Day 3 MOM CONGRESS....the word of the day is AMAZING!

Mom Congress Day Three...it is the action-packed AMAZING day!

U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan spoke to the Mom Congress and answered questions about the nation's education.

Highlights:

*There is a great urgency for education to get better.

The United States has dropped from #1 to #9 in just a decade of college graduates globally.

So...what are the goals during this time of real challenges?

1.  Expand access to Early Education

He identified THIS as being the best investment and chance for success.  AMEN!!! (My personal passion)

2.  The need of K-12th grade reform

Many states have "dumbed down" standards.

The US is investing 4 billion in school improvements.

3. Invest more in parents

We need parent engagement and parents to demand BETTER for their children.

THAT makes the difference in the leading nations of graduates.

4.  Fix the "No Child Left Behind" Law

This led to the narrowing of school curriculum

5.  Get back to the "well-rounded curriculum"

Congress invests 1 billion to help this....

The GOAL:

We need to increase students that go to higher education.

HOW???

*Simplify the PELL GRANT Form (30% shorter)

*Invest in Community Colleges

*Support the INCOME BASE REPAYMENT:  After ten years of working as a teacher or public service job, your college debt is ERASED!

*Support the STEM Fields: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math

Bottom line: PARENTS NEED TO BE THE VOICE OF KIDS!

I have resources and information for ALL of the above.

My meeting with Washington State Congresswoman, Jamie Herrera was AMAZING! She inspired my word of the day. AMAZING!

She talked to me like a friend and listened to to my passions for Washington State.

I left my meeting with her inspired EVEN MORE about change and bettering our children's education.

She loves our State and wants to support our families!

I enjoyed walking through the Longworth House of Congress and seeing all of the Representatives.

Longworth House Building

Our BEAUTIFUL Capital Building

All of  sudden, the security closed down the whole backside of the Capital.  Security and Police with BIG guns came out EVERYWHERE.......soon after, I saw Black GMCs leave the back of the building. When I asked what was going on, a guard winked and said, "A head of state was leaving the building." Hmmm....I wonder WHO??

Mom Congress farewell dinner at HOOK....

My dear Minnesota Mom friends...I love Midwest roots!

Mom Congress Menu just for us :)  Fillet Mignon was YUM!

The west coast moms...

Washington, Oregon and California

We are excited to work together!

\

Mom Congress...last day is tomorrow.

I am sad to leave this amazing experience....but am excited to share with you as I return to Washington, all of the info and resources given.

I miss my family, school friends and PRESCHOOL KIDS...I will see you soon!

How "sweet" today was!

The day to me felt like a delectable bakery...like DC Cupcake.

When you arrive at this beautiful bakery, there is SOOO much to take in. I felt the same way today in MOM CONGRESS...sooo much information to take in.

As I stood in the bakery looking at all of the yummy flavors....

chocolate ganache, red velvet, toffee crunch, chocolate mint,

I quickly realized that I couldn't have them all....

(I know..it's a terrible problem)

I had to admit to myself that I had to choose only a few....

(yes, Maddie, I am bringing one back for you, sweetie!)



All day I listened and wrote pages of notes on ALL the amazing things I wanted to take back with me and put into action.  How could I not after hearing from Jamie Oliver Food Revolution (and eating lunch prepared by his team),

http://www.jamieoliver.com/us/foundation/jamies-food-revolution/home

_________________________________________________

 Robin Schepper from "Let's Move"
from the Office of the First Lady,

and others talked about the importance of physical education in schools.  http://www.letsmove.gov/

Another great resource given was:

PLAYWORKS

http://www.playworks.org/

_______________________________

Other topics were:

rallying parents behind a cause,

early childhood education from a "Kennedy", Mark Shriver, from Save the Children

http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

_________________________________

bullying prevention,

transforming your school into a community hub,

social media and PR,

and curriculum for gifted children.

