Teachers Network Conference
An
Interview with Dr. Charlotte Frank
By Jan
Aaron
Education Update(EU): What is your overall assessment of
the conference?
Dr. Charlotte Frank (CF): The conference succeeded in reaching teachers at
all levels of experience and interests. There
were workshops specifically for new teachers focused on basic
needs from classroom management to teaching methods. Teachers were exposed to cutting edge uses of the Internet
in the classroom and ways in which teachers are leading from
the classroom. The
conference also brought together an amazing number of individuals
whom teachers do not have an opportunity to interact with
in their daily professional lives. Cynthia Nixon talked about
her remarkable New York City public school teachers and the
advocacy work she’s doing on behalf of the CFE lawsuit. Carmen Farina led a workshop on Children’s
First in the mayoral election year. Teachers met with authors
Paula Fox and Nicholasa Mohr. And perhaps most impressive,
Teachers Network pulled together all of the candidates running
for mayor to talk specifically about issues that are important
to teachers. I had the opportunity to moderate a panel of
representatives of some of our most renowned cultural institutions
to help teachers access community resources to benefit student
learning.
EU: What message(s) do
you hope participants went away with?
CF: That
they have access to a network that will support and nurture
them throughout their careers on an ongoing basis, not just
once a year. Teachers
Network provides a myriad of professional opportunities,
including grants and fellowshipsÐthrough IMPACT II, Teachnet,
Teachers Network Leadership Institute, and New Teacher Support
Program.
EU: What is the next main
challenge(s) the Teachers Network must address?
CF: To continue to
grow and reach out to more teachers in New York City in order
for them to take advantage of this conference and other network
offerings.
EU: Other comments you
would like to add?
CF: I
am proud to be a Life Trustee of this organization! This
year, Teachers Network celebrates its 25th anniversary, and
I have been there since the beginning. What a thrill for
me to have helped create such a powerful professional network—by teachers
for teachers—and to have had it become an important
force in education today.
Dr. Charlotte Frank is
a former New York State Regent and is currently a Senior
Vice-President of McGraw-Hill.
