Subject: Inspired Teaching's March 2013 Newsletter: A Rich, Rigorous Learning Environment for Every Child
From: "Aleta Margolis" <[email-masked]>
To: <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:27:37 -0400 (EDT)

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Instigator of Thought
March 2013

In This Issue

From the Blog
Letter from Our Executive Director
Philanthropy Spotlight
Inspired Teaching in Action
Demonstration School

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From the Blog

Have you been reading our blog [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001IiVvj1dEdOos9TOLJtCvkJ2CS2m5Wt_J09XJkZTpraQ3wGSzyTQn4y9YBKGh3paR7bKzfxE8Y1vWDmkwDat7uMvSbws3jxmW3PuPDHnAQAnhFn1tSjCutXKEtfmRiobM]?
Our goal is to create a go-to space for examples of and discussions about what constitutes
good teaching and learning.
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Center for Inspired Teaching is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to
 building a better school experience for children by transforming the role of the
teacher from information provider to
Instigator of Thought.
Like us on Facebook [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001IiVvj1dEdOqdhIiewG7YXTLeSY5KPr99C38Oqg4uAzgSNcNgK6xHcz4LMMybgtNeMJPhtrazLp2y8fxXY1qP7eS3OPn4EtA28QBWNQAOEBVLKkanlwbWWoOMdYI0Fh_sSS7gX2DuQqU=]
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www.inspiredteaching.org [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001IiVvj1dEdOo0PcOJIT9pKsz9umig0k_fzwSSRz97g6Wg_GAwcc3C5mY4805dc0VSuHsZxeOCx2roPQhACrGx-4k1s67MvY5kSOnNXGdeJeBLAO88Eu8jVg==]
1436 U st NW
Washington DC 20009
@inspireTeach
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Letter from Aleta Margolis, Executive Director

NBC's Education Nation [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001IiVvj1dEdOr38bU-rOgpv9MRFPtmPQsUCh9abrCGCRqB0DsJKvh8RgcNFjhA5idESWEv4m5p5s0tXVTexHX9kcEdgUaA0OIvYkLIBsdn-kG79PtrwEI1LQ==]
recently kicked off a road tour [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001IiVvj1dEdOrVO1ydZs-fA48_mJIk-dRXymAOoDEhKAO8yvjunVXRx45DzhpsUUWzc-46K9K8yaWQiHyj6oGkoe_KKjmM_D4XAFceKq902l2j_IbHSVZU0DbpvStpD5mmpFknu8tmUMymJXo1t2gHi9N8C8mInEeOHAOSwO_w2RmwFKvVGjBjKCxEUjO9AIVn-FOPpTYo-VM=]--with
stops in three U.S. cities (Detroit, New Orleans, and Phoenix)--that will focus 
on the state of education in America.

At Inspired Teaching, we believe that the greatest challenge facing our nation's
 education system is in the recruitment, retention, and ongoing support of highly
effective teachers. As districts increase their focus on teacher quality and teachers
demand support to improve their performance, the need for effective training that
leads to positive student outcomes continues to grow.

We envision a future in which every child in America will have an Inspired Teacher
who teaches students how to think, focusing on a deep understanding of content to
prepare students to participate productively in society. Our transformative professional
development prepares teachers for the realities of the urban classroom, models excellent
teaching and learning and practice, and shifts educators' perspectives as they acquire
the mindsets and practices of effective teachers. Rather than delivering professional
development to teachers, we work with teachers to help them think differently about
their practice and grow as professionals, equipping them to effectively foster student
learning and achievement for the long term.

Do you believe that every student can achieve at high levels, and that all children
possess the ability to think critically, learn and understand information, and solve
complex problems? We do. Let's talk about how we can work together to provide a 
rich, rigorous learning environment for every child.

All the best,
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Philanthropy Spotlight

Inspired Teaching is fortunate to receive support from philanthropic organizations
such as the The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation, which is dedicated 
to helping youth secure a promising future, providing relief from hunger and disasters,
supporting people with disabilities, and creating gainful employment opportunities
for vulnerable youth and adults.

