Wednesday, October 24, 2007

Introduction...Alliance of Education Agency Heads

Many observers agree Georgia's public education system is improving. Gov. Sonny Perdue last summer (2006) saw the positive trend but looked for a way to turn that into lasting, long-term outcomes. As a result, the Alliance of Education Agency Heads (AEAH) was born.

You will be hearing more about this group as they bring their combined resources together to better focus and coordinate their efforts in making systemic changes to public education in Georgia. The Alliance is composed of the leaders of seven state agencies -Department of Education, Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, Georgia Student Finance Commission, Department of Early Care and Learning, Professional Standards Commission, Department of Adult and Technical Education, Office of Student Achievement - and is chaired by State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox.

Individually, they are responsible for almost every part of the public education system. But now collectively they are "teaming for Georgia's children" in an orchestrated effort to bring more assets to the table to get things done. The Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and the Metropolitan Atlanta Chamber of Commerce are serving as advisory members to bring the voice of the business community to the table and then to advise business leaders on the Alliance's work.

The Alliance has five goals:

* Increase high school graduation rate, decrease high school dropout rate, and
* increase post secondary enrollment rate.
* Strengthen teacher quality, recruitment and retention.
* Improve workforce readiness skills.
* Develop strong education leaders, particularly at the building level.
* Improve the SAT/ACT scores of Georgia students.

These goals will guide efforts to improve Georgia's education system and will result in higher student achievement rates well into the future. Improvements in education will lead to improvements in the state's economic development as well. Having a well-educated and easily trainable workforce draws commerce and provides opportunity.

Join the TIE Network at Upcoming Events!

Now that the 2007-2008 school year is in full swing, we want to encourage TIE Network members to attend at least one regional event between now and the end of December 2007. These regional get-togethers are a wonderful way to network with members who are outside of your district while also learning new technology skills for your classroom, district or region.
If you haven't joined the growing TIE Network, then now is the time! The GPB Education Technology in Education Network (TIE Network) has plenty of events planned for fall and winter! If you are already a TIE Member, then get signed-up and be prepared to mingle with your fellow TIE members!

Upcoming TIE Network Events:
Monday, September 24, 2007 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Augusta TIE Network All-day Event CSRA RESA/ETTC at the National Science Center's Fort Discovery One Seventh Street, Fifth Floor Augusta, Ga. 30901 TIE Network members must RSVP online to reserve a seat since space is limited.

Thursday, October 18, 2007 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM TIE Network dinner on St. Simons Island during the COMO Conference Gnat's Landing 310 Redfern Village St. Simons Island, Ga. 31522 TIE Network members must RSVP online to reserve a seat since space is limited.

Saturday, October 20, 2007 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Savannah ETTC All-day Event Armstrong Atlantic ETTC 11935 Abercorn Street Savannah, Ga. 31419 TIE Network members must RSVP online to reserve a seat since space is limited.

Thursday, November 15, 2007 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM TIE Network dinner in Atlanta during GaETC Old Spaghetti Factory 249 Ponce de Leon Ave. Atlanta, Ga. 30308 TIE Network members must RSVP online to reserve a seat since space is limited.

Thursday, December 6, 2007 Columbus TIE Network All-day Event The location has not been confirmed yet, but you can go ahead and reserve your space now. Please check the TIE Network calendar for more updates. TIE Network members must RSVP online to reserve a seat since space is limited.

Please take a moment to look at the opportunities above and RSVP only if you will be able to attend the event. Since these regional get-togethers are for TIE Network members, please apply for TIE Network membership before you RSVP for events. When you RSVP for an event, we are counting on your attendance and we have allocated funds for your participation.

Step 1 Apply for TIE Network membership: 1. Visit the TIE Network website 2. Click on the Register link on the right-hand side of the page. 3. Enter the following information into the template provided: First Name, Last Name, Username, E-mail, Password and Verified Password. 4. Click on the Zoomerang link at the bottom of the template to access the online TIE Network membership application. 5. After you submit your Zoomerang survey, you will receive a Zoomerang Code that you will enter into the website template in the Zoomerang Code field. 6. Submit your information by clicking on the Send Registration button.
You will be notified via e-mail when your TIE Network website account has been activated.

Step 2 RSVP for TIE Network events: 1. Log into the TIE Network website. 2. Click on the "Links" tab in the green toolbar towards the top of the page. 3. Click on the "TIE Network Event RSVPs" link. 4. Locate the TIE Network Event link listed at the bottom of the page. 5. Click on the link you plan to attend. 6. Complete and submit the event RSVP online survey.

Child Care Provider Nominations

GPB Education is on the search for Georgia child care providers who offer exemplary child care in their community and really go above and beyond what is expected of them. These nominations are a part of KCET's A Place of Our Own and Los Niños en Su Casa (in Spanish) "Child Care Provider of the Week" program. Nominated child care providers have an opportunity to be recognized on the outstanding national television series and on its website as the "Child Care Provider of the Week."

Produced by KCET, A Place of Our Own and Los Niños en Su Casa are award-winning shows made specifically for the individuals who care for children. In fun and engaging half-hour episodes, parents and caregivers receive insight on how to raise smart, healthy and happy children. The series also illustrates superior childcare, with segments shot in homes and pre-school centers.

Being recognized as a "Child Care Provider of the Week" is a wonderful opportunity, and we believe Georgia has plenty of child care providers to nominate! To nominate a Georgia child care provider to be a "Child Care Provider of the Week," a half page nomination letter explaining who they are and why they should be considered for "Child Care Provider of the Week" is required. You may send in a nomination for yourself by explaining who you are and why you should be considered.

Requirements are:

* MUST provide home-based child care. No caregivers from childcare centers are eligible.
* Must care for children between the ages of 0-5.
* The provider can be licensed, registered or exempt (non-licensed). Family, friend or neighbor providers that care for only one child are also eligible.
* We are looking for culturally diverse providers who will allow us to represent all parts of the community. They do not have to be English speaking.

Please send your nominations to:
Carol Veatch, M.Ed.
Family Literacy Coordinator
Georgia Public Broadcasting
404-685-2555 (Phone)
404-685-2556 (FAX)
cveatch@gbp.org

GPB Education airs A Place of Our Own (5:00 am - 5:30 am) and Los Niños en Su Casa (4:30 am - 5:00 am) Monday through Friday.

For more information about A Place of Our Own and Los Niños en Su Casa, visit www.aplaceofourown.org www.losninosensucasa.org/index.php

Tuesday, October 2, 2007

C-47's New Show and Winner!

C-47: Georgia Short Film Showcase's program will return on October 23 with an all new episode featuring the winner of the Spring 2007 Showcase Andrew Shipsides and his film Bottleneck. Shipsides is no stranger to winning awards, he has already been honored as a finalist for the student Academy Awards, is a winner of HBO Films Student Competition Award, is a winner of Panavision Student Cinematographer Award, and has received a nomination for mtvUs Best Filmmaker on Campus Award. C-47 will be talking with Shipsides and other Bottleneck filmmakers about their winning film. Look for new segments "History of Georgia Cinema" and find out the latest news about the Georgia film industry.

Please visit the C-47 website at www.Cforty7.com for the IMAGE Salons where industry professionals and aspiring filmmakers gather to discuss various topics. October's salon will be held at Georgia Public Broadcasting and will focus on the CECIL Project (Committee on Entertainment, Capital, Investment & Legislation) educating investors about entertainment projects in Georgia. These Salons are free and open to the public.

C-47's website will be undergoing a redesign this fall. If you have any questions or comments, please e-mail C-47 at c47info@gpb.org.