Our Thoughts on the Governor’s Call to Simplify Teacher Certification
Rae Ann Knopf, Executive Director of the Connecticut Council for Education Reform
We at the Connecticut Council for Education Reform applaud Governor Malloy for acting swiftly to eliminate unnecessary barriers faced by Boards of Education and Superintendents as they work to place the most effective teachers and principals in our schools. Revising Connecticut's teacher certification and employment policies as Malloy has proposed will facilitate the raising of student achievement by
helping to ensure that we have great teachers and leaders working side-by-side on behalf of Connecticut's children. Similarly, creating
flexibility in support of reciprocity with other states will open the doors for Connecticut schools to attract the best and brightest from across the country. These most recent proposals are highly aligned with many of CCER's 65+ policy recommendations on how to close Connecticut's achievement gap while raising academic excellence for all students. The momentum is truly building for meaningful education reform in Connecticut this year and we salute Governor Malloy and his administration for leading the way.
Our New Executive Director Shares What Excites Her About Working at CCER in CT
Rae Ann Knopf recently joined the Connecticut Council for Education Reform (CCER) as its new Executive Director. After formally introducing her at CCER’s press conference at the State Capital yesterday, we’ve asked Rae Ann to share her thoughts on assuming the leadership role at CCER and what excites her about CCER’s role in supporting education reform efforts in the state.
This is, perhaps, the most exciting time in education that our country has ever known: it’s a time when the citizens of this nation have openly begun to demand a dynamic education system that will ensure a transformative learning experience for every child.
In particular, the circumstances in Connecticut this year make it ripe for educational reform because we have two of the key ingredients necessary to propel the needed changes: