SALT- Support A Local Teacher

A Work in Progress: S.A.L.T. Manifesto

      Support a Local Teacher       
      (S.A.L.T.)    

  Manifesto

Nothing will change or improve in education without teacher support and support of teachers.  It is the goal of Support A Local Teacher (S.A.L.T) to find funding to further the professional development of local teachers. This is the working start of our manifesto:

1. Smart teachers will produce smart kids.  Teacher expertise matters

2. Ensure excellence in learning by ensuring excellence in teaching first.

3. Create a bridge between the language and practice gaps of business and education

4. Find funding resources for teachers seeking professional development from seminars, workshops, books or other materials.

5. Motivate companies to finance their local educators in professional development needs outside of and in addition to the normal state or school funded development.

6. Help foster continuing relationships between these companies and local educators.

7. Promote and evangelize professional development processes geared towards developing a 21st century learning environment and critical thinking.

8. Foster a learning environment to produce critical thinkers, informed citizenry and a better democratic, independent, collaborative society.

7. Smart teachers will produce smart kids.  Teacher expertise matters

8. Ensure excellence in learning by ensuring excellence in teaching first.

Thanks to Matthew Needleman at Creating Lifelong Learners for the great video.

Just Getting Started

The idea of Support A Local Teacher (S.A.L.T.) came about in a discussion between Angela Maiers and Mike Sansone in preparation for a meeting with a large manufacturer in Iowa about professional development of local teachers.

The genesis of the idea was born due to some response by a few teachers wanting to attend Angela's Midwest Literacy Workshop, but not having the funds to attend. Mike thought this was ridiculous. Not that teachers wouldn't pay, but that they couldn't get corporate sponsorships from area businesses.

For years, the business community has cried out how education is not preparing the right kind of workforce necessary. Here, we have teachers willing to learn -- and it's our hope that an organization like S.A.L.T. can bridge the gap between business and education.

More to come...