GOV BUSH ANNOUNCES NEW TEACHER-IN-RESIDENCE [Jeb keeps making FL history!]

Executive Office of the Governor ^ | July 30, 2002 | www.myflorida.com

[summer]

GOVERNOR BUSH ANNOUNCES NEW TEACHER-IN-RESIDENCE AT TEEN TRENDSETTERS MENTORING SUMMIT

ORLANDO - Governor Jeb Bush today announced the appointment of Sharon Burnette of Jacksonville as the new teacher-in-residence in the Executive Office of the Governor.

Governor Bush created the position ...to serve as an advisor on education issues.

The announcement was made at the Teen Trendsetters Reading Mentoring Summit where the Governor’s 30 Teen Trendsetter Mentors are being trained as part of his Just Read, Florida! initiative.

“Along with parents, teachers have the most impact on our children’s lives. Their love and dedication can change the life of a child and open up doors to opportunity and success,” said Governor Bush. “Sharon is that kind of teacher. She continually challenges her students to strive for success and instills in them a life long love of learning. I am honored that she has agreed to serve as the new teacher-in-residence. Her counsel and advice will be invaluable.”

Burnette has been a teacher since 1971. She began her classroom career at Lone Star Elementary School in Jacksonville, where she taught 5th grade. From 1975 thru 1980 she taught 5th grade at Loretto Elementary School. Since 1980, she has taught 5th grade at Crown Point Elementary School in Jacksonville.

Throughout her years as a teacher, Burnette has been recognized for her excellence and dedication. She was honored as the 2002 Duval County Teacher of the Year and one of five finalists for the 2002 Burdines Florida Teacher of the Year.

Among numerous other awards and recognitions, Burnette has been named a Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, a Master Teacher by the National Teacher Training Institute for five years in a row, nominated for the Disney American Teacher Award four different times, and served on the Teacher Steering Committee for the 2002 Governor’s Educator Leadership Summit.

A graduate of Carson Newman College, Burnette received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education in 1966. She will begin her duties in the Governor’s Office on August 19. Burnette is replacing Cheryl Cliett who has served Governor Bush since 1999. Cliett will be returning to the classroom to teach 4th grade at Canopy Oaks Elementary in Tallahassee.

Today’s announcement was made as part of the Teen Trendsetters Reading Mentoring Summit, hosted by Universal Orlando. The Teen Trendsetters are part of Governor’s Bush’s Just Read, Florida! initiative.

The 30 mentors attending the two-day training, were announced on July 2. Mentors will be trained by Florida Department of Education officials in effective reading skills based on the newest research in reading, by Take Stock in Children officials in effective mentoring practices, and by representative from Golin/Harris International in leadership development.

Teen Trendsetters Reading Mentors is a public-private partnership, which includes support from the Governor’s Mentoring Initiative, the Florida Department of Education, Florida Trend’s NEXT magazine, Universal Orlando, American Automobile Association (AAA), the Florida Lottery, Verizon, and Golin/Harris International. Following the training summit Trendsetter Mentors will help recruit additional mentors and establish reading tutor programs for local elementary students.

Governor Bush was joined at today’s event by Bob Gault, CEO, Universal Orlando; Pat Williams, president, Orlando Magic; Lynda Keever, COO and publisher, Florida Trend; Jamie Cataldo, editor, Florida Trend's NEXT; Diane W. Jones, director, AAA Auto Club South; Lisa Gruenloh, vice president, Golin/Harris; Danny Sheppard, PA specialist, State Farm Insurance; and Margaret Ann Wheeler, president, Florida Association of Partners in Education.

The Governor’s Mentoring Initiative is an effort to recruit 200,000 Floridians to become mentors. In coordination with state agencies, businesses, nonprofit associations, and Florida schools, this initiative has helped Florida’s students excel in school. For more information or to become a mentor, please visit the Mentoring Initiative website or call 800-825-3786.

Governor Bush’s Just Read, Florida! initiative commits the state to meeting the goal of ensuring that all Florida students read at or above grade level by 2012. The program uses research-based methods that emphasize the five important components of reading: fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, phonetic awareness and phonics.

[summer]

Governor Bush created the [Teacher in Rsidence] position when he came into office to serve as an advisor on education issues.

Some people still do not realize Gov. Bush is so willing to help FL students -- and to listen to all teachers -- that he created a new position in FL state governnment back in 1999, that of a "Teacher in Residence."

No other FL gov, Dem or GOP, had ever done this before -- even though the teachers union strongly endorses such a move by all governors. (And, the union loudly complained when GW, having a fulltime Teacher in Residence named Laura Bush, sought not to continue paying someone else in the federal position.)

But where is the teacher's union when Gov Bush does something like this? Silent. (And, yes, I know some people will say it is a big waste of money, another huge expansion of government, and totally unnecessary, but, I believe otherwise. Having a teacher be part of a governor's team means more teachers will want to join this team. I think it a great move on the part of Gov. Bush, and I am thrilled he has continued with this new tradition here in FL.)

So - FL Teachers Union, where are you? Will be there a welcome message on your web site to for this outstanding teacher working with the governor? I won't hold my breath. One of the Dem FL candidates for governor says he will actually install an office of the TEACHERS UNION next to his in Tallahassee -- yet, this is really not necessary: telling teachers you have to be in a union to perhaps be heard.

