How do educators feel about armed teachers?

In the wake of the tragedy at Sandy Hook elementary, lawmakers across the nation are responding with ideas to increase school safety. Here in Olympia, some lawmakers have proposed bills that would allow teachers to be armed in the classroom. While that bill (HB 1788) is not likely to pass, it does raise the question: how do teachers feel about guns in the classroom?

An online poll of 10,661 educators from all 50 states conducted by the School Improvement Network gives us an answer to that question.

The survey found that nearly three out of four teachers were unlikely to bring a firearm to the classroom if they were allowed to. It also found that only three out of ten teachers felt safe from gun violence in their school.

In other words, 69% of teachers believe gun violence could become a reality in their schools, but fewer than 30% were likely to arm themselves as a solution.

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recently weighed in on the issue telling reporters, "The vast majority of teachers have spoken pretty loudly and said they're not interested in being armed, so that's a red herring."

The survey also reveals how schools have increased security since the Sandy Hook shooting. A few of those include:

• Locking doors from the inside
• Practice lockdown drills more frequently
• Extra security/police patrols
• New security entrances
• Require visitors to get a visitor's pass to be on campus

Read this story in Spanish.

Washington teachers are at the head of the class!

2013 looks to be another stellar year for Washington teachers! For the fourth year in a row, we have the second-highest number of new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCT) in the nation, according to the Superintendent of Public Instruction. A total of 575 state teachers received certification this week.

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, the non-profit organization that awards certification, was formed in 1987 to set standards for teachers and to identify the really outstanding ones. According to Harvard University's Center for Education Policy Research, a recent study of the Los Angeles public schools affirm the strong, positive impact of NBCTs. Those researchers found that, on average, teachers with national Board Certification "significantly outperformed peers with the same level of experience."

To receive certification, teachers must submit a four-part portfolio and a six-exercise content and pedagogy assessment. The 10 entries document a teacher’s success in the classroom as measured by the success of his or her students. The portfolio is then assessed by a national panel of peers.

Washington has the 4th-highest total number of NBCTs - 6, 817.  38 of our 39 counties have at least one teacher who has been certified.