FYI...THIS WEEK ONLY!!!!!!!! Listen up and take advantage to be vocal, teachers!

Finally it has happened to me...~ Ce Ce Peniston

Yes! I am excited about the media FINALLY allowing the teachers to be included in the education reform discussions. Honestly, I believe somebody will still attempt to limit or discredit our voices, but that cannot be an excuse. We have to take advantage here and make our voices heard.

Anthony Cody from the Facebook group, Teachers' Letters to Obama, send group members the following message that I want to share with you all:

Dear Members of Teachers' Letters to Obama,
This next week is a critical one with some important opportunities for our voices to be heard on education issues. Please take part in these activities.

First of all, NBC is promoting a week of programming devoted to familiar "experts" on education reform -- but teachers are nowhere to be seen on the main stage. Teachers are given a separate town hall on Sunday, Sep. 26, but will be lectured from on high by Bill Gates, Michelle Rhee and the like. Please register to participate nonetheless at www.educationnation.com, and let them know what you think!

This Monday, Oprah will have as guests Michelle Rhee and Bill Gates. But Oprah has issued a call to Chicago area teachers as well for a special show devoted to giving teachers a voice, for Friday, Sep. 24! Please sign up here if you can go. https://www.oprah.com/ownshow/plug_form.html?plug_id=4683574

Teachers' Letters to Obama is hosting our next Round Table, "Stop Griping, Start Organizing," on Tuesday, Sep. 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm Pacific time, 8:30 to 10:30 pm Eastern time. Guests will include Lily Eskelson of the NEA, Jesse Turner -- who just completed a 600 plus mile walk from Connecticut to DC to protest federal education policies, and Chris Janotta of [SOS]Million Teacher March. We will discuss ways teachers are taking a stand and ways you can make a difference. Please register here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/StartOrganizingRoundtable

Lastly, many of us wrote letters this summer addressed to members of Congress, aligned with the seven principles to guide reauthorization of NCLB. These letters are now posted and available for downloading. Please download them and share them with your Congressperson and Senator. http://www.edweek.org/media/tloletters910.pdf

Now, when all the media seems to be fixed on promoting the same convergent message about school reform, it is crucial that teachers speak out and be heard. Please do not allow us to be silenced.
Anthony

On behalf of all educators and public education advocates, thank you, Mr. Cody and Teachers' Letter to Obama participating group members. We salute you...and I will be supporting you more...:)