Indiana Milken Meeting
Clay Junior High
March 2, 2002

Present: John Frischie, Mark Weaver, Theresa Knipstein, Sherry Annee, Jan Weir, Alicia Harris, Sarah Powley

Introductions were made again and we started with a discussion about how PL221 plans were going in each of our schools.  We especially welcome Alicia and Sherry as our newest members.

Discussion followed about “must sees” out in L.A. – Getty Museum, Museum of Tolerance, Catalina Island, Universal Studios, Laguna Beach, Santa Monica Pier.

Update on the MFF Network: (Letter from Jane Foley)
* Implementing the TAP (Teacher Advancement Program) will become the focus of the networking group and will be the system to produce award recipients
* Selection of Milken educators – each state will receive two recipients (Notification October 8-18)
* No longer funding the State Awards Banquet in the fall and are encouraging states to partner the awards with other state awards (Teacher of the Year award) instead
* Summer 2003, new recipients will be honored at National Educator Awards Retreat

December 5, 2002

Westin Hotel

Indiana Summit on Quality Teaching (Recruit, Retain, Revitalize)

Luncheon

Proposed Honorees: Indiana Teacher-of-the-Year, Milken Educators, National Board Certified Teachers, Project E recipients

Goal: The Summit will bring together key state policymakers, education and business leaders, other stakeholders to gain a deeper understanding of Indiana’s progress and needs in expanding teacher quality for student learning.

Discussion followed involving the changing role of the MFF and how it may impact us as a group as we continue to meet at the local (Indiana) level.  The general sense of the group is that many of us serve in leadership roles in our respective school systems.

Sarah presented the results of the survey of the Suggested Milken Goals (from December 2001).
* Teacher training, teacher recruitment, teacher retention, networking, legislative voice, technology integration, public relations, standards
* Goals:

1. To build and strengthen the IMEN
2. To create positive two way communication with policymakers
3. To facilitate the sharing and modeling of best practices for educators
4. Organizational structure

Sarah reminded us that Michael Frazier was named as Indiana Journalism Teacher of the Year 2002.

John presented the most-up-to-date list of the Indiana Milken Educators.

John stated that the IMEN site will have to be moved off the DOE site.  Discussion involved posting a list of Milken educators with contact information (emails) and professional leadership roles (and perhaps areas of professional expertise) so that others can contact us.  DOE does not currently have the Excel spreadsheet (with the MFF) on a database anywhere.  John is going to email Jan with the Excel spreadsheet to have a backup.

John discussed the Adopt-A-Legislator Program – informal vs. formal contacts.  Most of the contacts have been informal (Christine and Theresa).  Personal interaction appears to be easier.  We reviewed the Adopt-A-Legislator Project presented by Janet Steele.

General discussion (led by Sarah) about the suggested Milken Goals followed.

Prior to lunch, the Clay Junior High Choir sang the National Anthem for the group. The lunch was fabulous!   Each person brought a dish to share and we feasted like kings (and queens). 

Following lunch, John opened up the regular business meeting and nomination of officers. 

The nominated officers include:

• Chair – Mark Weaver
• Chair Elect – Theresa Knipstein
• Chair Past – John Frischie
• Secretary – Jan Weir
• Webmaster – David Sell
• Correspondence – Sarah Powley and Christine Michael

Publications – Michael Fraizer

Using the Adopt-A-Legislator model (from Janet Steele), we agreed that this program should be something that we ought to focus in terms of our goals.  We will focus on training in this area for the fall.  Sarah stated that it would be a good thing to make a list of all the legislators and their districts and their committees and be sure all the ME get that list.  We will use the “Communicating with your legislators” information (from Maine) to help us with this process.  Sarah moved (and it was accepted) that we plan a fall session for ME in the fall to introduce the Adopt-A-Legislator program and have training about it. 

Theresa and Alicia are active members on the IDOE Planning Committee and will advocate to present at the winter conference.

The brochure will be presented and distributed in the fall (Michael Fraizer).  The completed surveys will reside with the Correspondence officer (Sarah Powley). The next years meetings dates were discussed and approved: September 21, December 5 and March 8, 2003, and snow date for spring meeting is April 19th.  Meeting was adjourned by 2:30.

Respectfully submitted,

Jan Carroll Weir
ME ’97