In the area of education, the Foundation primarily supports higher education programs
with a focus on hospitality, as well as elementary and secondary education initiatives
in Washington, DC--with a focus on programs that improve education outcomes for 
young people from low-income communities.

According to Anne Gunsteens, the Foundation's Executive Director, the Foundation
 is supportive of Center for Inspired Teaching because "we recognize that quality
teachers result in better outcomes for students." Gunsteens added that, "the Foundation
selected Inspired Teaching as a grantee because of its innovative approach to training
educators."

Inspired Teaching is very happy to partner with The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott
Foundation toward our shared goals of improving teaching and learning for all students.

Learn more [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001IiVvj1dEdOq6BlP-tQIYJYVmGvYv0Je3-RKEM7fp6XdaRm1Puf9mWYJwRdX0A4yAG_cXGAIXgsp4cE34ryWounzjzfrVWi2ZjBgAmc4a5PFwBD9cQMBveNE6JHbVdMnJE91itrg_v3zBQr7E5vfMep3aPHkE-KcI]
about the institutional funders that support Inspired Teaching's work to improve
 teaching and learning outcomes, especially for students in urban public schools.
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Inspired Teaching in Action

BLISS Program: Building Teacher Leaders

Inspired Teaching is in the second of a three-year partnership [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001IiVvj1dEdOpQO286czPGgcymcWMjcjHhu_SIai_wUQk4VnP9tU0uvnodjkvli75_cBq7UnOe1iNbyzJAGvUKoZazYLAzXGlSV1SCYmQPKP8ffkEHbD_SjpOB4QiIVS-9TZBNwQWqiEd6MLiUgC3NNSMgikuu3vvVwNYc6pM1VUY=]
with the DC Public Schools to train all DCPS middle school social studies teachers
to improve student achievement through content area literacy and to create rich 
and engaging academic experiences for students within the social studies curriculum.
In addition, we are working with DC teachers to create a Common Core-aligned middle
school social studies curriculum which will be implemented in the 2013-14 school
 year.

Cosby Hunt, Inspired Teaching's Manager of Teaching and Learning, works directly
 with DC teachers who are part of our Building Literacy in the Social Studies (BLISS)
program. He cites his monthly meetings with program participants as a highlight 
of his work.

"Some teachers in our BLISS program are the only social studies teacher in their
 building." Hunt said. "These monthly meetings put isolated teachers in touch with
each other. They compare/grade student work together as well as discuss how the 
draft modules are working in the classroom. Together we revise the content based
 upon what's working well."

Hunt underscored the value of having teachers draft and model the curriculum. "This
is not an off-the-shelf curriculum that's being designed. Before we make this available
to all middle school social studies teachers, this curriculum will have lived and
breathed in real DCPS classrooms," he said.

Hunt also stressed the BLISS program's approach to developing teacher leaders. "Everyone
in this program is either writing a module or piloting one in his or her classroom.
A goal of this work is to train teachers who will lead districtwide PD sessions."

Teacher Certification: Investing in Career Teachers

Shannon Kane, who directs the Inspired Teacher Certification Program [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001IiVvj1dEdOocVVvwZrtcoSb0bvbtK-7sDQE_k2slSu3dCrKvAGneHHmj-LL_WQ8PjMs--DIm78iWLM-tYlBb_yhYmyu4u1-x_VbouMIA0EgLiON7kVd9t_cAB1XtGfU9F5FiJT2_7He8GsHTUDXyuZqOSnzqNhBFbz3ZImRWVh2Oal8awI17WaHoymIMrGr1],
said that she appreciates being able to work with and train new teachers in a philosophically
aligned environment.

"Realistically grounded optimism" guides Kane's work, which covers the recruitment
of individuals committed to a long-term career in education and training them in
 an intensive residency-based program that combines rigorous coursework and classroom
experience. with the ultimate goal of expanding the pool of highly effective teachers
for urban classrooms. (The program's structure is clearly working: teachers trained
through the Inspired Teacher Certification Program consistently outperform [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001IiVvj1dEdOo47ENurUaOSNGIzb6Ah7dQgJoLAZxnr2WhH6YfPaKwucs04n98E8vbC5z_VnGwbH_MHLmW4wmOLZe9e71CT4t1VC8xgSVVd6n2X8_5_KSEaFgCiqQzw_hVqCxzB3QCCTw93QG4vTDc2A==]
their peers.)

