In this third blog, I want to talk briefly about Teaching Channel’s third goal: to elevate and celebrate teachers. (See goal one and goal two). We believe that the task of getting significantly better gains for kids in our schools requires teachers who are all about improving their practice, and who are respected for the complex work they do to move kids forward.
To that end, Teaching Channel is working on a couple of initiatives to help the general public understand why teachers’ roles are so important, and how complex the work they actually do is. Once the public appreciates both of these things, we believe that the support teachers need to be successful will be more forthcoming.
My Teacher, My Hero, the sister site of Teaching Channel, is a website that aims to celebrate the impact that great teachers have. We have interviewed a number of well-known people from various walks of life about the teacher who made the greatest difference in their life. The Mayors of Los Angeles and Chicago, philanthropists, business leaders, leading educators all talk about the teacher who pushed them, guided them, helped them learn an essential skill.
We also have a TV show called “Teaching Channel Presents” that airs on PBS stations throughout the country. It is an amalgamation of new pieces of classroom video that you see on our website showing great teachers in action. We have received a ton of positive feedback as a result of these shows and believe that it gives the general public a view into the great classrooms around the country.
We know you’ll have great ideas about this too. Hit the feedback button and send your thoughts to us and help us to elevate and celebrate great teachers.