ACT Members Working on State Task Force

Larry Ferlazzo, Martha Infante, Tara Kini, and Kelly Kovacic (L-R) are all ACT members appointed to the state's Educator Excellence Task Force, seen here at there meeting at Stanford University, April 23, 2012.

In the past couple of days I’ve had the chance to catch up with some of our wonderful members who comprise the majority of teachers on the state’s Educator Excellence Task Force.  Fortunately for me, the most recent meeting of the task force took place at Stanford, giving me the opportunity to spend some time with colleagues whose leadership and insights are so valuable to me, and now being recognized in this important endeavor. 

Here’s more information about the task force and our members participating in it.

From the CDE web site:

“State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson has appointed an Educator Excellence Task Force to focus on the Educator Quality element of the Blueprint for Great Schools (released in August 2011) and designed to strengthen California’s teacher corps.

“The task force will be a joint effort between the California Department of Education and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. It will be co-chaired by two nationally recognized education leaders: Stanford University’s Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond, and Superintendent Chris Steinhauser of Long Beach Unified School District, the third largest district in California.”

Larry Ferlazzo teaches at Luther Burbank High School in Sacramento, and is the author of multiple books and education blogs.  Mr. Ferlazzo also writes Classroom Q&A with Larry Ferlazzo – a teacher blog for Education Week.

Martha Infante teaches at L.A. Academy Middle School, and is a contributing author on the ACT group blog, InterACT.  Ms. Infante was the 2009 Teacher of the Year for the California Council for Social Studies (Middle Level).

Tara Kini is a former teacher and current Staff Attorney for Public Advocates, Inc.

Kelly Kovacic teaches at the Preuss School in San Diego, and is a contributing author on InterACT.  Ms. Kovacic was the 2010 California Teacher of the Year, and represented the state in national Teacher of the Year activities and functions.

Please see the linked CDE web page for more information about the Educator Excellence Task Force.