Local teachers will have the chance to question Missouri Commissioner of Education Dr. Chris Nicastro, after school today, at Mark Twain Elementary.
“She is coming at the invitation of our community teachers organization,” said Mark Twain Principal Jim Pritchett.
Christopher Wright, a Wyman Elementary teacher and president of the Rolla Community Teachers Association, said the group was interested in discussing with Nicastro issues that could affect teachers in the near future.
A few of the issues Wright said teachers have been interested in include the Race to the Top program and possible changes to the Missouri Assessment Program.
Race to the Top is a $4.35 billion federal grant program, where states compete by submitting plans to reform K-12 schools. Nicastro recently unveiled Missouri’s $743 million submission for the program.
The Missouri State Teachers Association, of which the RCTA is the local chapter, has come out against Missouri’s bid, because of what it claims is “the burden it would place on educators and the lack of educator input on the reforms.”
