posted Oct 13, 2009 11:15 AM by Alex Early
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updated Oct 16, 2009 12:02 PM
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Amy and I have talked for years about our passion for furthering math and science education in the US. In the last few weeks, the importance of these subjects has taken on new meaning for us through our experience with some of the brightest medical professionals in the country. Their abilities to diagnose and treat patients are based on the knowledge and tools they learned starting at a very early age. This week, Amy and I had been scheduled to attend the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy, our math and science program for elementary school teachers. We won’t both be able to be there this year, but our commitment to supporting teachers and helping them inspire the next generation of doctors, nurses, and researchers has become even stronger. Equipping kids with a strong foundation in math and science and engaging them in these subjects helps to ensure that we are working toward making scientific breakthroughs, solving complex challenges and finding cures. Our thanks go to our talented team of medical professionals, and to the teachers at the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy.
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posted Sep 14, 2009 1:33 PM by Alex Early
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updated Oct 16, 2009 12:02 PM
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It’s hard to believe that we’re already four months into the year. Our family has been busy with school and gearing up for the PGA Tour. As a mom, it’s often a juggling act balancing time between helping the kids with homework at night and finding new experiences that will pique their curiosity for learning, in addition to the business of our everyday lives. The PGA Tour is fully underway, and Phil is playing in many of the major tournaments. Luckily, he’s already been so blessed to have a few impressive tournament wins under his belt, and I’m hopeful there will be more wins as the Tour continues. As Phil strives for success on the greens, I’m once again reminded that math and science really is everywhere we look. Recently, while Phil was in Houston for a tournament, he was able to surprise more than 100 fourth- and fifth-graders and one highly-qualified teacher, with news that she had been selected to attend the 2009 National Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy this summer. Like many of you, Ms. Amanda Santana, a fifth-grade teacher, was thrilled to learn that she will spend five days this summer learning hands-on ways to inspire her students in math and science. As I listened to Phil explain the excitement and genuine joy she conveyed during the school-wide assembly in her honor, I was once again amazed at how the Academy directly impacts education as well as our teachers. Phil and I know that extraordinary teachers make a difference in the world, and we believe in your talent and passion teaching our nation’s children. Ms. Santana is just one of 200 teachers selected through the Send My Teacher program, and one of the 600 teachers who will attend one of the three Academies in Houston, New Orleans and Jersey City this summer. The 2009 class of teachers will join many of you in becoming part of a growing community of Academy alumni. As the Academy continues to evolve, we want to ensure we are able to provide as many opportunities as possible for teachers looking to learn new ways to inspire our future leaders. After learning of the overwhelming response to the Send My Teacher program, we knew that we had to offer this opportunity again and recently re-launched www.sendmyteacher.com for the 2010 Academy. As Academy alums, I’d like each of you to share your experience with at least two colleagues and encourage them to apply to attend next year’s Academy. The Academy depends on developing great teachers into the best teachers, and I sincerely encourage each of you to nominate your colleagues and to continue sharing the lessons from the Academy with the young minds in your classroom. Best wishes, Amy |
posted Sep 14, 2009 1:32 PM by Alex Early
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updated Oct 16, 2009 12:03 PM
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It’s the time of the year when we find ourselves trying to stick to the New Year’s resolutions we made less than a few weeks ago. Typically, resolutions are geared towards making a positive change in our life that will improve ourselves and positively affect our loved ones. And I know that with a little determination and encouragement, we can all stick to our plans to start this year off right. My most important responsibilities are to my amazing husband and our wonderful children. At the beginning of each year, I recommit myself to being the best mom possible to my three children 365 days a year. To me, being a good mom encompasses so much – from being loving and nurturing to exposing my kids to new experiences.
My children are exposed to a wide variety of new experiences every day in their classrooms; and one of the constant topics of discussion in our home is what our kids are learning in math and science. Year after year, these topics continue to fascinate our children, and Phil and I couldn’t be more supportive of their thirst for knowledge.
