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House OKs new status for top teacher Thursday, Apr 6, 2006 By Rob Moritz Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - Measures to make the state's top teacher an ambassador for public education and expand teacher development programs narrowly passed the House on Wednesday. House Bill 1031, the Arkansas Teacher of the Year Act, is Gov. Mike Huckabee's proposal to make the instructor who wins the state's annual teacher of the year award an education consultant. Some House members questioned the need for paying for a teacher to tour the state promoting education needs. Rep. Marvin Childers, R-Blytheville, said HB 1031 was "creating a professional development traveler of the year." "This is not an efficient way to spend money," Childers complained. But the sponsor, Rep. Janet Johnson, D-Bryant, said the new position would enhance the stature of the profession and allow teachers to feel like they are part of the process. Johnson is a teacher. "This allows a classroom teacher ... a seat at the table, a seat at the Department of Education," Rep. Chris Thomason, D-Hope, added. The bill passed, 56-27, and goes to the Senate. House Bill 1012 by Rep. Jodie Mahony, D-El Dorado, would allocated nearly $500,000 to the state Department of Education for an on-line teacher professional development program. Mahony said the program would make professional development classes more accessible to teachers across the state. Part of the program's cost would go to hiring someone to create the program and for a teacher to oversee it and answer questions, he said. Some lawmakers said the state already has a variety of professional development programs, and they questioned the need for hiring two more people to create this one. The House passed the measure, 51-40, with no votes to spare. It goes to the Senate. |
