“We’re not fixing teachers… we’re trying to take teachers and give them opportunities for professional growth.”

MƒA President John Ewing and MƒA Executive Director Megan Roberts joined hosts Dale Basler and Brian Bartel on the latest episode of Lab Out Loud, a science focused biweekly podcast from the National Science Teachers Association, to discuss the importance of teaching as a true profession and how the MƒA model encourages mathematics and science teachers to engage in their subject matter while working in a collaborative and supportive environment.  

Ewing shares: “(We’re trying) to focus on what works. Focusing on excellence, teachers that are already quite accomplished, bringing them into communities where they can work together… What we provide (these teachers) is an atmosphere and a professional community that feels good, makes teaching more satisfying, and retains them in the classroom longer.”

Throughout the episode both Ewing and Roberts offered insight on why we need and how to change the conversation about the teaching profession, one of our main goals at MƒA. The common denominator from their opinions? Teachers themselves.

Roberts shares: “One of the things we need to do is to stop referring to teachers as ‘just teachers’ and teachers need to be the ones leading that charge. Teachers need to be leaders in their classroom by (taking control over their professional growth) and by having a voice outside their classroom.” 

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