Whew!!! My head is STILL spinning from the sweet overload of information and connections!

Just like standing at the bakery register telling the cashier the few cupcakes that I had narrowed it down to, in order to be the most effective delegate from MOM CONGRESS, I need to select a few causes that I want to put into action when I return to Washington. 

I would LOVE to be able to be an advocate for all of the causes that were presented, but that wouldn't be the most effective channel for change.  I wish though!

When I say that the presenters today were POWERHOUSES...you couldn't get a more esteemed panel for all of the topics.  It was amazing to watch the delegates around the conference room when a passion was ignited in each of them.  These passions will turn into action to better our children's education.

...and this is only day 2!!! I can't wait to experience the sweet "selection" for tomorrow.  We are starting off with the ULTIMATE dessert, meeting with the U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan.  I will be rounding out the day of "education dessert" with traveling to the U.S. House to talk with Jamie Herrera, Washington State Congresswoman per her invitation!

Why is every MOM a great advocate?

Because we all share the common goal.....

just as the cupcake says, our goal is to

"SAVE THE CHILDREN"

and set them up for success in their lives.

Day Three...here we COME! 



Day 1: Mom Congress...ADVENTUROUS

Hello, Chicago! Thanks for the Dunkin Donuts coffee that help keep me awake after two hours of sleep. My kind-of-town! Hugs and love to my Chicago family and friends.

The word to describe Georgetown University...HISTORY! Over 200 years of education.  I can't wait to explore this beautiful campus..so rich in blossoming spring life, gorgeous buildings and decor, bustling with college life and MOM CONGRESS.

Dinner with the delegates was overwhelming...it has been fun and challenging meeting so many new people. Trying to remember EVERYTHING and EVERYONE is the biggest hurtle.  I find that I am associating the state name with a face and not their name! I wonder how long it will take for me to learn them all....

We had the honor of listening to Rob Manuel of Georgetown University and Marguerite Roza from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation...and fellow Washingtonian.

Marguerite Roza spoke of

4 Go-To Items

as Moms, Teachers, and Parents to focus on:

1.  The need for a Teacher Evaluation Standards System:

to help identify ineffective teachers and find out what makes teachers EFFECTIVE.

2.  Get engaged in the budget decisions..what is driving them and what are the costs. Just because someone says "we can't"...find out if that is truly a fact or a belief.

3.  Common Core Standards

Most states have adopted them.....now they need to be implemented.

4. Pay attention to what is happening OUT of school in your communities.

A beautiful School Seal on the fireplace where we ate dinner. 1789..WOW! I want to soak in all of the history of this place.



The wonderful MOM CONGRESS goodie bag we received today....I hope my adventurous day ends with the delivery of my luggage from Seattle.

I can't wait to see what tomorrow's word will be :)

Words of Education....

Education in America is.... 

Incredible

Foundational

Amazing

Exciting

Loving

Nurturing

Secure

Important

Challenging

R E W A R D I N G

Formative

Expensive :)

How blessed and lucky we are to live in a country where such words can be used to describe education. 

At the same time as my adventure to Mom Congress, a team from Evergreen Christian School is volunteering at its sister school in Guatamala.  I can't wait for their safe return and see their lives transformed.  I am excited to hear about their journey into education through the eyes of another child.

There may be many different options about how education should be run or sides to the successes/failures of "the system".

What is comes down to is, we are truly blessed to have an education system that is equipping our children to better America...and in turn, help others.

The word to summarize our education in America is...

O P P O R T U N I T Y

School Choice...Let Me Rise

http://www.voicesofschoolchoice.org/

Let Me Rise

Let Me Rise– a 30-minute film produced by The Heritage Foundation about the school choice debate in our nation’s capital and around the country – offers a compelling look at the future of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program as told through the voices of the children whose educational futures continue to hang in the balance. The film features the personal stories and perspectives of District of Columbia families who are fighting to provide their children with a safe and effective education.