Although I’d like to be everywhere with my children, it’s not always possible and I depend on teachers to provide an inviting learning environment for my kids while away from home. We started the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy as a way to help teachers like you deepen your understanding of these critical subjects. As we enter our fifth year of the Academy, it’s very rewarding to witness the impact we can have on young minds. Since 2004, more than 1,500 teachers have had the opportunity to attend one of our Academies and have been able to affect more than 30,000 third-through fifth-grade students.
The school year is in full swing and many of you may still be planning for the remainder of the year. If you haven’t already found a way to incorporate many of the lessons you learned at the Academy in your classroom, I challenge each of you to think of how a few simple changes to your curriculum can impact a whole generation of students.
The summer may seem like an eternity away, but I hope this year will be even more exciting than the previous years of the Academy. I look forward to another thrilling year of staying in touch with our Academy alumni and meeting our newest selected teachers.
Here’s to another great year!
Amy |
posted Sep 14, 2009 1:31 PM by Alex Early
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updated Oct 16, 2009 12:03 PM
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Over the last couple of weeks, Phil and I have been getting back into the school routine with our kids. It seems like summer just zips along, and before we know it, we’re back to waking up early, driving slowly in school zones and helping our kids with their homework around the kitchen table in the evenings. Most recently, we just finished our annual Start Smart program in San Diego that help elementary age students start the school year right with school supplies and clothing. I’m sure many of you are busy making new lesson plans for this school year. And, I hope that each of you will apply the lessons you learned at the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy in your classrooms. When Phil and I started the Academy with our partners, ExxonMobil, the National Science Teachers Association and Math Solutions, we wanted to create a program to engage the nation’s best teachers and deepen their understanding of math and science. Four years later, we’ve been able to reach more than 1,500 teachers from across the country, and every year, identify new findings to improve math and science education. This year has been such an exciting one for the Academy, and we’d like each of you to join us on this journey. Earlier this summer, our work to improve math and science education was recognized by congressional leaders from around the nation. Phil and I were invited to testify before the U.S. House of Representative Committee on Education and Labor about the critical role the Academy plays in improving our nation’s global standing. At the Academy, we hear the challenges many of you face in your classrooms first-hand. And it’s so refreshing to see that our work and dedication is not going unnoticed. The Academy is designed to inspire and excite teachers like you, and we want those same emotions to captivate your students. With that, we launched www.sendmyteacher.com to give more teachers a chance to experience the Academy. I want to be the first to encourage each of you to help spread the word about the Academy to your friends, neighbors and fellow teachers. If you know an amazing colleague that didn’t have the chance to attend the Academy, you can nominate him or her for a chance to attend the Academy in 2009. The deadline for completed applications is Oct. 31, 2008, and we can’t think of any reason why anyone would want to miss this opportunity. The 2009 Academy will be at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, New Jersey. The school year has just begun, and there’s so much to be accomplished. In the meantime, remind your friends to apply today for a chance to attend the 2009 Academy, and join us in positively influencing the interests of countless students. With our warmest regards, Amy |
posted Sep 11, 2009 2:19 PM by Alex Early
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updated Oct 16, 2009 12:04 PM
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The countdown is on to of my most cherished times of the year. As many of you know, this year marks the fourth year of the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy, and Phil and I remain deeply committed to improving math and science education in the United States. Each year we find ourselves anticipating and remembering the unique experiences we had or will have with many of you at the Academy. In my opinion, this year will prove to be a major highlight in the Academy’s history.
I am thrilled to be the first person to share several key milestones for the Academy with you. On Monday, July 21, Phil and I will join a panel of distinguished math and science leaders from across the country for a Town Hall meeting on the current state of math and science education in the United States at the Liberty Science Center. Many of you will hear firsthand the critical steps that are being taken to return America to a competitive nation and the valuable role you play in shaping our future leaders.
The following day, Phil has been invited to testify before the House Committee on Education and Labor at a hearing titled “Innovation in Education through Business and Education STEM partnerships” in Washington D.C. on July 22. The momentum the Academy continues to garner each year amazes me. For Phil, this will be the experience of a lifetime and I am so proud to share this journey with you.
We’re less than a week away from what we are certain will be an amazing and memorable experience for each of us. And between you and me, I can hardly wait!
See you soon!
