Standing Up for Students: A Conversation with Melissa Tomlinson

What this episode covers

Welcome to the Jersey Educator Podcast, a show created by NJEA members … for NJEA members.  Whether you are a teacher, an education support professional, or a New Jersey Student Education Association member, this show will serve as a platform to help YOU bring out the best in your students . . . each and every day in your schools.  The shows are hosted by Jeff Bradbury of TeacherCast.net (@TeacherCast) and Jim Boice, a field representative with NJEA (@boiceinthehood).   For more information, please visit njea.org/podcast and email us at [email protected]. In this episode, we welcome Melissa Tomlinson onto the program. About Our Guest A teacher of students with special needs at Buena Regional Middle School, Melissa realized that she was not alone in questioning the role of standardized testing in schools when she found the Badass Teachers Association, where she currently serves as the Assistant Executive Director. Melissa was first pushed into the spotlight of fighting the methods of corporate educational reform when she faced Governor Chris Christie to ask about his public degradation of NJ Schools when they were rated one of the top three in the nation. Along with teaching and advocacy, Melissa runs the after-school program in her school building.  Melissa also sits on the ESSA Stakeholder Group at the New Jersey Department of Education. * Find NJEA’s ESSA resources page here. * Find the Badassed Teachers Association at badassteacher.org and NJ BATs on Facebook. Learn about the film, Backpack Full of Cash, here at backpackfullofcash.com. Upcoming NJEA Events * At the Corner of 1st and 5th at Convention ‘16: November 10-11. * Early career members networking event at Haven: November 10. * Learn more at the events page of njea.org/earlycareermembers. Upcoming Educational Conferences * Find more events at The Education Calendar * Edcamp New Jersey * http://www.edcampnewjersey.net/ * West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District * Thomas R. Grover Middle School * November 19, 2016 Social Media Minute Todays Social Media Minute comes from our friends at NJSchoolJobs.com. Tech Tips * Google Classroom Tips and Tricks for the Non-Newbie Teacher Subscribe to Our Podcast on iTunes We are proud to be listed in the iTunes Directory. Please take a moment and subscribe to this show on your favorite podcast player today! Show Hosts Jeffrey Bradbury, author of Kidblog: An Introduction to Blogging With Your Students, is the creator of TeacherCast.net, TeacherCast University, and <a href="http://www.educationalpodcasting.