Teach Effectively!

A few days ago I posted an entry about a relatively new parent organization. The same individuals involved in developing that organziation also have a companion site aimed at teachers. Here’s a quote from the president’s message:

The concept of NASET was first initiated when Dr. George Giuliani (Vice President of NASET) and I were looking to join a national organization dedicated solely to the professional growth and development of special education teachers throughout the United States. As full-time university graduate professors in special education departments, we wanted our students to be able to keep up to date with the most current events, legislation, commentaries, etc. affecting special education teachers. To our amazement, we found no organization throughout the United States that was a professional organization dedicated solely to special education teachers. After discussing it with many colleagues in the field, Dr. Giuliani and I felt that the establishment of The National Association of Special Education Teachers needed to be commenced. The feedback we received on developing NASET was been overwhelmingly positive, and it set the ball in motion for great things to come for this organization.

I have only skimmed the site. It’s membership organization and, understandably, only members can gain access to some aspects of the site. There’s a lot of material, though little of it appears to focus on effectiveness or improving students’ outcomes.

I noticed that there are awards (certificates) for teachers who have been nominated by their local education agencies. The awards (certificates) do not appear to emphasize effectiveness. Indeed, they appear to be available for the cost of submitting the document (along with one’s e-mail address). “This is not a competition—Any special education teacher or inclusion classroom teacher that a school or district administrator inform [sic] NASET of as worthy of receiving this award will receive it.”

Link to the site.