Office of Teaching Initiatives

Date: March 22 & 23, 2007
Location: State Education Department, Seminar Room 5A&B, Albany, New York

Members Present

Patrick Allen, co-chair
Eric R. Gidseg, co-chair
Erik Bitterbaum
Debra Colley
Allison Cugini
Desma DeGraw

Todd R. Feigenbaum
Catalina Fortino
Cheryl Freedman
Rosemary Harrigan
Lloyd Jaeger
Nicholas M. Michelli

Susan Mittler
Eva M. Mroczka
Joseph Perez
Susan Phillips
Patricia Roberts
Frank Scelsa

MEMBERS ABSENT

Janet A. Ahola
Theresa R. DiPasquale
Stephanie Leeds

Evelyn Rich
Kathleen Taylor

Sally Thompson
Anne Marie Tryjankowski

STAFF PRESENT

March 22, 2007

1. Call to Order

Day One of the meeting was called to order by the co-chairs at 3:31p.m.

2. New Member

Erik Bitterbaum introduced himself and was welcomed to the Board.

3. Meeting Minutes

Motion: That the minutes of the November 2006 meeting be approved.
(Moved by F. Scelsa, seconded by S. Philips, approved.)

Motion: That the minutes of the January 2007 meeting be approved.
(Moved by S. Mittler, seconded by C. Freedman, approved.)

4. Subcommittee Reports

Professional Practices Subcommittee
Catalina Fortino, chair, reported that the subcommittee met on March 22, prior to the full board meeting. The subcommittee reviewed 28 Part 83 cases.

Higher Education Subcommittee
The subcommittee did not meet.

5. Executive Director’s Report

Bob Bentley reported on the following:

• The reorganization of the Department and recent appointments.
• The Department’s response to the Executive Article VII budget bill provisions, as they relate to teaching issues.

6. Debriefing from Legislative Education Visits

Rosemary Harrigan, Susan Mittler and Pat Allen reported on visits conducted with Legislative and Executive staff on March 21.

7. Proposal on Special Education Certificate Structure

Joe Frey updated the Board on the proposal. Allison Cugini represents the Board on the SED workgroup and invited input from members on important issues to bring to the work group.

8. Teacher Supply & Demand

Nancy Willie-Schiff presented data contained in the second annual report on supply and demand.

9. Adjournment

The co-chairs adjourned Day One of the meeting at 5:35 p.m.

March 23, 2007

1. Call to Order

Day Two of the meeting was called to order by the co-chairs at 8:42 a.m.

2. Early Childhood Position Statement

Eric Gidseg reviewed the development of the position paper on early childhood education.

Motion 1: To defer action on the early childhood position paper until May to allow the Board to prepare its own statement, incorporating ideas of the early childhood professional organizations [NYSAEYC, NYSAECTE and ACCESS] contained in the position paper.
(Moved by N. Michelli, seconded by J. Perez, no vote.)

It was decided that Eric Gidseg, Allison Cugini, and Susan Mittler will prepare the statement.

3. Meeting Calendar
2007-2008

Motion 2: To adopt the proposed 2007-2008 meeting calendar: September 27 & 28, 2007; October 25 & 26, 2007; December 6 & 7, 2007; January 17 & 18, 2008; February 7 & 8, 2008 (snow dates); March 12 & 13, 2008; May 1 & 2, 2008; and June 5 & 6, 2008.

(Moved by C. Freedman, seconded by C. Fortino, carried.)

4. Proposal for Endorsement of Out-
of-State Certificates

The Board discussed and suggested revisions to the position statement redrafted by Pat Allen, related to the proposed regulatory amendment to establish endorsement of out-of-state certificates. Pat will redraft for review in May.

5. Research Review

Nick Michelli led a discussion of Chapter 12 of Preparing Teachers for a Changing World: What Teachers Should Learn and Be Able to Do, Darling-Hammond & Bransford; and the draft “Chapter 2, Becoming a Teacher in the United States of America.”

6. Mentoring Standards

Pat Allen shared his draft on mentoring standards and suggested that the Board use this as a starting point for work on the development of mentoring standards for May.

7. NYSTCE Leadership Assessment

Jeanne Clayton and Phil Gullion of National Evaluation Systems reported on the activities to date in the development of tests for the leadership certificate titles and shared sample assessment items.

8. Agenda Setting

Members suggested the following items for the May agenda:

• Research Review: Charlotte Danielson
• Conversation with Commissioner Mills
• SED response to Article VII budget bill
• Statement on Early Childhood Statement
• Proposal for Endorsement of Out-of-State Certificates
• Mentoring Standards
• Professional Development
• IEP diploma

9. Adjournment

The co-chairs adjourned Day Two of the meeting at 12:44 p.m.