Teacher Training -- Key to Educational Progress

By Sheila Jordan

Miracles can happen when a child has an excellent teacher. Providing each child with an excellent teacher is an attainable goal, if we commit our resources to it.

The gaping wound in our public schools is the achievement gap. The achievement gap largely mirrors the widening disparity between the rich and the poor.

Too often, we regard the children at the bottom as lost causes, unable to succeed, incapable of ever catching up. This attitude is wrong. A thousand examples show us that they can not only compete, they can excel, if we devote comparable resources to their schooling.

We saw a small example recently in our County-run alternative schools. Students in our Juvenile Hall schools last year improved their Academic Performance Index test scores by 163 points. They now rank in the top third statewide. Their excellent teaching staff deserves credit for this achievement.

Comparable resources means safe, clean and comfortable buildings. It means good textbooks and enough supplies. But above all, it means first-rate teachers.

Recruiting, training, retaining, and upgrading qualified teachers is a key mission of our County Office of Education. Alameda is one of three counties statewide to share a 1.8 million dollar grant for teacher recruitment, training, and retention. Our rooms are buzzing with teacher education classes.

If re-elected, I plan to continue full speed ahead to recruit, train, retain and upgrade more qualified teachers. With excellent teachers, we can narrow the achievement gap. With excellent teachers, we can restore pride and confidence in our public school system. With excellent teachers, we can move California's lagging educational system toward the forefront among the States.