Nominee's Key Links:
Bio: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anikachambers/
Resume or CV: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anikachambers/
Writing or Publications:
Website: https://impossibledreamers.my.canva.site
Video: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCspiUY-6NTFpcXF2ItPkPIA
Socials:
Agency or agencies for which nominator feels nominee is best suited:
Organization name(s) and position(s) for which nominator feels nominee is best suited:
Policies which the nominator knows the nominee supports or in which they have expertise:
As a previous educator (both general and special education) as well as a state special education consultant, I have in depth knowledge of federal laws and IDEA in particular. I have an understanding of how federal laws broadly define education and how state laws further define those alongside rules and policies. Having worked in multiple states and meeting with others from various states, I have learned how each state has a unique education program and focus that should reflect the state’s job force and economy. Putting the power back into local hands will only further education for each state.
Looking to Trump’s Agenda 47, I find that the ten principles he has outlined align very closely to my own beliefs in education. Parental responsibilities have too often been relegated to the schools and have added to the work load of teachers including discipline, counseling, and more. Teachers will tell you they don’t have enough time to teach due to all the other expectations that are now required. If there is a higher expectation for parents to be held responsible for their children’s actions as well as being part of a supportive educational community, teachers could remove some of these extra roles from their plates. With parent rights comes responsibility and I highly support parents to have sole rights to making decisions for their children.
Another principle Trump has is having great principals and teachers. Who wouldn’t agree with that? I find tenure to be frustrating because it takes a lot of steps and time to remove someone on tenure who is not doing right by children. That is time wasted for a child’s instruction. On the other side of this, we need strong principals who will support teachers doing what’s best for students. In my work, I have found that education programs may give a lot of knowledge to college students, but not necessarily prepare them for the job itself. For instance, teachers usually come into the classroom having to figure out the implementation of what they learned as they have little practice of doing that independently. If someone is majoring in special education, they may learn a lot about learning theories, but not as much on implementation of instructional strategies in the classroom or how to write a quality IEP for a student.
I also am concerned that we may not be teaching upcoming teachers ethics for teaching. I believe it is not our job as teachers to influence a child’s beliefs or opinions. That is a parent’s job in raising them. I think there should be an ethics oath that every teacher must uphold in order to be in the classroom. If we focus on teaching skills and building knowledge in an unbiased manner, we are doing the right job.
In the agenda, there is a principle around project-based learning. I love this type of learning as it has students put what they are learning into action. It is one of the strongest ways for a child to learn and remember what they learned. They will forget that you taught them the Bill of Rights unless you have them interact with the material such as in a real world situation. This was one of my favorite ways of teaching.
Finally, as a state consultant, I learned a lot about the options for students in high school to support their post-secondary outcomes. I believe we need to bring back more technical schools, apprenticeship opportunities, and work experiences aligned with their career goals. While many high schools have been working to this end, stronger support and focus from the federal government would increase these opportunities tenfold.
Nominator's thoughts on what would make this nominee a valuable member of a future Trump Unity Government
1) Competent- I have almost 20 years of experience that not only includes being a classroom teacher myself, but as a state consultant, I learned so much more about federal vs. state law, funding, contracts, the structure of districts and schools, and the systems.
2) Honest- I hope anyone who knows me would describe me as honest. I try to own up to my mistakes and rectify them. I also try to be very transparent in my work and who I am as a person.
3) Respectful- Respect has a place in my heart as this was the one thing I wanted my students to emulate in the classroom. Understanding how to respect someone no matter who they are is the foundation of building trust. I believe each person is uniquely created by God and I respect each person because of this.
4) Integrity- My integrity has lost me some popularity over the years. I realized that some people were uncomfortable with me because I would voice my belief and didn't stand down from trying to live that out in my life. I don't do things that I don't agree with and I have a strong sense of what I believe is right and wrong.
5) Has a Proven Record- My years of experience and different positions have given me a depth of knowledge, understanding of the current system, and insight as to how we may better improve education for all students.