“Testing Teachers” to air locally

Listen in to WUTC (88.1 FM) on Sunday, November 21 from 12-2 to hear an interesting documentary on teacher quality that features the local Benwood Initiative. American RadioWorks reporter Emily Hanford spent several days in Chattanooga last year as part of a one-hour program focused on the essential question of whether outstanding teachers are “born,” or if they can be “made” through training and professional development (more). This story first aired in August in national markets, but this will be its first broadcast in Chattanooga. Hanford wrote a follow-up column that was reproduced in the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Sunday, October 24th, accompanied by an editorial written by PEF President Dan Challener. (Visit the Benwood news section to read these articles.)

Following Sunday’s broadcast from 1-2 pm a panel of foundation executives, teachers, principals and the Superintendent will discuss the background of the initiative, what worked, what didn’t, how it played out from the teacher’s perspective and what the system is doing now with Race to the Top to improve student achievement across the county. The community is encouraged to call in with questions.

The list of panelists is:

• Corinne Allen – Benwood Foundation
• Susan Swanson – HCDE, Benwood Initiative Director
• Frances Haman-Prewitt – Public Education Foundation
• Joe Curtis – Hardy Elementary
• Emily Baker – East Side Elementary
• Penny King – Woodmore Elementary
• Dr. Jim Scales - Superintendent
• Linda Mosley – HC Board of Education

If you can’t listen in on Sunday or you just want to see what all the fuss is about, you can find the story and its background at http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/testing_teachers/