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Deaf Education Master Teacher Project
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What is the Master Teacher Project?
- The Master Teacher Project is an important part of the larger Join Together Project. Through the Master Teacher Project, innovative and effective preK-12 teachers of students who are deaf/hard of hearing are identified and invited to become involved.
- We are working to facilitate collaboration, reduce isolation, and increase recognition of deaf educators through the design and use of a Virtual Professional Development School (VPDS) network. This emerging VPDS links preK-12 Master Teachers and d/hh teacher preparation programs.
Nomination and Acceptance Procedures
- Nominators: Who can nominate a Master Teacher? Nominations can be submitted by any number of knowledgeable persons such as school administrators, peer teachers, parents of students who are deaf/hard of hearing, or a d/hh teacher preparation program faculty member.
- Nominees: Who can be nominated as a Master Teacher? Persons nominated as deaf education Master Teachers should be current preK-12 teachers who are established (i.e., not in their first years of teaching) and considered particularly innovative and effective in their instruction of students who are deaf/hard of hearing. We especially encourage nominations of teachers who have National Board Certification and those certified in mathematics or science.
- How is a Master Teacher nominated? Simply complete and submit the on-line nomination form.
- What happens after a nomination is submitted? The nomination form goes to the Join Together Project office. Project staff will e-mail important information and invite the nominee to accept the nomination and participate in the Join Together Project. Note: nominators will receive a copy of the nomination notification e-mail.
- How do nominees accept? How do they decline? To accept a nomination, a nominee completes the Master Teacher informational/demographic form. This submission serves not only to accept the nomination but to provide important initial information to the Project. To decline a nomination, the nominee simply replies to the notification e-mail indicating the decision not to accept. Note: nominators will be informed of their nominee's decision.
Benefits of Being a Master Teacher
Immediate Benefits
- iVisit university/educational subscription (iVisit is an Internet based video conferencing resource with which you can use audio, video and chat features as well as share documents and websites).
- Access to in-depth help documents and technical support relating to Project supported technologies such as video conferencing, iVisit, etc.
- Receive announcements of, and information about, available collaborative opportunities. While many of these opportunities do not include financial incentives (some do), all foster growth and increased knowledge and often provide avenues for professional development.
- Networking opportunities - connecting with preK-12 Master Teachers across the country.
On-going Benefits
- Personal satisfaction of knowing you do something significant for the field of d/hh education.
- Access, and contributing, to a growing database of instructional modules designed specfically for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.
- Professional activities which may count towards certification, e.g., CED or National Board.
- Professional growth activities that enhance your personal portfolio and resume and can count when it comes to possible job enhancements, merit pay raises, or simply is excellent PR for you and your employer.
- Consultation opportunities - you may be contacted to be a feature speaker at a conference, to conduct workshops, or to give a Virtual Topical Seminar.
- Recognition letters or certificates of participation from the Join Together Project.
Initial Activities for New Master Teachers
- Register on Project's web site (www.deafed.net);
- Share information regarding www.deafed.net with at least three persons (e.g., school colleagues, administrators, parents of students who are deaf/hard of hearing);
- Complete an application to serve, if called upon and you are available, as a Cyber Mentor for a deaf ed. preservice teacher (no more than one e-mail per week for up to one semester; visit the Cyber Mentor Project page for more information and application);
- Share (i.e., posting on www.deafed.net) a Problem/Solution document containing the following information:
- Problem: a brief description (~ one paragraph) of a common problem you encounter in teaching students who are deaf/hard of hearing;
- Solution: a description (one to two pages) of the strategies and resources you use(d) to address the problem;
- Impact: a brief description (~ one paragraph) of how students react when you use(d) the solution; and
- Contact information: email address at which you can be reached if someone would like to contact you for more information.
You are encouraged to review previously submitted Problem/Solution documents.
- Consider accepting a student teacher from one of the nation's d/hh teacher preparation programs (note: you are asked only to be open to the possibility; you will never be required to accept a placement);
- Agree to continue involvement with the Join Together Project in the coming year by staying in communication and participating in one or more collaborative opportunities.
What's next? Master Teacher Activities Beyond Initial Expectations
- After agreeing to and completing all of the intitial activities, a Master Teacher moves into more independent involvement or collaborations.
- Master Teachers are expected to participate in a minimum of one collaborative activity per year.
- Activities and opportunities will be announced as they become available and can include survey participation, providing feedback from a preK-12 perspective on select resources or issues.
Collectively, the collaborative activities involving Master Teacher is known as Classrooms as Learning Portals.
Forms
Information Sharing
(information about, by, and for our Master Teachers)
Questions? Comments? Concerns?
If you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding the Master Teacher Project, please contact Sherry Ernsberger, Project Assistant, at sernsber@kent.edu.
Clip art licensed from the Clip Art Gallery on DiscoverySchool.com
Page Updated: 4/23/09
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