Dallas ISD teachers Katey Batey and Thom Browne will soon join remarkable speakers from across the country, including former U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice, at the Extra Yard for Teachers Summit sponsored by the College Football Playoff Foundation. In January 2015, Dallas will host the first-ever College Football National Championship, and as a way to exhibit their commitment to education, the Foundation worked with the local Commit! Partnership to coordinate the free summit.
Through the “I Teach” project, teachers across the country were invited to submit 90-second videos discussing their teaching experience for a chance to speak at the inaugural summit. Educators and the general public voted on the entries, and one clear winner was supposed to emerge. However, the voting for Batey and Browne was so close, the Foundation elected to extend invitations to both speakers.
Batey teaches fourth grade writing and science at S.S. Conner Elementary, and from a young age had a passion for teaching. She continues to nurture that passion even in summers, when she acts as a camp counselor for children age 7-18. Browne is an eighth-grade reading teacher at Raul Quintanilla Middle School, where he facilitates Open Mic Quintanilla, a group to help students find their voices through spoken-word poetry. He describes himself as an artist, educator and writer, and explores student challenges both in and out of the classroom in his own poetry.
District teachers are encouraged to attend the free Extra Yard for Teachers Summit on Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas. The half-day of TED-inspired talks and performances will focus on sharing the power of teaching and education. Fewer than 300 tickets to the event remain. Learn more and secure your tickets by visiting the Extra Yard for Teachers Summit website.
Both photos are courtesy of Jason Janik
