Galileo 3.0 Trusted Voices: Advocates for Teacher Leadership and Public Education

<p>Bob Maxfield and Dr. Suzanne Klein invited Jarod McGuffey, who leads the work of Trusted Voices, joined by Trusted Voice Fellows Mary Binge and Laura Haydamacker, to share the history, mission and current activities of Galileo 3.0 Trusted Voices. Trusted Voices is a nonpartisan advocacy group of teacher leaders, supporting superintendents through collaborative advocacy and serving policy makers by offering feedback on how education policy shapes Michigan schools, as well as the teaching profession.</p><p>Bob Maxfield introduced the background of the guests. Jarod McGuffey is currently a 21st Century Teacher and Instructional Coach in Fraser Public Schools, and Chairman of the Board of a charter school in the Detroit area. "He worked with the Galileo Consortium for the past four years to lead the development of a network throughout the state of Michigan of teacher leaders, concerned about the future of education.” Mary Binge is an instructional coach at the elementary level, from the Center Line Public School District in Macomb County. Laura Haydamacker is a middle school science and math teacher from Flat Rock Community School District in Wayne County. The third fellow, representing Oakland County is Kyle Geralds, who was unable to join us today. Kyle is a high school social studies teacher in the Farmington Public School District.</p><p>Jarod observed that the movement in education has been growing around teacher leadership, especially in recent years. “Teachers should be valued, both as the foremost authorities of instruction and as leaders whose feedback can inform the development of policies that can drive improvements in the education system and student outcomes.”</p><p>He credited “Dr. Bob Maxfield, who along with a powerful group of educators launched the Galileo Teacher Leadership Academy, which has empowered close to 1500 teachers. These teachers would graduate from one of the most transformational two year commitments in their career.”</p><p>As a graduate of the program, Jarod described the first yea