Even As Accomplishments are Celebrated, Fatheree Urges Educational Community to Plan for Next Steps

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Published on August 8 2016 3:33 pm
Last Updated on August 8 2016 3:44 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

The 2016 Kickoff to Education Breakfast celebrated what's happening in Effingham County and some of what's to come.

Global Teacher Prize finalist Joe Fatheree, though, said it's time to be looking ahead even farther, even 50 years down the road, to make sure the county is ready when the challenges come.

(JOE FATHEREE)

Fatheree served as keynote speaker for the event. He said there isn't a country in the world that's not trying to develop its best workforce. Noting those other nations, Fatheree asked, "What are we doing here to prepare for the future? These people want your jobs."

Fatheree showed a video of Effingham High School students who developed a delivery system. He asked, "If they're doing this, what do you think they're doing at Google?" 

The former Illinois Teacher of the Year said, "The most powerful thing you can give your child is a quality education."

Fatheree touched on his past year since being nominated for the Global Teacher Prize, discussing the video crews from other nations that chronicled what students are learning and doing here. It shows the desire of others to learn from us, but it challenges us to try to learn from others. Fatheree said, "We can be Effingham County AND still be innovative." He noted Chattanooga, Tennessee's tagline, "Playground for Pioneers" and wondered, "What's our tagline for the future?" Not everything succeeds with these others, but Fatheree said, "They're learning failure AND learning success."

Fatheree presented six Next Steps for those present to consider. They are:

1) re-energize Vision 20/20

2) develop a strategic growth plan that includes education as a fundamental tenant

3) create partnerships with the area schools that promote innovation and provide students with opportunities to celebrate academic success

4) education and lifelong learning become priorities for business, government, and community leaders in Effingham County

5) provide ongoing support as educational leaders retool their systems to ensure our students have the skills they need to find success

6) engineer a framework that supports ongoing community conversations about education

As to the first item on Fatheree's list, Effingham County Chamber of Commerce President Norma Lansing said a meeting is scheduled for September 22 to discuss re-energizing Vision 20/20. 

Fatheree said, "We have to re-think education". He cheered the CEO Class that has spread from Effingham County to a number of states across the nation. He, though, would also like to see Celebrations of Success for five-year-olds since this is the time of their lives when they're not afraid to dream big.

Fatheree also discussed the projected need for 25.8 million new teachers in the next several years, and said that number is assuming an average of 40 students per class. He also said there is a need to address the issue of race, saying if you are a white child in grade school, you are not the majority race.

Fatheree understands he needs to advocate his goals while still somewhat in the spotlight after the Global Teacher Prize nomination. He encourages you to contact him with your thoughts at: joe@nnstoy.org