For children

I support Don Wheeler, at-large candidate for the South Bend Community School Corp. Board of Trustees. Wheeler has proposed an initiative that would reward outstanding teachers who are willing to take on more challenging positions as needed to improve our schools.

In his "Teach For South Bend" proposal, Wheeler suggests that we approach the business community to help establish and administer a fund which would offer incentives to talented teachers willing to take on more challenging assignments. Another key element of the program would be to establish a robust mentoring program for those teachers.

Programs like this have failed elsewhere because they lacked the mentoring component.

I agree with Wheeler that it's time to start taking strong action towards positive results. Our children and our community deserve no less.

Chaunce Windle
South Bend

from the South Bend Tribune - October 24, 2008