Public education in Florida is
chronically underfunded, and dark
clouds hang over it.
However, I applaud the state
Legislature for agreeing to continue
funding the Dale Hickam Excellent
Teaching Program, which awards a
stipend to National Board Certified
Teachers (NBCTs) who have
demonstrated teaching excellence.
This shows that, in spite of a
40-percent cut to the program last
year, the Legislature is committed
to maintaining it, not eliminating
it in Florida.
This funding also provides an
important return on the investment
of public funding. NBCTs are not
only excellent teachers who go above
and beyond in their classrooms. They
also are leaders in the profession.
This stipend means that NBCTs can
continue such activities as leading
professional development,
facilitating school committees and
mentoring new teachers, all of which
they often do without additional
compensation. With the stipend, they
will not have to look for second
jobs, take on additional duties for
pay or, in some cases, leave Florida
for another state with better
teaching salaries.
I am a proud NBCT and want to dispel
some of the storm clouds: I thank
state legislators for their
commitment to quality education;
NBCTs must let their students'
parents, school community and
legislative representatives know how
they make a positive impact on
public education; parents should
seek out NBCTs at their child's
school and let school and district
staff, as well as elected officials,
know how NBCTs affect their child's
education.
PTSAs, booster clubs and Educational
Excellence School Advisory Councils
should investigate how they can
collaborate with NBCTs and other
teacher leaders and let legislators
know about their work; community
members should ask their local
school about projects and activities
where they can partner with NBCTs to
enhance educational opportunities
for students and pass along that
information to state lawmakers.
Rep. Anitere Flores and Sen. Stephen
Wise were instrumental in
facilitating consensus on this issue
and should be commended. Rep. Kurt
Kelley and Sen. Don Gaetz were also
supporters of this program, as was
Gov. Charlie Crist.
The work of these legislators and
their colleagues provided the
Sunshine State with one bright
sunbeam over an otherwise dreary and
overcast educational environment.
KATHLEEN PHAM,
Miami Shores
