IU School of Education co-hosting 'Future of Teaching' discussion in Indianapolis

'Building a Better Teacher' features Dean Gerardo Gonzalez, co-hosted by Teach Plus and Chalkbeat Indiana

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Ideas, opinions and plans for the future of Indiana’s teacher workforce are the focus of a free, public event next month in Indianapolis.

The Indiana University School of Education, Teach Plus Indianapolis and Chalkbeat Indiana are co-hosting a presentation and discussion on the future of teaching at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the Indianapolis Central Library, 40 E. St. Clair St.

The interactive discussion, “Building a Better Teacher: Preparing Hoosier Teachers for the Future,” will be introduced by Elizabeth Green, founder of Chalkbeat, the nonprofit news organization that covers education through its bureaus in Indianapolis, New York, Colorado and Tennessee. Green will present findings that she wrote about in her new book, "Building a Better Teacher." Scott Elliot, bureau chief of Chalkbeat Indiana, will then moderate a panel discussion that will include Green and IU School of Education Dean Gerardo Gonzalez, as well as pre-service and experienced teachers.

While the event in the Clowes Auditorium of the Central Library is free, seating is limited. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP.

The idea for the discussion came after Gonzalez and Caitlin Hannon, executive director of Teach Plus Indianapolis, along with colleagues at Teach Plus, wrote invited commentaries on the future of teacher preparation for Education Week this year. Each thought it important to continue an open dialogue about their sometimes divergent views on the best ways to prepare teachers.

”I’m delighted that the national conversation Caitlin and I started in Ed Week is continuing in Indiana, a state at the forefront of education reform for many years,” Gonzalez said. “As I have emphasized before, we should change the reform rhetoric from school choice, testing and A-F rating of schools to the preparation of highly effective teachers. That’s what will make a real difference in student achievement, and it will require having a tough conversation about raising teacher salaries, supporting public education and designing meaningful teacher accountability systems based on valid research. I’m looking forward to the panel discussion and what I hope will be the beginning of a sustained conversation about ways to ensure we have the best teachers in Hoosier classrooms in the future.”    

“Current teachers have a valuable perspective regarding what works and what doesn’t in teacher preparation programs,” Hannon said. “This event will continue our conversation on how to ensure all teachers are ready for the classroom on day one. I’m excited to hear what they have to say.” 

The event is presented with generous support from the Indianapolis Central Library and WFYI television in Indianapolis, which will broadcast a taped portion of the event at a later date.