Message From EWA's Director

Happy New Year, all. Here’s another resolution to add to your list: Apply for EWA’s reporting contest without further delay! 

Recognition for a job well done isn’t so easy to find, especially in today’s challenging news environment. Our annual contest, which honors exemplary education coverage in all media, is a terrific way to earn a much-needed pat on the back—and a little more cash for your wallet. 

The deadline to enter the National Awards for Education Reporting is January 31, a date that’s fast approaching. Check out the contest categories and frequently asked questions, and feel free to contact Stephanie Cvetetic with questions or for additional information.

Don’t sell yourself short: Submit your entry today!

All the best,

Caroline Hendrie

Get Smart on Teacher Issues

If teachers affect student learning more than any other factor in schools, how are we doing at recruiting, training, and retaining the best? How can we tell if teachers are effective? Should they be paid for performance? How much should experience count?

These are just some of the questions explored in the totally revamped teachers section of EWA’s online Resource Center. To help you get smarter on the issues, we’ve assembled reports, news stories, research, and other information under three subtopics: teacher effectiveness, evaluations, and the pipeline into the field. Click here to access all three and get up to speed—fast.

For more great material on teachers, stop by EdMedia Commons and check out the audio and video highlights of EWA’s recent seminar “Evaluating Teachers: Beyond the Rhetoric.” As always, email Glen Baity at gbaity@ewa.org if you need an invitation to EMC.

EWA's 65th National Seminar

Learning From Leaders: What Works for Stories and Schools will take place May 17-19, 2012, in Philadelphia. An estimated 250 reporters, authors, producers, editors, researchers, bloggers, and others will gather for three days of in-depth discussions, site visits, newsmaker speeches, and interactive workshops on education and its coverage. Winners of the National Awards for Education Reporting will be honored at the event, and the winner of the contest's grand prize will be announced. EWA's flagship conference is being co-hosted by the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education and the American Educational Research Association. As ever, the event will be tailored to meet the unique needs and interests of journalists who cover education at all levels.

Stay tuned for agenda and registration details in the coming weeks. For sponsorship and advertisement opportunities, please contact Stephanie Cvetetic at scvetetic@ewa.org.

Public Editor Emily Richmond Is Here for You

If you need help tracking down a source, are having trouble getting access to a school or want to brainstorm on your next big project, email Emily at erichmond@ewa.org. If you're on deadline and need immediate assistance, feel free to call her at (202) 452-9830, ext. 1006.

Partner Message

The Celebration of Teaching & Learning
March 16-17, 2012 in New York City

Join us at the 2012 Celebration of Teaching & Learning, hosted by WNET New York Public Media – parent company of New York’s flagship public television stations THIRTEEN & WLIW21 and operating company of NJTV – on March 16-17, 2012, in New York City!  The seventh annual Celebration will once again bring together global experts, advocates, practitioners, and academics with more than 10,000 educators to create a unique professional development experience where knowledge meets inspiration.  The 2012 Celebration will honor teachers as global professionals and provide the opportunity for knowledge sharing across classrooms and cultures. Speakers this year include, Barnett Berry, Charlotte Danielson, Dr. Keith Devlin, Henry Louis “Skip” Gates, Jr., Sal Khan, Yul Kwon, Wes Moore, Pedro Antonio Noguera, Ph.D., Michael J. Sandel, Tavis Smiley, Steve Spangler, Susan Szachowicz, and many more who will address the Arts, English Language Arts, Financial Literacy, Global Awareness, Health & Wellness, Instructional Technology, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), Social Studies, Special Education and Whole School Issues.   Register now, sign-up for e-mail updates, access resources and find the latest information and speaker lineup at thirteencelebration.org.  Also be sure to connect with our online communities on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

THIRTEEN, WLIW21 and NJTV gratefully acknowledge sponsorship support from Lead Sponsor: NEA; Premier Sponsors: CSA-ELI, Deloitte, NYSUT; Major Sponsors: Fordham University Graduate School of Education, NJEA, Simons Foundation; Event Sponsors: Barnes & Noble, CEA, Disneynature, NYSSAC; Media Sponsor: Education Week.