During College Football Playoff (CFP) Fan Central, The CFP Foundation hosted the Extra Yard For Teachers Summit. The Summit was one of the many events and initiatives that were done to uplift teachers in the Los Angeles area for the CFP National Championship.
“Anytime organizations that benefit from the work of teachers pay it forward to teachers shows something authentic,” said Alfred “Chivy” Brooks, an economics and government teacher from Charles Drew high school in Georgia.
“There would be no student athletes without those teachers who make them students first.”
The event not only gave teachers professional development resources but also offered encouragement and inspiration. The teachers listened to panel discussions and participated in workshops.
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Among the panelists was United States Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona who spoke about teacher shortages, standardized testing, and salaries. He noted how the U.S. has a teacher respect issue.
“The professional development is almost secondary, being acknowledged and respected is the primary,” Cordona said in regards to the Summit. “Teachers don’t do this for the money, they don’t do this for the accolades but it feels good to be acknowledged every once in a while.”
Over 1,200 teachers registered for the event, the Summit was also live streamed for teachers who could not attend in person at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Throughout the Summit, teachers saw video presentations of celebrities talking about the teachers who made an impact on their life.
National Teacher Of The Year Kurt Russell made a keynote speech about how students deserve commitment and their teacher’s best effort.
“It was an honor just to be invited to share the message and the joy of teaching,” Russell said. “It’s a profession that has been near and dear to my heart; this is my 25th year as a teacher.”
The Summit was powered by Get Your Teach On, an organization that gives teachers and school administrators advice on making a rigorous and interactive learning experience for students.
Husband and wife duo Wade and Hope King shared their enthusiasm and teaching tips throughout the event.
“I don’t think they understand how much it means to teachers to have the College Football Playoff Foundation lift up teachers the way they’re doing,” Cordona said. “It means a lot to me to be a part of it and support.”
Dominguez high school teacher Jason Morgan won the CFP legacy grant. He was surprised at the level of investment CFP had for teachers.
“It means a lot because we’re so used to either being talked down about or ignored,” Morgan said. “It’s not just a one-off thing for them, this is what they live and breathe as part of the foundation.”
