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Opportunities for the 21st Century

By Blake West, President, Kansas National Education Association

As the year draws to a close, we come to a time of reflection and recommitment.  Our efforts in 2007 were profoundly important and I’m humbled by the tremendous work of each and every KNEA member and our excellent and dedicated staff. 

In the spirit of recommitment, I’d ask that you join me in considering the opportunities before us – the stage is set in 2008 to move forward in three important areas:

Teachers for the 21^st Century

This edition of Issues contains KNEA’s executive summary of an important report on how to ensure that every Kansas public school student will have a highly qualified, caring, competent teacher in the years to come. 

Unlike many other studies, KNEA’s report points to systemic causes of shortage so that our response can be strategic and effective.

The list of responses is challenging … and worthy of our efforts.  Professional compensation, benefits, working conditions, respect and responsibility are at the heart of making our work enticing to potential educators. 

Quality preparation, meaningful induction and ongoing professional growth and advancement are at the heart of making our work rewarding as a career for years thereafter. 

In the coming year there will be opportunities for us to advance the goal of a caring, competent educator in every classroom – starting a future teachers’ club, encouraging a student to consider the career, lobbying a legislator for resources our schools need – all of these are worthwhile tasks that we must do, as the people who have made education our calling in life.

A 21^st Century Education for Every Student

This edition of Issues provides an overview of the Partnership for 21^st Century Skills – an initiative that KNEA members have supported to help move curriculum, teaching tools and methods, and assessment into the 21^st century.  Kansas Learning First Alliance joined the call for a statewide P21 initiative in March 2006. 

With the endorsement of key policy-makers from the Governor’s Office to the Kansas State Board of Education, it is time to challenge the Legislature to fund 21^st century schools.

Assessment and accountability in 21^st century schools must fit within day-to-day teaching and learning activities rather than robbing precious class time for test preparation and testing. 

As leaders of our profession, we must insist that accountability be based on multiple measures that recognize growth and focus on the range of 21^st century skills. 

In the coming year there will be opportunities for each of us to advocate for great schools for every child.  We’ll need to work with the State Board to ensure that these new skills are embedded within the traditional content areas.  We’ll need to work with legislators to insist they provide long-term, stable funding for schools that will prepare students AND will fuel economic development for Kansas.

An Association for the 21^st Century 

On January 1, 2008, KNEA takes a major step to connecting directly with each member as we initiate FIVE Advisory Councils – communities of interest where members may meet virtually to dialogue about important issues to our profession, our schools and our Association. 

These councils promise to help KNEA be a relevant, powerful voice for every member for years to come.  Full details of how to participate in these Advisory Councils will be included in the January edition of Issues … and a variety of other communications, too. 

In the coming year, I encourage each member to consider participation in an Advisory Council. 

Whether your topic of interest is teaching and learning issues, effective communication with members in your local, learning about member benefits, etc., these online communities can help us grow as a truly grassroots organization with every member’s voice heard, every member with access to KNEA’s best resources.

Why are we investing our energies in these three areas? 

Firstly, because these strategies are clearly targeted to help us achieve KNEA’s Strategic Priorities:  creating Quality Public Schools and a Strong Teaching Profession, working for the Well-Being of Members.  And underlying these goals, we must have the Essential Organizational Foundation to have a real impact and to serve our members well.

Several years ago, a group of representatives from across NEA (including KNEA’s own Christy Levings) crafted a new mission statement for our organization. 

At the two most recent national conventions, over 150 Kansas delegates unanimously endorsed that new mission.  I believe it answers the question as to WHY we are pursuing our strategic priorities:

“Our mission is to advocate for education professionals and to unite our members and the nation to fulfill the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world.”

As we approach 2008, I would ask that you do two things.  

First, as we reflect on the past year, take time to give thanks and to express love and appreciation for your family, friends and the calling you have found as an educator. 

And then, as we move forward into a new year, embrace this Mission by finding YOUR opportunities to strengthen KNEA, create 21st century schools and to help make our profession the highly desirable career it should be.

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