http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/ (Editor's Note 06/05: This blog is now closed. Many thanks to Betsy Rogers for her hard work sharing her year with us. Read Ms. Rogers new blog, located at the Teacher Leaders Network, slated to start in August 2005.) Betsy Rogers, a 20-year teaching veteran from Alabama, was named National Teacher of the Year in 2003. Ms. Rogers spent her year as National Teacher traveling the country and talking with educators about her belief that the best way to close the equity gap is to put the strongest teachers in the weakest schools. After finishing her tour, Ms. Rogers decided to practice what she preached, choosing to work at Brighton Elementary School, the “neediest school” in Jefferson County, Alabama. In this, Teacher Magazine’s inaugural blog, Ms. Rogers reflects on her year at Brighton, and how her experience there meshed with her expectations. (Views reflected herein are strictly those of Ms. Betsy Rogers.) Copyright 2007 Tue, 24 May 2005 00:41:20 -0500 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss It is the last week of school and as I put on my bright yellow-gold Brigthon t-shirt with burgundy lettering, I thought about how many months I had this shirt before I wore it to school. I really can not... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/05/being_a_brighto.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/05/being_a_brighto.html Tue, 24 May 2005 00:41:20 -0500 In my first entry, I wrote about my choice to work at Brighton was based on my belief that we need to recruit our strongest teachers to our most needy schools. I still believe this, but realistically I realize we... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/05/growing_your_ow.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/05/growing_your_ow.html Sun, 15 May 2005 21:12:20 -0500 Last week, I had the privilege of presenting at a conference in the northern part of my state. This not only is a beautiful part of Alabama, but the schools in this area are outstanding. During my presentation I stopped... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/05/sense_of_urgenc.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/05/sense_of_urgenc.html Sun, 08 May 2005 20:47:57 -0500 Last week, I wrote about recruiting teachers to my school. This week my thoughts are turning to how do we keep good teachers in my school or any hard to staff school. One word comes to mind - support. As... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/05/keeping_good_te.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/05/keeping_good_te.html Sun, 01 May 2005 11:26:54 -0500 Testing is over and we are now looking to next year. Like every year, we are losing teachers. Some are going because circumstances have changed in their lives; marriage, divorce, and family needs. Some may be leaving because they find... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/04/recruiting_teac.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/04/recruiting_teac.html Sun, 24 Apr 2005 13:43:16 -0500 It that time of year-testing time! My fever blisters have returned, my principal has very dark circles under her eyes, our testing coordinator’s face is drawn with anxiety, the teachers’ faces show deep lines of worry, and the students have... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/04/testing_time.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/04/testing_time.html Mon, 18 Apr 2005 22:34:23 -0500 I had really planned to address the issue of teacher quality later on in telling my story. However, since this has come up on the comment page. I would like to share what I have learned this year. What I... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/04/a_few_abad_appl.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/04/a_few_abad_appl.html Sun, 10 Apr 2005 12:42:51 -0500 I am often asked how the children of Brighton feel about their school and what they know about our school having the label of low performing. I spend most of my time in the K-4 building and I really do... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/04/brightons_child.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/04/brightons_child.html Sun, 03 Apr 2005 16:33:14 -0500 A New Day As I continue to share my journey, I realize I have had very few positive things to say about my first year at Brighton. To be honest, I felt there was not much to smile about during... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/03/a_new_day.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/03/a_new_day.html Fri, 25 Mar 2005 23:57:04 -0500 I can not tell you how much I have enjoyed reading the many comments to my last post. I so appreciate your words of encouragement and I am especially grateful to hear form those of you in similar situations. It... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/03/_conversations.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/03/_conversations.html Sun, 20 Mar 2005 01:22:25 -0500 Labeling A School Joe’s comment to my last post is a perfect intro as I continue the story of my metamorphosis. If any of you are of my generation and remember the cartoon Mighty Mouse, you will understand I came... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/03/labeling_a_scho.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/03/labeling_a_scho.html Wed, 09 Mar 2005 00:27:06 -0500 In a comment to a recent post, I was asked “What assumptions about how schools succeed made you believe that you could make a difference in a "failing" school? My answer is the same reply I a gave a very... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/03/first_challenge_1.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/03/first_challenge_1.html Thu, 03 Mar 2005 01:22:51 -0500 Normally, I do not sleep the night before school starts because I am so excited about starting a new year. This year, I did not sleep the night before because I was so worried about how school would actually open... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/02/the_snake_of_br.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/02/the_snake_of_br.html Fri, 25 Feb 2005 00:54:59 -0500 Brighton School has been under the mandates of School Improvement for the last four out of five years. For two years, the school has offered school choice as an option. As a result, we have lost about eighty students a... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/02/bright_beginnin.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/02/bright_beginnin.html Thu, 17 Feb 2005 23:01:39 -0500 Several years ago, I went with my son's church on a mission trip to rural Alabama. Even though I had been a teacher in a Title I School for many years, I was not prepared for the poverty I... http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/02/my_choice.html http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/brogers/archives/2005/02/my_choice.html Thu, 10 Feb 2005 00:05:05 -0500