Question

1) Innovation Discuss what is meant by innovation Describe and explain the steps you believe are important when a SBE decides to introduce an innovation. Discuss a current, real life example of a SBE that had introduced an innovation and include the types of issues that they may have experienced. 2) Environmental & Sustainability Explain what is meant by Environmental & Sustainability issues. What is the difference? Discuss some of the current hot topics for each.

Answer 1

1).

Description:In August 2007 the State Board of Education adopted a policy that provides for school systems or community

colleges and/or colleges and universities in conjunction with a school system to establish innovative/experimental

alternative licensure programs for lateral entry teachers. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) and The New

Teacher Project (TNTP) have proposed an alternative licensure program for lateral entry teachers. The proposal has

been reviewed by the State Evaluation Committee on Teacher Education and the NC Professional Teaching

Standards Commission. It is presented for discussion this month and will be presented for approval in May.

Input Process:

As prescribed by SBE policy TCP-B-010, the proposal from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has been reviewed

by the State Evaluation Committee on Teacher Education and the NC Professional Teaching Standards Commission.

Both groups recommend approval.

INNOVATIVE/EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS FOR LATERAL ENTRY TEACHER

LICENSURE

(a) An innovative/experimental program for lateral entry teacher licensure is an alternative to

the regular approved program and involves public schools, the Department of Public

Instruction, and the NC Professional Teaching Standards Commission in the planning and

implementation of programs.

(b) A school system, community college, or college/university shall receive approval by the

SBE before it implements an alternative program. The Department of Public Instruction

shall issue a license to all individuals who complete these approved programs who are

recommended by the school system, community college, or college/university and who

otherwise meet licensure requirements.

(c) When the Department of Public Instruction receives a proposal to establish an alternative

program, it will review the proposal in consultation with the NC Professional Teaching

Standards Commission, including making on-site visits with agencies as required. The

State Evaluation Committee on Teacher Education will review the proposal and

information from the on-site visit and recommend to the SBE whether or not the proposed

program should be approved.

(d) The SBE may approve programs which meet the following standards:

(1) The program is planned, developed, implemented and evaluated by a school system,

or by a community college/college/university in conjunction with a school system and

has been reviewed by the State Evaluation Committee on Teacher Education. The

proposed innovation is sound and has the potential for strengthening the preparation

process for lateral entry teachers.

(2) The program is appropriately organized and administered. There is a structure for the

oversight and management of the program which ensures flexibility and

accountability.

(3) The program has sufficient and appropriate human, fiscal, and physical resources.

(4) The program addresses the needs of the students.

(5) The program includes exit levels of competence, a procedure for recommending

licensure, and a follow-up process.

(6) The program has clearly defined measurable expected outcomes/results.

(e) The SBE will evaluate approved innovative/experimental programs annually based on a

written report submitted by the school system or IHE and/or by an on-site State visitation

team to assure that the program is preparing lateral entry teachers who can function

effectively in the public schools of the State. Based on the annual report, the SBE may

continue or terminate the innovative/experimental program.

2)

The rise of technological advancements and industrialization not only gave rise to our modern civilization, but it also gave rise to a wide range of environmental issues and global challenges. Environmental issues have become a common concern for people around the globe. The growth of factories and businesses has contributed to wide-ranging environmental damages, especially in the past few decades, and has affected the health, ecological balance, and climatic conditions all over the globe. Modern technology has been progressing at exponential rates, making mass production of goods as fast as possible. With rapid expansion of businesses came exploitation and depletion of Earth’s resources and minerals, as well as degradation of the environment.

Industrialization did not happen overnight. It started with the industrial revolution in the 1700’s in Europe, and quickly spread all over the world. During this time, the world went through a rapid transformation, when people started using power machinery for building, manufacturing, and harvesting. These machines needed fuel to run, and fossil fuels such as coal, petroleum and natural gas became the primary source of energy. The global warming and the environmental impacts that we are experiencing today are in part due to the rapid industrialization around the globe that increased the amount of carbon, and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

With rise in carbon and other greenhouse gases, the global temperature started to rise, causing severe changes in weather patterns, water currents of the ocean, and wind patterns around the globe. As a consequence, we have been experiencing extreme weather, record heat, droughts, devastating hurricanes, and tsunamis in the coastal areas.

Especially in the urban areas, the negative impacts of rapid industrialization were clearly evident. Diseases like cholera, typhoid, and other water and air-borne diseases quickly broke out. Unhealthy living conditions and overcrowding of population in many cities of America threatened public health.

People slowly started realizing the importance of sustainable investment and preservation of natural resources; economic development of human civilization would only go so far without harming the human health and many dangerous risks.

Healthy sustainable food

Food grown locally by farmers using organic methods (without the use of chemicals, GMO’s, or synthetic fertilizers) is the right choice for food production. It is safer for the environment, ecology, and people’s health. Growing your own food is even better because you are able to control the amount of chemicals you use for pest control measures, as well as regulate the use of antibiotics, and fertilizers. The less processed and imported food you eat, the better it is for your health and the environment. It’s important to first avoid food waste, but also use any leftover or inedible food to make organic fertilizer (compost) for your garden.

Sustainable communities

Most Americans live in cities or the surrounding areas; people living in metropolitan areas account for over 80% of the US population. The choices we make while we are living in cities greatly impact the global economy, environment, and personal well-being. The bright side of living in a city is that it creates efficiency of energy uses, and reduces the per person energy and resource use, and reducing energy waste and pollution. By making our communities more energy efficient, we can save money, protect natural resources, and improve our quality of life.

Clean water

Clean water availability is going to be a major health issue around the globe, as the world population increases. The need for safe clean drinking water is likely to double in the next decade, where the world population is expected to exceed nine billion. When water runs off our roofs and streets, it gets contaminated with disease causing toxic chemicals, dirt, and germs along the way. Many of our water resources can also become contaminated with pollutants if proper protection and conservation measures are not taken. Unprotected water resources can become vulnerable to pollution from industrial waste, factories, power plants, and other human activities, leading to drinking water shortages and diseases around the globe. Protect and conserve water as much as possible, reducing pollution, and water waste.

Environment and health

The environment that we live in has a profound effect on our health and well-being. No matter how advanced we get technologically, if we fail to keep the environment clean, our progress and development will not be positive development. All things that surround us can affect our health; our drinking water, the air we breathe in, the soil we walk on, and the food that we eat, all have a profound effect on our health, and how we will progress into the future. Environmental health and environmental protection are very much related. If we do not protect our environment, we cannot expect to benefit from it, and we cannot expect our environment to protect us.