"True shifts in education are slow and steady," Kane shared. "Inspired Teaching 
understands this. We don't set unrealistic short-term expectations--like our teachers
will move all students 2-3 grade levels forward or that they will single handedly
narrow the achievement gap. At Inspired Teaching, we are committed to creating career
teachers. We understand the time and resource investments needed to train and develop
individuals who will commit to teaching as a profession--for the long term."

Kane, a former teacher, shared that leaving the classroom "was hard for me personally.
But now, instead of having a positive impact in one classroom, I'm able to help 
create positive and influential learning communities for all the students in the
 classrooms of Inspired Teaching Fellows. How can you work in education and not 
get excited about the possibilities?"
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Demonstration School

Phillips Collection Showcases Inspired School Student Artwork

Beginning on March 29 and running through April 28, 2013, an exhibit [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001IiVvj1dEdOo9d-R8qeqx44kwFhrB9Wbm6RlrqFNcrTI2FWke37E-tNUU_wIk4dg_pKFtR3bkDwtXDrcpb4f6iKTXIzWJ9IcSwqXQODPrJn2JaFM38Dg3oB93gS0A_C9USCk5-WhOYxnQ0ove1yEkN05Sl2dwUcvU3-nCmZhkhKxawe800hFiDp9Vu9UpkoL9-_FADqAR48lrcrWjRCrklkICtBA42p0F50j9Oqi3F7jcuCVxXVwum4CtP64KSrFK]
at the Phillips Collection [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001IiVvj1dEdOqVETcCWJwgutAy0rN2v_wnXYK03jpFR8rypIKTEo19xN0k9XJhOAPKeFrvBsLdOf2OTABJ-y_AG_JqPSm0RL6o-mQg84My4M_0J9o4kJZ-9Y2E_-CASPjB]
will showcase artwork created by students at the Inspired Teaching Demonstration
 School [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001IiVvj1dEdOoNLu835pg1u6B_HXoVUHUWvGn62HergU7RKh2_1LSmZyzHi49UN97m0HBArRLKx0DQZM2KXuoTNCO2S6X1mohOCkbgZHbQ9lc_lLvQA-T_bMMPoOcZ_FaxwzOErlnvTVhbvzNx_-u_XrPElGoJf_Npdw4JSjm3lUAIPeC-rP2XQA==],
a public charter school located in Washington, DC, that implements the philosophy
and instructional approach of Center for Inspired Teaching.

The Young Artists Exhibition [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001IiVvj1dEdOporv1oAeJjN1ApOtb7vo7L_NZy5hLpjYS7plKbqUCUZfHYuCWRcwcV6eezs62kvPgrzpwH8787X6xFyxpduVLDhbsBE1NePm4GHH-8NGBpzxXtkPVfCryJJb-98thX-Q1VS2zzIpobXlXb67d84rCogTJxPM8PCPSRnH6gJWJX51ZglxX_gMen-SaOlfFIBLKI_Sn85ybXDQ==]
is the culmination of the spring 2013 semester of the Art Links to Learning: Museum-in-Residence
program [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001IiVvj1dEdOqc8Q50GvqsMqgKDtkOnqMmUYBvfis7Snbu7dDD9fQ6h1BHJ2Hv33XdKtuPJP7RSHoYgqCw1PsBkfwNxOZpevsCYsYbV8h_EFVomNFzFnY3Ye2IRT1nPXGNQFxISdOM7BLEcCFY3ucu-kL3kFiiAncnWq1OBrt-yfs7axMdf_SzClMZ7-Aj42gbxK3AvOOa68lg4nDCYL0dlA==]
with the Inspired Teaching Demonstration School.

Through Young Artists Exhibitions, the Phillips recognizes and celebrates the students,
teachers, parents, and partnering school systems who value and support arts-integrated
teaching and learning in the local DC community and nationally.

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