News & Notes

We’ve Moved!

Northeast Foundation for Children moved to a bigger space in November 2004 to accommodate our growing operations and increasing number of staff. Our new office is in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, one town over from our old location. Our new address is:

85 Avenue A
P.O. Box 718
Turners Falls, MA 01376-0718
800-360-6332 Fax: 877-206-3952

Responsive Classroom Consulting Teacher Wins Milken Award

Responsive Classroom consulting teacher Mike Anderson, who teaches fifth grade at Dondero Elementary School in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, won a prestigious Milken Education Award this past fall for excellence in education. Mike was one of 100 educators around the country this year who received the award, given annually by the Milken Family Foundation. Each winner is granted $25,000 to use in any way s/he likes.

The honor caught Mike completely by surprise. There is no public application or nomination process. All candidates are named without their knowledge by a committee appointed by their state department of education.

“I really believe that most teachers deserve something like this,” Mike said about the award. About his own teaching, he said, “I simply strive to connect with each child and teach them at their own developmental level. Learning should be challenging and fun.”

Mike has been using the Responsive Classroom approach for ten years. For the last six years he has been a consulting teacher to others wanting to learn the approach.

The criteria for selecting winners for the award include outstanding instructional practices, outstanding accomplishments, strong potential for professional leadership, and an engaging and inspiring presence that motivates students, colleagues, and the community.

CEP Seeks Applications for “Promising Practices” Citation

The Character Education Partnership (CEP) is inviting schools and districts to apply for “Promising Practices” citations as part of its National Schools of Character awards program. The citation recognizes schools and districts for implementing unique and specific strategies in character-based education. CEP will showcase the chosen practices in its annual National Schools of Character publication and will honor the schools and districts at the annual CEP National Forum. The application deadline is March 15, 2005. For information on how to apply, contact the Character Education Partnership, 800-988-8081, geninfo@character.org

Responsive Classroom at National Conferences

We will be exhibiting our publications at two national conferences in the coming months:

• The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) conference in Washington, DC, on February 20-25. We’ll be at booth number 215/217.
• The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) conference in Orlando, Florida, on April 2–4. We’ll be at booth number 211. Pam Porter, a Senior Program Developer for NEFC, will also take part in a presentation about integrating academic, social, and emotional learning with representatives from Committee for Children; the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning; and the Hudson, Massachusetts, school district.

Come and see us if you’re at these conferences!

Growth in NEFC Board: Groundwork for a Vibrant Future

In the last two years, Northeast Foundation for Children’s Board of Directors has increased in size and diversity, now numbering ten members.

“The NEFC Board is a remarkable group of individuals committed to the mission of NEFC,” says Board chair Robert Fricker. “Their blend of backgrounds ensures that the Board is well equipped to work with the administration to consider and plan for a vibrant future for NEFC.”

The Board members are:

Karen Casto, principal of Penn Valley Elementary School in Levittown, Pennsylvania

Joan Cenedella, former dean of the Children’s Program and vice president of Academic Affairs at Bank Street College of Education

Joanne Corbin, associate professor at the School for Social Work at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts

Caltha Crowe, third grade teacher and mentor teacher at Kings Highway School in Westport, Connecticut

Larry Dieringer, executive director of Educators for Social Responsibility in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Robert Fricker, head of the Independent Day School in Middlefield, Connecticut

Sherry Immediato, managing director of the Society for Organizational Learning

Marijke Kerhahn, assistant professor and director of teacher education at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education

Clay Shouse, vice president of the High/Scope Educational Research Foundation in Ypsilanti, Michigan

Neil Yeager, managing director of the Charter Oak Consulting Group in East Berlin, Connecticut

Have You Visited . . .

You might want to take a look at the website of the Center for the Development of Peace and Well-Being. It offers articles and research findings on topics related to peace and well being, including social and emotional learning. You’ll also find a list of community-based organizations that are doing practical work to promote peace in a variety of areas.