State Board Member Nancy Danhof to Serve on National Task Force on State Actions to Develop Educators for the 21st Century

The National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) is pleased to announce that Ms. Nancy Danhof a member of the Michigan State Board of Education, has been selected to serve on a year-long NASBE study group—Developing Educators for the 21st Century— to examine the skills and knowledge required to teach and lead 21st century schools and administer districts.

The NASBE conducts annual study groups to provide professional development to members of State Boards of Education, set organizational direction and priorities, inform the state education policymaking process on key issues, and provide recommendations to state education policymakers and the education community at large. As a member of the 2010 national task force, Ms. Danhof will meet with other state board members, researchers, and policy analysts to examine the complex issues related to ensuring educators have the requisite competencies and adaptability to succeed in preparing students to meet postsecondary expectations for college and careers. In order to provide students with the world-class education envisioned by states, policy leaders must craft an effective human capital strategy for education that integrates recruitment, preparation, and retention policies as part of a cohesive educator development system.

Task force members will examine:

• Common core standards and international benchmarks and their potential impact on how effective teaching is defined.
• Models for preparing teachers and administrators who will be highly effective in a 21st century learning community.
• System supports and barriers to creating an effective 21st century education workforce.
• Educator development policies required for continuous adaptation to 21st century technology and societal changes.

The study group will issue a comprehensive report in October 2010 at the NASBE Annual Conference in Salt Lake City, UT. The group’s policy recommendations will be disseminated to relevant stakeholders including members of Congress, federal officials, governors, chief state school officers, and local education policymakers.