in grants for dropout-prevention programs
Printer Friendly VersionThe Teach-A-Thon is a public awareness campaign, a walk-a-thon with a twist, a networking opportunity, a team-building exercise, and more...
It's a campaign.
The Education Fund's Teach-A-Thon, now in its fifth year, is an exciting campaign. The goal is to educate the business community and others about the effect that teaching quality has on student achievement and what it takes to ensure quality teaching.
It's a walk-a-thon with a twist.
The Teach-A-Thon uses a walk-a-thon strategy with an innovative twist. Instead of walking, running or climbing stairs, volunteers train for a "teaching day." As part of the training process, participants learn the "Three Rs" that contribute to teaching quality:
- Recruit teachers-Understand the challenges of recruiting teachers in today's environment.
- Retain teachers-Gain insight into effective means of professional development strategies to keep our best teachers.
- Reward teachers-Recognize teacher success and the important role they play and compensate them fairly and competitively.
It's a networking opportunity and team-building exercise.
Training is simple, fun and a great way to network with other professionals. Participants are teamed up with a colleague and become Teacher Champions. They gain an understanding of what the community can do to improve teaching quality while learning how to create a stimulating lesson plan. Equipped with this insight, Teacher Champions spread the message to colleagues and friends while seeking support for their teaching day.
It's a teaching day and a fun event.
The campaign culminates in a countywide teaching day, when all Teacher Champions spend up to two hours teaching in their assigned classroom. A few weeks later everyone enjoys a victory party where stories of success are shared by Teacher Champions and their teachers.
In 2008, 350 business professionals from 55 companies and organizations throughout South Florida volunteered. Several organizations used the event to create team building and connections between employees, as most Teacher Champions teach in teams. One company invested its full support behind one employee, connecting all clients and vendors to a Web site she created.
Last year, Teacher Champions raised a total of more than $70,000 for Miami-Dade County Public School classrooms.
Bankers taught kindergarteners the importance of saving. Utility executives shared the real-world implications of thunderstorms. Journalists explained the integrity of reporting. Students from kindergarten through 12th grade learned from the entire community. More importantly, our Teacher Champions learned the importance of supporting teachers to improve teaching quality. And, they were quick to spread the word. Whether sponsors pledged $1 or $100, each was touched by the message that teaching is one of the most important professions in our community.
For more information, please contact:
Stacey de la Grana
The Education Fund
305-892-5099 ext. 23
Presenting sponsors:
Kick-off Party made possible by
