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Michelle Snow

“I’m amazed and honored that she chose me,” said John Alemany, Michelle Snow’s 12th grade Spanish teacher.“She's a star basketball player. I would have thought for sure she’d pick one of her coaches.” “Sports came easy to me,” explains Michelle. “Spanish was a challenge, and Mr. Alemany didn’t give up on me. “He has this amazing positive energy. And he genuinely cares. You can’t imagine what a difference that makes.” Behind every famous person is
a fabulous teacher

Education News: August 26 and September 2, 2005

Following are some of the top headlines from the world of education for the week ending August 26 and September 2, 2005.

Storm-displaced students urged to learn where they are
(Source: Nola.com, 9/1/05)
Louisiana Superintendent of Education Cecil Picard has urged state school systems to speedily find a place for the approximately 150,000 public school students who were displaced by Hurricane Katrina in the New Orleans area. The superintendent said that 23 percent of the region’s schools were severely damaged by the flood.

Federal leaders pledge relaxed rules for schools
(Source: The Boston Globe, 9/1/05)
In light of the devastation to the Gulf Coast caused by Hurricane Katrina, U.S. Education leaders said they would be willing to relax the requirements mandated by the No Child Left Behind law as the region recovers. This will allow schools in the region to continue to receive federal aid while taking longer to boost test scores and ensure that all teachers meet the federal requirements.

Teaching of creationism is endorsed in new survey
(Source: The New York Times, 8/31/05)
A new survey has shown that nearly two-thirds of Americans say that creationism and evolution should be taught alongside each other in public schools, despite the fact that only 42 percent of respondents held strict creationist views. The poll was conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life and the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press.

Study: Teachers coming to terms with computers
(Source: The New York Times, 8/29/05)
A new study has shown that teachers are increasingly incorporating computers into their workdays, but more for administrative purposes than as teaching tools. The study by CDW Government also reported that 70 percent of high school and middle school teachers use email to communicate with parents.

Group seeks to end gifted designation
(Source: The Washington Post, 8/25/05)
Parents and activists in Montgomery County, Maryland, have formed the Equity in Education Coalition, which seeks to do away with the “gifted and talented” designation in public schools. The coalition contends that singling out some kids for a more enriched curriculum limits the educational opportunities of other children.

Education chief criticizes Connecticut
(Source: The New York Times, 8/24/05)
Education Secretary Margaret Spellings recently admitted that Connecticut’s lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Education is troubling and went on to deny the state’s allegations that the No Child Left Behind law isn’t fully funded. Spellings said that the real problem was the state’s fear of seeing its test results.

Majority opposed to No Child Left Behind
(Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press, 8/24/05)
A new Gallup survey shows that 68% of Americans disagreed with the ways schools are evaluated under the No Child Left Behind law, although a full 90% approved of one of the law’s main goals, which is to close the achievement gap between white and minority students.