Office of Teaching Initiatives

Date: September 18 & 19, 2008
Location: State Education Department, Seminar Room 5A&B, Albany, New York

Members Present

Debra Colley, co-chair
Eric Gidseg, co-chair
Richard Ahola
Sheila Appel
Richard Feller
Catalina Fortino
Rosemary Harrigan

Aseba Harris
Lloyd Jaeger
Gerald Mager
Nicholas Michelli
Susan Mittler
Joseph Perez
Susan Phillips

Evie Rich
Patricia Roberts
Walter Robertson
Pamela Sandoval
Frank Scelsa
Stephen Uebbing

MEMBERS ABSENT

Allison Cugini
Cheryl Freedman
Gale Sookdeo
Kathy Taylor

STAFF PRESENT

September 18, 2008

Day One of the meeting was called to order by the co-chairs at 3:35 p.m.

2. Announcements

• New members Aseba Harris and Walter Robertson were welcomed.
• The co-chairs reported on actions taken in follow-up to the June meeting, including the annual report to the Board of Regents, summer ad hoc meetings, and co-chairs’ meeting with the Commissioner.
• Bob Bentley reviewed the budget situation and the need to eliminate one scheduled meeting before April 1. The November meeting has been canceled. Other means to conduct Board work will be explored.

3. Meeting Minutes

Motion:
That the minutes of the June 2008 meeting be approved.
(Moved by F. Scelsa, seconded by E. Gidseg, carried.)

4. Subcommittee Reports

Higher Education Subcommittee: Lloyd Jaeger reported for the chair that the subcommittee met on September 18, prior to the full board meeting. The subcommittee conducted one RATE review.

Professional Practices Subcommittee: Rosemary Harrigan, chair, reported that the subcommittee met on September 18, prior to the full Board meeting. The subcommittee reviewed 19 Part 83 cases and discussed with OSPRA staff possible ways to accommodate the expected increase in the number of Part 83 cases. The topic of teacher leadership and the draft Professional Development Standards were discussed.

5. Board Goals and Processes

Debbie Colley and Eric Gidseg led a discussion of the Board’s mission and responsibilities, adjustments that have been made to Board processes, and the Board’s priorities and goals for 2008-2009.

6. SED Policy Update

• School Leadership-

Bob Bentley reported on the Department’s $3 million Wallace Foundation grant for a project to align school leader preparation standards, assessment, and professional development with ISLLC Standards, as well as to establish pilot leadership academies.

7. Adjournment

The co-chairs adjourned Day One of the meeting at 5:39 p.m.

September 19, 2008

1. Call to Order

Day Two of the meeting was called to order by the co-chairs at 8:06 a.m.

2. ProposedRestructuring of Special Education Certification

Jerry Mager and Debbie Colley reviewed the proposed position paper first presented to the Board at its June meeting. Discussion followed; concerns and questions were raised.

3. Career & Technical Education

Bob Bentley, Linnea LoPresti, and Eric Suhr reviewed CTE certification requirements and the work of the SED workgroup on career and technical education.

4. Ad Hoc Work Groups

Ad hoc chairs reported on the work group meetings:

Professional Development-
Trish Roberts presented the revised draft Proposed Professional Development Standards and the accompanying implementation recommendations. The group will ask the Board to accept this draft (with introduction and glossary) at the October meeting. The group is working on rubrics. Target date for Regents consideration is December.

Teacher Education Policy-
Lloyd Jaeger gave a status report on the following:

• Uncertified teachers- Group will look at available data on long-term substitutes, teachers working out of license, and supply and demand. Report to the Board planned for January.
• Program flexibility in light of accreditation- Group will monitor SED project to shorten program approval timeline and will examine implications for other colleges and universities. March or May is the target date for status report to the Board.
• Evaluation of accreditation- Group will seek funding from a foundation to support further study. Group has developed tentative survey questions. May is target date for report to the Board.
• P-16 budget proposal on collaborative teacher preparation- Group will do crosswalk between proposal and TOT program (October), with recommendations for the Urban Initiative work group.

Mentoring-
Catalina Fortino reported on the underlying principles and the group’s development process in drafting proposed Mentoring Standards. The group will share the draft with the Board in October. January or February is the target date for a conceptual discussion with Regents.

5. Adjournment

Motion to adjourn:
(Moved by S. Appel, seconded by J. Perez, carried.)
The co-chairs adjourned Day Two of the meeting at 12:27 p.m.