FLAM News for April
WE NEED MO TEACHERS! At the CSCTFL Delegate Assembly in Chicago last month, ACTFL President Dessa
Dawson shared some startling statistics about the current U.S. teacher shortage. Within the next three years, some 1.5 million new teachers will need to be hired simply to keep up with current demand. An August 2016 report from the U.S. Department of Education lists Missouri as one of 44 states currently reporting a shortage in language teachers. In fact, Missouri has reported foreign languages as a teacher shortage area in 25 of the last 27 years; 2000-2002 being the exception.
As of today there are at least 34 world language vacancies listed on the MOREAP website. Several dozen more vacancies are posted on local district websites throughout the state.
What can you do to ensure that these positions are filled? When you know about vacancies in your area, PLEASE inform your FLAM Regional Rep so that they can share with FLAM members throughout the state. We must all do our part to help find teachers to fill these vacancies. In some instances, if a school district cannot fill a vacancy they will simply cut the program altogether. Missouri students simply cannot afford to lose access to languages!
In addition, speak with your students about whether or not they might consider becoming a teacher in the future. We must begin training future teachers today so that we can fill the vacancies of tomorrow.
You can find contact information for FLAM Regional Representatives HERE.
NEW REP APPOINTED TO CENTRAL REGION
FLAM is pleased to announce the appointment of Myles Freborg as Central Region representative. Myles is a French teacher and Department Chair at Battle High School in Columbia, MO. More information on him. Myles is looking forward to making connections and forging strong relationships with teachers throughout the state. If you teach in Central Missouri, please take a moment to reach out and introduce yourself to Myles.
SEAL OF BILITERACY UPDATE This school year, FLAM has been working closely with Ryan Rumpf, Director of ELL Curriculum & World Languages at DESE, and Lisa Dorner of the Missouri Dual Language Network (MODLAN) to develop guidelines for implementing the Seal of Biliteracy at the district level. Though the seal has not been adopted at the state level, we are moving forward with a pilot program which will launch with the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year. Several school districts across the state have indicated an interest in offering the Seal of Biliteracy to their students. Others are already working to implement their own Biliteracy awards. Our intention is that by developing a statewide set of guidelines, school districts throughout Missouri will be able to utilize a uniform set of standards when awarding their biliteracy certificates. We are very excited about the potential impact of this initiative and look forward to sharing more information with you in August.
FLAM 2017 CIA: CULTURE IN ACTION!
The 2017 FLAM conference will be held October 27-28 at the Embassy Suites & St. Charles Convention in St. Charles, MO. The 2017 conference theme will be CIA: Culture in Action! Mark you calendar and plan to join us in historic St. Charles.
As always, if there is anything that FLAM can do to be of assistance to you and your students, please do not hesitate to contact me.
I wish you all the best as we head into testing season. Have a FLAMtastic week!
Kristopher Morehead, FLAM President Pipkin IB/MYP World School Springfield, MO