CSTP: Teacher Leadership

Sample Letter

Dear Senator,

As a National Board Certified Teacher who works in your district, I would like to invite you to visit my classroom. I'm working with 28 third graders who come from all over the world. My students speak 10 different languages, yet they communicate and work very effectively with one another. My students are learning at a high rate and they are enjoying their time at school.

I feel that the process of achieving National Board Certification has benefited my students in many ways. I know my students, I understand my curriculum, I plan my lessons very carefully and I consistently analyze and reflect on my teaching in order to improve. These are some of the skills that I developed while working on my National Board Certification.

I know that Washington State lawmakers are continually revisiting National Board Certification to determine whether or not it makes a difference in the education of our students. I believe it does and I would like to have a chance to show you.

Sincerely,

Tom White

17 January 2007

Dear Rep. Kirk Pearson,
Hello, my name is Debra Howell. I am a National Board Certified Teacher that teaches in your legislative district, at Monte Cristo Elementary School in Granite Falls. I earned my National Board Certification in 2000. I have been an educator here in Granite Falls since 1984. Not only do I teach in Granite Falls, but I also live in this school district as well. Both of my children are now high school students who have spent their entire schooling here in Granite Falls.

I am Andrea Peterson, also a National Board Teacher in Granite Falls teaching at Monte Cristo Elementary. I am currently the 2007 Washington State Teacher of the Year. I certified in 2002. Debra and I both work on various district and state educational leadership projects together.

We know that you have many bills to read and are expected to be "up" on nearly every topic of importance in the state of Washington. With the governor's new budget heavily looking at educational issues we would like to invite you to come and meet with us and several other teachers here at my school during the month of February. Being a National Board teacher we see ourselves as leaders not only in our district but in the state. We want to give you the opportunity to talk to us about any questions you might have about education in your home legislative district.

We would like to encourage you to come and spend a few hours with us. The best times would be from 8:00am (40 minutes before school starts) and stay as long as you have time, or you can come later in the day and stay after school to meet (school lets out at 3:00pm).

Thank you so much for considering my invitation to you to come and visit us at Monte Cristo Elementary.

Thank you,

Debra Howell, NBCT Andrea Peterson, NBCT

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