, suggesting that people who attend community colleges often end up with a second-rate education. Clark goes on to explain that, Choosing a two-year college could actually harm students long-term prospects because [r]esearch has shown that community colleges, overall, do a poor job of getting students into four-year schools. The article appeared in College Knowledge, a section of U.S. News and World Report written by the U.S. News Education Team. At best, it offers sweeping assertions and limited evidence to justify claims that cheaper is not necessarily equal or better. W470

5 c c c c N e w s A N N O U N C E M E N T S A N D C A L L S Although Clark s article concludes with a reference to a video by Santa Monica Community College that contains some tips that could help a community college student succeed in higher education, overall, the article was derogatory in tone and content. Success as defined by the article means transferring to a four-year college and receiving a four-year college/university degree. The Fame and Shame Awards annually recognize the best and worst mentions of the two-year college appearing in any media during the previous year. Visit the Fame and Shame Awards website at awards/fameshame to submit nominations for the 2010 award. Call for CEL Award for Exemplary Leadership: This award is given annually to an NCTE member who is an outstanding English language arts educator and leader. Please nominate an exceptional leader who has had an impact on the profession through one or more of the following: (1) work that has focused on exceptional teaching and/or leadership practices (e.g., building an effective department, grade level, or building team; developing curricula or processes for practicing English language arts educators; or mentoring); (2) contributions to the profession through involvement at both the local and national levels; (3) publications that have had a major impact. Your award nominee submission must include a nomination letter, the nominee s curriculum vitae, and no more than three additional letters of support from various colleagues. Send by February 1, 2010, to: Patrick Monahan, 4685 Lakeview Dr., Interlochen, MI 49643; pjmonahan1@gmail.com (Subject: CEL Exemplary Leader). Carolyn Phipps 2009 CEL Exemplary Leader Award Recipient: The 2009 CEL Exemplary Leader Award Recipient is Carolyn Phipps. Phipps, a member of NCTE since 1972, is the Director of Studies at St. Mary s Episcopal School in Memphis, Tennessee. She started work there after teaching English in the Memphis City Schools for 34 years, including time at Southside High School, Oakhaven High School, and as English supervisor for the district. In 1995, she decided to return to the classroom at Wooddale High School. There she was Instructional Facilitator, AP English teacher, and coordinator of the Optional Aviation Program. Mrs. Phipps attended Union University in Jackson, Tennessee, and holds a Bachelor of Science and Masters of Education from the University W471

6 C C C 6 1 : 1 / s e p t e m b e r of Memphis. She is a Career Ladder III teacher. In 1996, she was selected as a Rotary Teacher of Excellence. In addition, she was selected as Tennessee English Teacher of Excellence by TCTE. Believing that professional affiliation improves teaching, Mrs. Phipps has served educational organizations in various capacities on the local, state, and national levels. She recently retired as Executive Director of the Tennessee Council of Teachers of English. She has been a member of the Secondary Section of the National Council of Teachers of English Steering Committee and served on NCTE s Editorial Board. Knowing that affiliates are the life blood of NCTE, she was Region 3 director and then SCOA chairperson. Because she knows that new teachers need support, she began the Mentoring program for the Shelby-Memphis Council of Teachers of English and was instrumental in the revision of the Tennessee Literary Map. She also served on the Language Arts Advisory Council for Tennessee. Mrs. Phipps has been a member of the Association of Secondary School Curriculum Development, Tennessee Middle School Association, Adolescent Literature Association, American Literature Association, Conference on English Leadership, Delta Kappa Gamma, and International Reading Association. Mrs. Phipps has also served on the state committee for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS CASI). Carolyn Phipps embodies all the values and ideals of leadership that qualify her to receive this year s CEL Exemplary Leader Award. W472