SLATE Program Named to Top 10 List

From State Farm Times, July 2006

Business Week’s online magazine named State Farm’s Learning and Teaching Exchange (SLATE) program to its Top 10 List of best practices on ways to improve schools. The magazine cited how the program allows State Farm employees to become certified substitute teachers, enabling partnering classroom teachers to obtain prearranged professional development opportunities determined by their school district.

Research indicates continuous learning is critical to improving teacher performance. Teachers need time off from the classroom to learn and enhance their teaching skills, but it’s often difficult for them to get away during the school year. School budgets may not have the money to pay for substitute teachers.

Enter SLATE, now in its fifth year. It partners State Farm employees with teachers involved in additional development programs. There are more than 900 Corporate and zone employees state-certified as substitute teachers. Employees can use their Education Support Day benefit to volunteer as a substitute teacher. Currently the Corporate program covers 185 schools in 54 districts. Several more states will be added in the coming school year.

“We are honored to be recognized by Business Week,” said Kathy Havens Payne, Director – Education Excellence. “Hopefully, this publicity will spur other companies to join us in SLATE or find other creative ways to support quality teacher development.”

To learn more about SLATE, contact Joni LaDew at 309-766-2063.