April 2014 Core Advocates Mission and Invitation.docx
Core Advocates Mission Statement
Unless teachers are the owners, these new standards will fail
like all those before. But to make them owners, we must do more
than invite a few token teachers to the next standards workshop.
Teachers themselves must become the leaders when implementing the
standards. Those who have mastered the ideas and the content must
mentor their peers. Those who are challenged must work with their
colleagues; those who are indifferent must become engaged; those
who are cynical must be won over. Teachers must shape both the
standards and assessments as educational tools rather than
data-gathering instruments. John Ewing, Give the Standards Back to
Teachers[footnoteRef:1] [1: Article published in Education Week on
August 2, 2012:
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/08/02/37ewing.h31.html]
The Common Core State Standards aim to ensure that all students
are college and career ready in mathematics and literacy by no
later than the end of high school. But standards alone cannot
deliver on this expectation, and individual educators cannot be
expected to do this alone. These standards give educators an
opportunity to work together across districts, states, and content
areas. Student Achievement Partners, a nonprofit organization
founded by contributing authors of the Standards, empowers and
mobilizes educators who support their colleagues in leading
implementation and communication nationwide. We support Core
Advocates who: Believe in the potential of the Common Core to
prepare all students for college and careers; Understand and
embrace the radical shifts in instruction and assessment required
by the Standards and know what these shifts look like in a
classroom; Are eager to support their colleagues in understanding,
owning, and advocating for the Common Core as part of their
practice.The foundation of our work lies in six shifts that drive
instruction, planning, assessment, and materials selection.
Since 2012, a cohort of over 500 Core Advocates has led the
charge, and since 2014, Student Achievement Partners has committed
to supporting teacher-led regional networks that allow Core
Advocates to stay engaged with the organization, each other, and
the work of implementation in their local contexts. Now we are
ready to take the next step.
Invitation to Core Advocates ConferenceTaking the Next Step May
2-3, 2015Denver, CO
Student Achievement Partners invites you to participate in our
Taking the Next Step Core Advocates Conference on May 2-3, 2015, at
the Renaissance Denver Hotel. The costs of flights, lodging,
materials, and breakfast and lunch for participants during the
event will all be covered by Student Achievement Partners.
During this event, Core Advocates from across the country will
gather to learn with and from one another in taking the
implementation of the Common Core State Standards to the next
level. These teacher leaders will have the chance to: engage with
the standards and the shifts more deeply; collaborate with and
learn from others within and beyond their local setting; showcase
the work they are doing to support and deepen student learning;
become further empowered to impact classrooms in their school,
district, state and region.
Tentative Schedule:Saturday, May 2Sunday, May 3
TimeEventTimeEvent
8:30 10:00 amWelcome & Panel Discussion8:15 9:45
amConcurrent Sessions E
10:15 11:45 amConcurrent Sessions A10:00 10:30 amUnconference
session 1
11:45 am 12:45 pmLunch and Table Discussion10:45 11:15
amUnconference session 2
12:45 2:15 pmConcurrent Sessions B11:30 am12:15 pmRegional Team
Planning
2:30 4:00 pmConcurrent Sessions C12:15 1:00 pmLunch and Table
Discussion
4:15 5:45 pmConcurrent Sessions D1:00 2:30 pmConcurrent Sessions
F
5:45 6:30 pmHappy Hour and Networking2:30 3:00 pmClosing &
Awards Ceremony
Please contact Max Wagner ([email protected]) or
Joanie Funderburk ([email protected]) with any
questions. We look forward to seeing you in May!
