Teaching Profession Blog

Leading From the Classroom

This blog was written by Patrick Ledesma, a National Board-certified teacher and School Based Technology Specialist in Fairfax, Virginia, where he focused on instructional-technology integration and special education at the middle school level. For the 2010-2011 school year, Patrick served as a Classroom Fellow with the U.S. Department of Education’s Teacher Ambassador Fellowship Program, as well as working on teacher recruitment and outreach for the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. This blog is no longer being updated, but you can continue to explore these issues on edweek.org by visiting our related topic pages: teacher leaders.

Education Opinion How Are You Using Your Interactive Whiteboad This Year?
Have you ever made a resolution or promise to do things differently at the beginning of the school year?
Patrick Ledesma, September 27, 2011
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2 min read
Education Opinion Is Teacher Use of Social Networks with Students...Creepy?
At an education conference this past summer, a teacher relayed a question the students had asked about a situation they had experienced.
Patrick Ledesma, September 13, 2011
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3 min read
Education Opinion Moving Towards Productive Dialogue Between Teachers and Policy Makers
"Teachers today need to be treated more as professionals and knowledge workers, and less as interchangeable cogs in an educational factory line out of the last century. Teachers need and deserve more autonomy and respect and they must become real participants and partners in reform if outcomes for children are to dramatically improve."
Patrick Ledesma, September 8, 2011
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5 min read
Education Opinion Is Your School or Classroom Developing the Future Innovators?
As we begin the school year, three major news events last week provided relevant educational applications.
Patrick Ledesma, August 28, 2011
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3 min read
Education Opinion Is Our Current Teacher Compensation System Up to the Challenges of the Future?
Last week, Steve Owens guest blogged A Tale of Two Cities: Fear and Hope in Education Policy and Unions. This week, he is cross posting an excerpt from first blog article Rethinking Teacher Compensation: Ethics Equals Good Policy- Part I: Time Flows Only One Direction on his new blog Education Worker.
Patrick Ledesma, August 23, 2011
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4 min read
Education Opinion A Tale of Two Cities: Fear and Hope in Education Policy and Unions
Steve Owens is a National Board Certified Teacher from Vermont and a 2010-2011 Classroom Teaching Ambassador Fellow with the US Department of Education. He is a member of the Vermont National Education Association (VT-NEA) Board of Directors and a music teacher in two elementary schools.
Patrick Ledesma, August 14, 2011
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4 min read
Education Opinion Teacher Leadership or Teacher Extra Duty?
Spring 2007: I'm standing in front of the school buses during afternoon dismissal holding a walkie talkie, posed in the "look I have a walkie talkie stance" with my arms crossed. I'm required to be an "assistant principal for a day" as part of my administrative portfolio requirements for an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies.
Patrick Ledesma, August 8, 2011
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4 min read
Education Opinion Should Schools Use Social Networks for Instruction?
The Digital Immigrant and Digital Native Discussions Continue...(Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV...)
Patrick Ledesma, July 24, 2011
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5 min read
Education Opinion Can Badges Offer Viable Alternatives to Standardized Tests for School Evaluation?
Have you ever heard of badges in education?
Whenever I hear of badges, I remember being in elementary school and the merit badges that some classmates who were in the Boy Scouts would wear to school.
Patrick Ledesma, July 10, 2011
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4 min read
Education Opinion Should Students Bring Their Own Technology Devices to School?
I am at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in my capacity as a Classroom Fellow with the US Department of Education. At our exhibitor booth, we are discussing the National Education Technology Plan and the Connected Online Community of Practice.
Patrick Ledesma, June 28, 2011
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5 min read
Education Opinion Moving Beyond Standardized Test Scores in Evaluating Special Education Teachers: Part I
The annual high stakes state standardized testing season is now over.
Patrick Ledesma, June 13, 2011
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5 min read
Education Opinion When Do Teachers Transform From Teacher to Teacher Leader?
Are you a teacher leader? If so, when did you realize you were ready to be a teacher leader?
Patrick Ledesma, June 6, 2011
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4 min read
Education Opinion Lists of Top Schools: Let the Numbers Do the Thinking
Last week, Jay Mathews released his yearly Challenge Index. All the discussions and controversies about the Index reminded me of a recent conversation about school rankings when I was at a local pizza restaurant after school.
Patrick Ledesma, May 31, 2011
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3 min read
Education Opinion Technology Integration Isn't About Technology
This week the Apple Retail Store turns 10 years old. While the concept and appeal of the Apple store today can be seen in the numerous stores that have opened worldwide, ten years ago, there was a fair share of doubt and criticism that an Apple store would succeed. There is much to be learned from the success of these stores.
Patrick Ledesma, May 22, 2011
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4 min read
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