Lifelong learning, for teachers

Teacher quality and merit pay have leaped to the forefront of the national diologue on public school reform, especially with President Obama tapping noted reformist Arne Duncan to serve as secretary of education. Given that focus, it’s uplifting to see that teachers in Surry County are still pushing themselves to improve in their profession through voluntarily completing the rigorous National Board for Professional Teaching Standards certification process. Both the Mount Airy and Surry County school systems, along with Millennium Charter Scademy, have had teachers recently earn certification. They have plenty of company. A search of certified teachers turns up a total of 11 for the Mount Airy system and 77 for the Surry County system. Recent Messenger articles on the newly certified teachers has them expressing a newfound understanding and appreciation for more modern and innovative teaching strategies, ensuring  their methods stay fresh to keep up with new technology and learning styles. If President Obama puts any teeth into his rhetoric on school reform, that kind of committment to improvement will no doubt prove critical.