Educators 4 Excellence (E4E) works to ensure that the voices of classroom teachers are included in the decisions that affect their profession and their students. E4E envisions an elevated, prestigious teaching profession in which educators are leaders both in and outside of their classrooms to drive positive outcomes for students. E4E receives general operating funds through McKnight’s Education & Learning program in support of the Minnesota E4E chapter.
Educators for Excellence envisions an elevated, prestigious teaching profession in which educators are leaders both in and outside of their classrooms to drive positive outcomes for students.
On February 21, 2015, over 100 educators and community partners gathered for E4E-MN’s first annual summit, Voices for Equity and Teacher Diversity. Participants gathered to take part in the launch of the 2015 Teacher Policy Team on Teacher Diversity. The day was packed with opportunities for educators to learn about the policy recommendations in the paper, be inspired by speakers and performers, and learn in teacher-led breakout sessions designed to boost their collective advocacy skills. Not only did teachers lead on developing the policy recommendations released that day, they also delivered 12 breakout sessions on topics like “Building a Racial Equity Framework,” “Teacher Advocacy Toolkit,” “Strategy to Win on Teacher Diversity,” and more. As a result of the summit, educators took a step forward to advocate for an elevated teaching profession and improved student outcomes. They built a new network of leaders who will work to ensure all Minnesota students, particularly students of color, have the opportunity to learn from teachers of diverse backgrounds. Going forward, E4E will call on this network of leaders to set in motion the 203 collective action commitments made at the summit.
Educators 4 Excellence began as a group of New York teachers who wanted to change the top-down approach to policy-making, which largely alienated teachers from crucial decisions that shaped their classrooms and careers. They have grown into a national movement of teachers leading the charge to change our education system. Today, E4E teachers across the country are learning about education policy, connecting with like-minded colleagues, and taking action to ensure that their classroom experience informs the decisions that impact their profession and their students.
