Despite the success that other high-performing nations have realized by modernizing and elevating the teaching profession, the United States has never made a serious commitment to professionalizing the teaching pathway. From selection and preparation to leadership opportunities and competitive compensation, the teacher career continuum lags behind other professions, such as medicine, law, and engineering. This event will unveil a diverse and powerful coalition of 40 education organizations who have come together to call on our national leaders to make modernizing and elevating the teaching profession the top education policy priority in 2016 and beyond.

The TeachStrong launch event will feature Republican Governor Terry Branstad of Iowa as well as Democratic Governor Jack Markell of Delaware, who will both speak on their efforts to elevate the teaching profession in their states and the importance of coming together around this issue.

Expectations for today’s teachers are higher than at any point in history. Unfortunately, the systems for training, supporting, and developing teachers have not kept pace with the demands of the profession. The TeachStrong campaign is dedicated to creating the political will necessary to make critical changes to all aspects of the teaching career continuum, and to spurring a national conversation about how to modernize and elevate the teaching profession. We hope you will join us for this discussion.

Opening remarks:

Carmel Martin, Executive Vice President for Policy, Center for American Progress

Keynote Speakers:

Terry Branstad, Governor of Iowa

Jack Markell, Governor of Delaware

Q&A with Governor Branstad and Governor Markell

Moderated by Carmel Martin

Moderator:

Amanda Ripley, Author of New York Times bestseller The Smartest Kids in the World

Confirmed Panelists:

Peggy Brookins, President & CEO, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards

Bobby Miles, Multi-Classroom Leader & Science Teacher, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, North Carolina Association of Educators member

Congressman George Miller, Former U.S. Representative (D-CA) and Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Labor, Senior Education Advisor at Cengage Learning

Mary Cathryn Ricker, Executive Vice President, American Federation of Teachers

A light breakfast will be served.