Amy
Posted at 10:46 AM 7/19/2008 by Amy Mickelson |
posted Sep 11, 2009 2:19 PM by Alex Early
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updated Oct 16, 2009 12:05 PM
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Recently, I read an interesting TIME magazine article titled, “How to Make Better Teachers”. As I read through the article, I found myself thinking back to the reasons Phil and I started the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy four years ago. Our decision to start the Academy was simple: Teachers with a deeper knowledge of their subjects are better teachers. And we recognized that a program like the Academy would help you achieve your goals in the classroom, become better teachers and inspire our future leaders. But one of the key issues facing the education community and one that the article addresses is retaining quality teachers. The article refers to the loss of good teachers as “the leaky bucket,” which is a big problem and an issue we discussed during last year’s Town Hall meeting with Secretary Spellings. During our chat, Dr. Wheeler, executive director of the NSTA, shared his thoughts on improving teacher retention. He emphasized that we need to inspire the best and brightest teachers early in their careers so we can have an overflowing bucket of great teachers in our schools. Working together with ExxonMobil, NSTA and Math Solutions, we hope that the Academy is helping to do that. It’s disheartening to read about new studies ranking American students lagging behind other countries. There is a tremendous amount of pressure on teachers to reverse the declining trends of our education system. Phil and I know that it can’t be done alone. We all need to appreciate, invest in and support our teachers. Because it’s teachers like you who are the solution to returning this nation to a global powerhouse. We hope that the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy serves as a professional development resource that not only sharpens your skills in math and science education but also ignites your passion to teach for many years to come. And beyond the Academy, we hope that discussion forums like these help to extend the positive momentum from the Academy and provide ongoing support for you in the classroom. These forums are also designed to help you support each other as you share best practices from your lessons and ensure we are retaining the greatest teachers in education. We are in this together. Let’s keep up the momentum. Warmest regards, Amy
Posted at 5:32 PM 4/15/2008 by Amy Mickelson |
posted Sep 11, 2009 2:17 PM by Alex Early
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updated Oct 16, 2009 12:23 PM
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Welcome!
It’s a pleasure to welcome each of you to my first post in Amy’s Corner. It is important to me that we have a chance to stay connected to one another beyond the time we share together at the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy.
As this year’s Academy draws near and with the launch of the new Web site, Phil and I are constantly reminded of the reasons we became advocates for math and science education – our three amazing children.
A few years ago, we gave our daughter, Amanda, the opportunity to choose what summer camp she wanted to attend. There were so many options for her to choose from, and she decided on science camp. At the time, we had no idea how this decision would impact our lives.
She ended up being the only girl at the entire camp, and had the time of her life! As a parent, it’s incredibly rewarding to see the smiles on our children’s faces as they are completely fascinated by something as simple as the ink from a squid. Phil and I knew we had to do our part to ensure teachers have the tools necessary to shape future leaders early in life.
The purpose of the Academy is to ensure key subjects like math and science are taught through innovative methods that resonate in classrooms across the country. We want all students to share the same passion our children have for these subjects.
As I look back over the last three years, I’m amazed at what the Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy has accomplished. Phil and I started this program with ExxonMobil, Math Solutions and the National Science Teachers Association to give teachers like you access to new tools and resources and inspire you in math and science. What began as a one week-long Academy in Fairfax, VA has evolved to include local academies in Houston, TX and Baton Rouge, LA. And last year, we were honored to host U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings for an in-depth discussion about the state of math and science education in our schools.
We hear such great stories from teachers across the nation. Over the last three years, you have shared your enthusiasm and knowledge and have become inspirations to us. The excitement that many of you bring to the Academy is contagious and spreading to classrooms nationwide, helping to improve our nation’s overall standing in the world.
I am so proud of the hard work and creativity you add to your lessons. It is critical to engage and inspire students at an early age so that they want to learn more and more over the years. Math and science are two key areas that are oftentimes overlooked and under appreciated, but together we are changing that perception.
We have a busy year ahead, and I’m looking forward to making this year an even better year. While we are on the road, I’ll check back and share stories our family experiences with math and science. Thank you for all the hard work and your commitment to educating our future leaders. We couldn’t do this without you!
All the best, Amy
Posted at 7:57 PM 2/22/2008 by Amy Mickelson |
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