Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/48237
AROUND AEA AROUND AEA AROUND AEA AROUND AEA AROUND AEA AROUND AEA AROUND AEA New film documents Arizona teachers It Takes One Person to Spark a Change Mitchell20 is a powerful and entertaining feature documentary that captures the reality of education in America. This dramatic film shows the heroic story of 20 teachers confronting the one thing they have control of, the quality of their teaching. The Mitchell20 story began with one teacher, Daniela Robles, an AEA member who taught at Mitchell Elementary in the Isaac School District. After achieving National Board Certification (NBC) in 2007, she was inspired to organize a group of colleagues to attempt this advanced certification, thus form- ing the Mitchell 20. The Arizona Education Association and the AEA Foundation for Teaching & Learning spon- sored the Phoenix and Tucson premiere of the film last month. A discussion panel, moderated by AEA President Andrew F. Morrill, was held after the premiere. Panelists included Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal, National Education Association Executive Committee member Christy Levings, Center for Teaching Quality President Barnett Berry, 2011 Arizona Teacher of the Year and AEA member Amanda McAdams, Tucson Unified School District Deputy Superintendent Dr. Maria Menconi, Arizona Education Network President Ann-Eve Pedersen, and Mitchell20's Daniela Robles. "Teaching is an "Teaching is an art and a craft. It is a very complex thing which we actually define very well." —Christy Levings, National Board of Professional Teaching Standards art and a craft," said Levings, who is currently vice-chair of the board of the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. "It is a very complex thing which we actually define very well. We know what it takes to bring someone in at the beginning, to mentor them, to bring them along, to help them get started, and then to see them come through the process to establish themselves as accom- plished educators. We really do understand what that looks like. Teachers can describe it, they can tell you what it feels like, what it looks Continued on next page AEA Advocate ❘ Winter 2011/12 11 AROUND AEA AROUND AEA AROUND AEA Scene from Mitchell20 of Daniela Robles who inspired her colleagues to attempt National Board Certification. AROUND AEA AROUND AEA AROUND AEA AROUND AEA AROUND AEA AROUND AEA AROUND AEA AROUND AEA