Commissioner’s Teacher & Educator Advisory Council (TEAC)
Applications will be accepted through November 24, 2019. The first meeting of the Council is anticipated to take place in January 2020.
Purpose:
To provide an important voice for educators in the state’s decision-making process, and to provide the Commissioner with teachers’ insights, suggestions, and perspectives on critical educational issues. The Council will enable better educational and administrative decisions, and, ultimately, lead to greater student learning and success.
Composition:
The Council will be comprised of 21 members. Participation ideally will include representation from classroom teachers from across Alaska in early elementary, upper elementary, middle school and high school, as well as representation from the arts, library, special education, career and technical education, and, if possible, a school counselor. The current Teacher of the Year and alternate will hold two seats on the council.
Term:
Members will be selected to serve two one-year terms. Membership will rotate so that roughly one-half of committee members will roll off each year while one-half remains.
Selection:
Members of the Council are selected through a nomination process open to all public schools. Nominations are considered and members are recommended by a committee composed of Department of Education and Early Development leadership staff. Members will be selected by the Commissioner of the Department of Education and Early Development. Interested educators will be asked to complete a short application, including biographical information and a very brief statement as to why they wish to serve on the Council.
Meetings:
The Council generally meets monthly during the school year. Typically, a rough agenda will be developed and disseminated in advance. Agendas may be modified to address topics as they arise, or to adjust for time constraints. The Commissioner or his designee will serve as facilitator of the discussion.
Expectations:
Members will attend and actively participate in all Council meetings. It is understood that circumstances occasionally arise where a member will be unable to attend a meeting; however, members who miss more than three meetings in a single year may be asked to allow another teacher to serve in their place. Members are expected to be candid and forthright, but also professional, courteous, and solution-oriented. Members are expected to solicit input and feedback from colleagues to inform and enrich the dialogue.
To provide an important voice for educators in the state’s decision-making process, and to provide the Commissioner with teachers’ insights, suggestions, and perspectives on critical educational issues. The Council will enable better educational and administrative decisions, and, ultimately, lead to greater student learning and success.
Composition:
The Council will be comprised of 21 members. Participation ideally will include representation from classroom teachers from across Alaska in early elementary, upper elementary, middle school and high school, as well as representation from the arts, library, special education, career and technical education, and, if possible, a school counselor. The current Teacher of the Year and alternate will hold two seats on the council.
Term:
Members will be selected to serve two one-year terms. Membership will rotate so that roughly one-half of committee members will roll off each year while one-half remains.
Selection:
Members of the Council are selected through a nomination process open to all public schools. Nominations are considered and members are recommended by a committee composed of Department of Education and Early Development leadership staff. Members will be selected by the Commissioner of the Department of Education and Early Development. Interested educators will be asked to complete a short application, including biographical information and a very brief statement as to why they wish to serve on the Council.
Meetings:
The Council generally meets monthly during the school year. Typically, a rough agenda will be developed and disseminated in advance. Agendas may be modified to address topics as they arise, or to adjust for time constraints. The Commissioner or his designee will serve as facilitator of the discussion.
Expectations:
Members will attend and actively participate in all Council meetings. It is understood that circumstances occasionally arise where a member will be unable to attend a meeting; however, members who miss more than three meetings in a single year may be asked to allow another teacher to serve in their place. Members are expected to be candid and forthright, but also professional, courteous, and solution-oriented. Members are expected to solicit input and feedback from colleagues to inform and enrich the dialogue.