A note from Ms. Kragthorpe: What’s so controversial?

Dear fellow Minnesotan,

I’m a 13-year veteran teacher in Minneapolis Public Schools and a parent of two MPS children. And I’m urging you to take action—for teachers like me, and kids like mine.

Right now at the Capitol, there’s a bipartisan effort to place student teachers with highly effective mentors during their 10-week clinical experience. For us teachers, this is HUGE.

But there’s a small—and quite vocal—group of legislators fighting this effort, claiming that it’s controversial and unnecessary.

Replicating best practices and helping our student teachers be successful in the classroom is not “controversial.” Giving new teachers—who may not be as prepared as we hope—all the support we can is not “unnecessary” work.

Student teacher placements are critical for new teachers. I was extremely fortunate to have had a high-quality placement—in fact, years later, my mentor continues to support me. But not all student teachers have an experience that positively impacts their career—and the success of their students.

This afternoon, the House will consider the Education Policy Omnibus Bill (HF 2397), and we need your representative to support a floor amendment requiring student teachers be placed with highly effective teachers during their clinical experience. Please urge your legislator to place student teachers with strong mentors, like the one I had.

It’s on us to do everything we can to make sure our kids have great teachers. Thanks for supporting this commonsense and necessary measure.

All the best,

Holly

Holly Kragthorpe
Seventh-grade teacher at Ramsey Middle School 

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