BESE
BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Improving Teacher Quality in Louisiana
The Blue Ribbon Commission on Teacher Quality was formed by the Board of Regents and the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education in April of 1999 for the purpose of improving teacher quality in Louisiana. The Commission was composed of thirty-one state, university, district, school, and community leaders. It was given the charge to recommend policies to the Governor, Board of Regents, and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education that would lead to a cohesive PK-16+ system to hold universities and school districts accountable for the aggressive recruitment, preparation, support, and retention of quality teachers who produced higher achieving K-12 students. The commission met from September 1999 to May 2001.
The Commission was reconstituted as the Blue Ribbon Commission for Educational Excellence resumed meetings on October 11, 2001. Commission Chair is Ms. Frances Henry from the Louisiana Board of Regents. Ms. Glenny Lee Buquet, member of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), is the co-Chairperson for the Blue Ribbon Commission for 2000 - 2001. The charge of the Commission is to oversee the implementation of the 1999-2001 Commission actions and identify new actions for 2001-2002 that address the improvement of student achievement.
The Practitioner Teacher Program, a recommendation of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Teacher Quality promises exciting new directions for Louisiana's teaching profession. The program offers a fast-track approach to alternate certification for non-education degreed persons who desire to become teachers. Initial implementation of the Practitioner Teacher Program began in summer 2002. Three hundred and eighty-two participants are currently in the program. Nine Universities, including Louisiana College, Nicholls State University, Northwestern State University, Southeastern State University, University of Louisiana-Lafayette and Xavier University are providing practitioner programs. Two private providers are the New Teacher Project and St. John the Baptist School District are providing programs.
Questions related to the Blue Ribbon Commission may be addressed to either Sheila Talamo, Assistant Superintendent, Office of Quality Educators, Louisiana Department of Education or Jeanne Burns, Associate Commissioner of Teacher Education Initiatives, Governor's Office - Board of Regents.
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