Meet ASCD's Outstanding Young Educator
Deirdra Grode, a 7th and 8th grade social studies and language arts teacher at Hoboken Charter School in Hoboken, New Jersey, is the winner of ASCD's 2008 Outstanding Young Educator Award (OYEA), which recognizes creative and committed teachers and administrators under the age of 40 who are making a difference in students' lives.
As the middle school facilitator in Hoboken Charter School, Grode mentors staff, leads professional development sessions, acts as a liaison between other teachers and the school's administration, and coordinates testing and school scheduling. She also wrote the school's 5th–8th grade social studies and language arts curriculums and worked on the school's charter renewal and annual report.
Grode designs her curriculum to reflect current world and local conditions, respond to the needs and interests of each class, and meet state standards. She also regularly provides her students with innovative service learning and character education opportunities.
ASCD honored Grode on March 15, 2008, at the ASCD Annual Conference and Exhibit Show in New Orleans, Louisiana. Grode will receive a $10,000 cash award and an ASCD Institutional Membership for her school.
The other finalists for the OYEA award were Pamela Bell, former principal of Adams Elementary School in Richmond, Virginia; Julie Kasper, an English teacher at Catalina Magnet High School in Tucson, Arizona; and Vincent Riveroll, founding director of Gompers Charter Middle School in San Diego, California.
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Leading the Way to School Improvement
Leaders representing large urban/suburban school districts across the United States convened at ASCD early this year for the two-day School Improvement Symposium. The symposium was an opportunity for leaders who face many of the same challenges to meet and engage in deep professional development, share best practices, and develop action plans for their districts.
Presenters included consultant and author Robert Barr from the Center for School Improvement and Policy Studies, who discussed patterns of school improvement as well as leadership that addresses the urgent learning needs of students living in poverty. Yvette Jackson, executive director of the National Urban Alliance, explained how educators can create experiences that instill understanding, motivation, confidence, and competence in under-achieving students.
Attendees can continue this experience by logging on to ASCD's Virtual Symposium at www.login.iCohere.com/SIS. For more information on the School Improvement Symposium, contact Ann Cunningham-Morris atacunning@ascd.org.
