Governor Crist Appoints Education Stakeholders to Florida’s Task Force on Educational Excellence
Sep 9, 2010
Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced the appointment of members to Florida’s Task Force on Educational Excellence today, September 9, 2010. The Task Force, which was created in June 2010 by Executive Order, is charged with creating strategy to address teacher merit pay, among other responsibilities.
The appointees are listed in the Governor’s news release, which is reprinted below.
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Governor Crist Appoints Education Stakeholders to Florida’s Task Force on Educational Excellence
~ Will continue building broad stakeholder support begun by Race to the Top Working Group ~
www.flgov.com/teachingtaskforce
TALLAHASSEE – With the beginning of the new school year, Governor Charlie Crist today announced the appointment of education stakeholders to Florida’s Task Force on Educational Excellence. The task force includes representatives of teachers and teacher associations, superintendents, school board members, Florida institutions of higher education, school administrators, legislators, parents and the business community.
“These committed Floridians understand that student achievement and teacher effectiveness are keys to strengthening Florida’s talent pool of graduates entering our workforce,” said Governor Crist. “It’s vital that every teacher in our state has the resources they need to prepare our students for the future.”
Governor Crist created the task force with the signing of Executive Order 10-126. He tasked the group with broadening stakeholder support for strategies to promote and sustain a high quality teacher workforce. The task force will continue efforts of the Governor’s Race to the Top Working Group that recently developed the revised Memorandum of Understanding included in Florida’s successful Race to the Top Phase 2 application. Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, who served as chair of the Race to the Top Working Group, will serve as chair of the task force, which will make recommendations to the Governor, the State Board of Education, the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, and the President of the Florida Senate by December.
“This task force is a great opportunity to take bold steps toward improving the confidence and long term success of Florida’s students and teachers,” said task force chairman and Miami-Dade Public Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho. “Education must be a top priority to secure a prosperous future for Florida.”
Florida’s Task Force on Educational Excellence will initially explore methods for enhancing student achievement and capability to compete in the global economy, as well as teacher compensation and performance. The responsibilities of the task force include developing strategies related to the following:
- Teacher certification and performance evaluation
- Merit pay for quality teachers
- Measuring student learning gains, including students with disabilities
- Identifying and assisting low-performing teachers
- Teacher recruitment, retention and improvement, focusing on reviewing:
- Teacher education programs
- Professional development and teacher support
- Teacher collaboration and sharing of effective practices
- Technologies proven to increase teacher effectiveness
- Beginning teacher working conditions
- Compensation and benefits, including rewards for effective teachers
The Governor’s appointments to Florida’s Task Force on Educational Excellence include:
- Alberto Carvalho, Task Force Chairman, Superintendent, Miami-Dade Public Schools
- Dr. Eric Smith, Commissioner, Florida Department of Education
- W.C. Gentry, School Board Member, Duval County School Board
- Peg Smith, Superintendent, Volusia Public Schools
- Wally Cox, Superintendent, Highlands Public Schools
- Ed Pratt-Dannals, Superintendent, Duval County Public Schools
- Michael Varner, 2011 Escambia County Teacher of the Year, Pensacola State College
- Jean Lamar, 2009 Teacher of the Year, new teacher advisor, Nassau County Public Schools
- Emily Barbacci, 2010 Teacher of the Year Finalist, Chiles High School, Leon County Public Schools
- Megan Allen, 2010 Teacher of the Year, Cleveland Elementary School, Hillsborough County Public Schools
- Cynthia Phillips-Luster, 2009 Principal of the Year, James Stephens International Academy, Lee County Public Schools
- Andy Ford, President, Florida Education Association
- Terry Fasel, Dean, School of Education, Warner University
- Jennifer Platt, Associate Dean, University of Central Florida
- Dr. Mark Rosenberg, President, Florida International University
- Joe Pickens, President, St. Johns River Community College
- Karin Brown, President, Florida Parent Teacher Association
- Debra Dowds, Executive Director, Florida Developmental Disabilities Council
- Marshall Criser III, President of AT&T Florida
- Senator Rudy Garcia
- Representative Jimmy Patronis
In addition to fulfilling the responsibilities outlined in Executive Order 10-126, the task force will also monitor the implementation of the Race to the Top grant that Florida will receive, as recommended by Governor Crist’s Race to the Top Working Group. The task force will advise the Governor, the local education agencies, and the State Board of Education regarding assessments focused on continuous improvement of students, teachers, and principals and implementing the Race to the Top grant, as well as recommendations for legislation.
Last week, the United States Department of Education announced that the multi-state consortium that includes Florida will receive up to $170 million in additional Race to the Top funds. With Florida serving as the fiscal agent, the partnering states will develop a new generation of student assessments that correspond to Common Core Standards. During the next four years, the states will help schools better prepare students to succeed in college or a career immediately after graduation.
For more information about Florida’s Task Force on Educational Excellence, please visit www.flgov.com/teachingtaskforce.
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