Panelists for March 19, 2002 Satellite Town Meeting

Guest panelists are:

Dave Gordon
Mr. Gordon is the Superintendent of the Elk Grove Unified School District located in Sacramento, California. Elk Grove is a rapidly growing district - they currently serve 50,000 students and expect that number to increase to 80,000 within the next 8 years. To address immediate and long-term needs Elk Grove has a comprehensive approach to ensure quality instruction in every classroom. The district is noted for the Teacher Education Institute (TEI), created in 1993 to attract and retain high quality teachers through a high quality, fast track, and intensive teacher credentialing program.

Cheryl Krehbiel
Ms. Krehbiel is a Standards and Instruction Specialist with an expertise in science and early literacy. Over her 18-year experience as a classroom teacher, she honed skills as a classroom practitioner and science expert and became a National Board Certified teacher through the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Besides teaching she has also worked at the Council for Basic Education on professional development, standards and testing issues. Presently, she teaches at Broad Acres Elementary School in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Eugenio Longoria
Mr. Longoria is a classroom instructor and Literacy Coordinator at Bell Multicultural High School in Washington, DC. Eugenio graduated from Baylor University in 1996 with a distinguished background in Economics and International Trade but chose to enter the education profession as a 1997 recruit of Teach for America. The mission of Teach for America is to build a corps of outstanding recent college graduates of all academic majors who commit two years to teach in public schools in low-income communities. Inspired by his experience in the classroom, Eugenio has chosen to extend his tenure at Bell and is currently completing a Masters in Curriculum Development of Bilingual and Special Education at George Washington University.

Ruth Nathan
Dr. Nathan is a university professor and classroom teacher. Presently, she is an instructor with University of California, Berkeley's Reading Certificate Program. The certificate program is designed to assist teachers in grade levels pre-K to 12 in building and enhancing skills needed to teach reading and is approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC). Additionally, she works with area school districts to ensure classroom teachers use the latest research-based instruction. She has authored many books and articles on teaching proper writing skills and literacy.

Jeff Davis
Via Satellite. Mr. Davis is the Field Director for the Call Me Mister Program based out of Clemson, South Carolina. The program is a collaboration between Clemson University and three private historically black colleges (Benedict College, Claflin College and Morris College) to recruit, train, certify and secure employment for 200 black males as elementary teachers in the public schools of South Carolina. The first class of teachers from the Call Me Mister program is scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2004. Mr. Davis will be accompanied by a student of the program.