What IS necessary is exactly what Gov Bush did - have a real teacher help advise him, and to continue to reach out to ALL TEACHERS in this state.

I notice the FL Teachers Union web site has an article up today about the new president of the NEA, the national teacher's union. He claims it is important to have "all the effective people" on board.

Perhaps he will extend a welcome to Gov. Bush's new teacher in residence -- and thank Gov. Bush for making history in FL by creating this position. So few leaders are actually willing to listen to teachers. [As some teachers know, we once had a president who held an education summit and invited everyone EXCEPT teachers. (Yes, that president's name was Bill Clinton.)]

From the FL Teachers Union web site:

Boston Globe, 7/28/2002

In September, Reginald Weaver, 62, will become president of the National Education Association, one of the largest professional employee organizations in the country with about 2.7 million members ....

Q. What is the greatest challenge facing public education today?

A. Getting all the effective people on board.....

Mr. Weaver, Please leave politics behind and send Gov. Bush an email -- THANKING HIM and for doing his part: jeb@jeb.org

[summer]

For index.

[summer]

[Teacher in Rsidence] = [Teacher in Residence]

[summer]

FYI! :)

BTW, as I have mentioned before, my computer was recently struck in a lightening storm and is now being fixed, so I have not been on FR as much (I can't stand the MAC I could use.) But, I do read your posts. I apologize that I have ben slow in posting back during the time my regular computer has been down!

[summer]

I meant: THANKING HIM for doing his part:

[summer]

See post #4. :)

[multitaskmom]

Jax teacher to counsel Bush on education

The Business Journal of Jacksonville, July 29, 2002

Sharon Burnette of Jacksonville was named Monday as the new teacher-in-residence in the Executive Office of the Governor. Gov. Bush created the position to serve as an advisor on education issues.

"Along with parents, teachers have the most impact on our children's lives," said Bush. "Their love and dedication can change the life of a child and open up doors to opportunity and success. Sharon is that kind of teacher," he said. "She continually challenges her students to strive for success and instills in them a lifelong love of learning."

"Her counsel and advice will be invaluable."

Burnette has been a teacher since 1971. She began her classroom career at Lone Star Elementary School in Jacksonville, where she taught 5th grade. From 1975 thru 1980 she taught 5th grade at Loretto Elementary School. Since 1980, she has taught 5th grade at Crown Point Elementary School in Jacksonville. Throughout her years as a teacher, Burnette has been recognized for her excellence and dedication. She was honored as the 2002 Duval County Teacher of the Year.

Among numerous other awards and recognitions, Burnette has been named a Who's Who Among America's Teachers, a Master Teacher by the National Teacher Training Institute for five years in a row, nominee for the Disney American Teacher Award on four occasions, and served on the Teacher Steering Committee for the 2002 Governor's Educator Leadership Summit.

A graduate of Carson Newman College, Burnette received her bachelor's degree in elementary education in 1966. She will begin her duties in the Governor's Office on Aug. 19.

Burnette is replacing Cheryl Cliett, who has served Governor Bush since 1999. Cliett will be returning to the classroom to teach 4th grade at Canopy Oaks Elementary in Tallahassee.

Monday's announcement was made as part of the Teen Trendsetters Reading Mentoring Summit, hosted by Universal Orlando. The Teen Trendsetters are part of Governor Bush's Just Read, Florida! initiative.

[Truth Addict]

Mr. Weaver, Please leave politics behind and send Gov. Bush an email -- THANKING HIM and for doing his part:

Summer, I know you are not really expecting Mr. Weaver to take you up on your challenge, and I'm not sure that he should.

Jeb is really not "on board" with the NEA, and they really don't appreciate many of the steps that he has taken to improve education in Florida. The NEA doesn't care about education or students, they only care about maintaining their power base. For them to acknowledge that Jeb has done something good for teachers would be an admission on their part that their organization is unnecessary. It's not going to happen.

[TADSLOS]

Hey, what a novel idea! A person with real teaching experience and credentials appointed to provide consult to the Governor and his staff on education matters. I'm sure those public education bureaucrats at the NEA are probably fuming over this, which means Jeb is right on track. ;~)

[Real Cynic No More]

Way to go, Summer! The Bushs continue to move forward while their opposition keeps trying to hit the moving targets!

rncm

[Truth Addict]

(I can't stand the MAC I could use.)

So, what are you using? Why don't you like your Mac?

I'm posting on my G4 Mac tower and love it!

[MeekOneGOP]

Bush bump ! Teach bump !

[floriduh voter]

I wondered what happened to you, you little dickens. Glad you're allright.

I'm fine too. All my tests were inconclusive. Guess what? I know how you feel about Jeb pins but when people see my Jeb pin, they appear to be with us. He's endeared himself to so many Floridians. Floriduh Voter

[cake_crumb]

It really disgusts me that teachers' unions all over the country are bent on destroying the political careers of the few politicians with the determination and the means of bettering conditions in our public schools...both for the students and the teachers.

It's perverse.

[cake_crumb]

"Bush bump ! Teach bump !"

LOL...Bump good! Good Bump!

[MeekOneGOP]

Howdy!

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

bush education bump

[mafree]

GO JEB!!

[summer]

Re your post #7 - Thanks so much for posting that article here on this thread, multitaskmom. :)