The 2018 ASCD Legislative Agenda

Cherith Roberts is an award-winning school administrator who most recently served as an assistant principal with Holston View Elementary School in Bristol, Tennessee. To augment and inform her professional endeavors, Cherith Roberts holds active membership in the Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD).

Representing approximately 115,000 members, ASCD strives to help superintendents, principals, instructors, and other educational advocates promote excellence in teaching. In its recently-released 2018 Legislative Agenda, the organization calls upon educational professionals of all designations to increase engagement with leaders at every level in an effort to shape policies that support inclusive and holistic learning.

The Legislative Agenda makes recommendations in three key areas. In an effort to address gaps in professional development, the ASCD stresses the importance of providing educators with the continuing education and leadership training opportunities that they need to succeed. The ASCD also makes a series of resource equity recommendations to reduce the educational disparities that currently exist between high-income and low-income families. Last, the Legislative Agenda’s “Whole Child, Whole School, Whole Community” itinerary encourages families and communities at large to join forces with teachers to ensure that every generation is well educated.

Education Trends to Watch in 2018

Holder of an EdD from East Tennessee State University, Dr. Cherith Roberts most recently served as assistant principal at Holston View Elementary School in Bristol, Tennessee. As part of her responsibilities as an educator and administrator, Dr. Cherith Roberts keeps up to date with emerging trends in education. 
Starting off a new year brings with it the opportunity to look at some of the most recent developments that have the potential to shape the field of education. One of these is the growing movement of “maker spaces” in schools. The federal government has begun investing more money in STEM-based education. Some of these resources are enabling schools to begin creating special areas in their facilities where students can work hands-on with new technologies, allowing them to gain knowledge while also flexing their creative muscles.

One technology that looks poised to have an impact on education in 2018 is augmented reality (AR). Games like Pokemon Go already make use of this technology, but it has yet to realize its full potential as an educational tool. Those touting AR say it can be used to help students and teachers render design examples in real time on any number of devices. This type of real-time feedback can be invaluable for students in architecture, engineering, and other programs.