Gov. Establishes Link With Teachers

Continuing to demonstrate that his administration is changing the way the business of education gets done in Trenton, Governor James E. McGreevey today signed an Executive Order establishing the Governor's Teacher Advisory Committee. Through this committee, teachers will now have a direct link to the Governor and a direct impact on how the state is working to improve its schools.

"Teachers will always have a seat at the table of this administration," stated McGreevey. "This Committee will guarantee it."

The mission of the Committee will be to advise the Governor on the experiences of teachers in the classroom, identify and examine factors that attract bright students to the profession, and recommend ways to end intellectual isolation among teachers by building and supporting communities of learners. The Committee will also be charged with identifying teachers who employ the best practices and improve student achievement, and with proposing ways to recognize and celebrate those accomplishments.

"To change the way Trenton approaches education, we must look to those who are actually in the classrooms for guidance," said McGreevey. "We must support New Jersey's teachers and develop ways to ensure that our children are learning from teachers of the highest quality."

Immediately following the signing of the Executive Order, the Committee held its first meeting with Governor McGreevey. The hour-long discussion was web cast live to schools throughout New Jersey. In the coming months, the Committee will continue to hold similar town meetings and teacher summits with educators throughout the state.

Over the past few weeks, Governor McGreevey has demonstrated his commitment that education will be the cornerstone of his administration by announcing a number of initiatives. Along with creating the Governor's Teacher Advisory Committee, McGreevey

Showed his commitment to improving the education of children in our poorest school districts by ending 20 years of litigation regarding the Abbott v. Burke court decisions with the newly created Abbott Implementation and Compliance Coordinating Council.

Established an Education Cabinet of business and education leaders charged with improving communication and coordination at all levels of our education system.

Called for literacy standards to be developed for preschool, kindergarten and first grade teachers and for students in second, third and fourth grades by September 1, 2002,

Created the Early Literacy Task Force, which will be charged with identifying best practices and research based programs that can be incorporated into a statewide plan by June 2002. One of those best practices is the Reading Coach program McGreevey discussed during the campaign, the first phase of which will be in place by the beginning of the next school year. "Educational excellence will be the cornerstone of our administration," said McGreevey. "To that end, we must focus on improving literacy standards, teacher quality, enhancing accountability, and working with business leadership to develop a highly skilled workforce."

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Author: Paul Aronsohn