Chalkboard and OEA launch survey of teachers
Contact:
Chalkboard:
Colin Fogarty
503.841.0045
Oregon Education Association:
Becca Uherbelau
503.495.2119
Portland– May 1, 2008 – The Chalkboard Project and the Oregon Education Association (OEA) are collaborating on a statewide survey of teachers, to find out how Oregon can improve its system of delivering professional development for teachers. Both organizations are urging all Oregon public school teachers to participate.
Research has shown that educators get better results from their students after engaging in learning opportunities such as classes, seminars and workshops on how to learn and grow in their profession. Research also shows that providing quality professional development opportunities help attract and retain quality educators in the profession. In January, the Chalkboard Project released two studies that found that Oregon’s K-12 teachers need and want more time for focused, ongoing professional development opportunities to keep up with changing school and classroom needs, including new graduation requirements, and to raise student achievement levels.
“The primary goals of the Oregon Education Association are to ensure every student receives a quality education and that every Oregon educator has the tools they need to help their student’s succeed,” said OEA president Larry Wolf. “This research project is an important step in identifying the professional development needs of educators to support them in their important work.”
Sue Hildick, President of the Chalkboard Project said: “This is an important collaboration between our two organizations. We can only accomplish our shared goals when we have solid information about what’s happening in Oregon schools. That’s why we’re hoping that every teacher who has the time, participates in this survey.”
The survey is being managed by the Teaching Research Institute at Western Oregon University. For every survey that’s completed, Chalkboard and OEA will donate $5.00 to one of five charities, up to $3000.
About OEA
The Oregon Education Association represents nearly 48,000 elementary and secondary teachers, community college faculty, education support professionals, retired educators and students preparing to become teachers. The purpose of the OEA is to assure quality public education for every student in Oregon by providing a strong, positive voice for school employees and to help members achieve professional excellence.
About Chalkboard Project
Launched in early 2004, Chalkboard Project exists to inspire Oregonians to do what it takes to make the state’s K-12 public schools among the nation’s best, while strengthening our school system’s financial accountability to taxpayers. Chalkboard aims to help create a more informed and engaged public who understand and address the tough choices and trade-offs required to build strong schools, and to enable statewide programs that can be applied at the local level to improve school quality, accountability, and funding. To date, Chalkboard has connected with about 100,000 Oregonians, asking for their best ideas to strengthen the state’s K-12 public schools. It also has partnered with other education organizations to create the Open Book$ Web site (www.openbooksproject.org) to track school district spending.
Chalkboard – an initiative of Foundations For A Better Oregon – is sponsored by a growing list of independent Oregon foundations. The foundations providing major support are: The Collins Foundation, The Ford Family Foundation, Jeld-Wen Foundation, Meyer Memorial Trust, James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation and The Oregon Community Foundation. For more information about Chalkboard and to learn how to get involved, call (877) YOUR-K12 or visit www.chalkboardproject.org.
