Educators for Progressive Instructional Change (EPIC) to Hold First-Ever International Teacher March on Washington Mall to Draw Attention to the Looming Teacher Shortage. New Logo Released.

FAIRFAX, Va., May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Educators for Progressive Instructional Change (EPIC) has scheduled the first-ever International Teacher March on the Washington, D.C. Mall for Saturday, October 18, 2008 from 9 AM to 5 PM, and has released the event logo.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080519/DC22913LOGO )

"We need to send a strong message to draw attention to the need for educational reform in this country. Teachers need to Speak Up and Speak Out for their profession and their students, and teachers need to be given the power to do so," explains Myra Sawyers, M.Ed., President and Founder of EPIC. "This is an advocacy movement FOR teachers. It's about giving teachers the support, power, and respect they deserve."

"We are holding the March in Washington D.C. because that is where we can create the biggest visual message for all government leaders and the public," Sawyers continues. "Teachers must have a greater role in influencing standards and policies."

From 9 AM to 12 PM, related events will be held on the Mall in preparation for the March, including presentations by nationally-recognized education reformers who will engage the public in lively discussions about the challenges of modern educational practices.

From 1 PM to 4 PM, the rally and International Teacher March will take place at the foot of the Capitol as a solid show of unified concern. Registration tables, vendors, and supporters will be visible along the mall. This is an historic event; never has there been any movement for teachers. Anyone who wants to make history should participate. Participation is free and advance registration is encouraged. Register at www.teachermarch.org.

Education Needs a Change

Major problems in our educational system are leading to the demise of quality education for our country's youth.

-- Teachers are leaving the profession in droves. The national drop-out
rate is between 20% and 30%, and higher in some cities.
-- Approximately 50% of first-year teachers do not return after their
first five years.
-- By 2010 the first of the baby boomer generation begins to retire,
resulting in a declining teacher base. Younger teachers are not
coming in to take their place.
-- Teachers are not respected, as demonstrated by their low pay and lack
of voice in educational matters.

"Amazingly, teachers - those who actually know what education needs - are not consulted. So EPIC is here to give teachers a voice. We want to empower teachers to change the educational world," Sawyers says.

International Teacher March Logo Released

The historic nature of the International Teacher March demands its own identity, so a new logo was created to represent the impact on educational reform. It is designed to stimulate a thought process about the role and status of the teacher and the effect on our children.

"The logo symbolizes all the people who are coming together and uniting behind the teaching profession to raise it up," Sawyers explains. "It symbolizes the coming of a new age of the teaching profession, and a new generation of teachers."

About EPIC

Educators for Progressive Instructional Change (EPIC) is a non-profit organization focused on empowering teachers to dramatically impact the process of education reform. It was created by teachers and teacher advocates with the belief that today's educators have the power to transform the teaching profession and must play an essential role in developing education policy. It is not a Political Action Committee (PAC) but a non-partisan organization with no political mandate. EPIC does not lobby for any particular issue. Rather, it inspires teachers to become their own self-advocates. To achieve this objective, EPIC offers members a speaker series, annual conferences, policy forums, activism workshops, participation in political activities, one-on-one support and guidance, an annual newsletter, and other events and activities. Visit www.epicreform.org for additional details about EPIC.

For more information, please contact Josh Fertel, River City Marketing at 703-218-1750 or josh@rivercitymarketing.com, or Myra Sawyers, EPIC, at 571-233-6735 or myrasawyers@epicreform.org, www.teachermarch.org,
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Audio: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080519/DC22913LOGO
Source: Educators for Progressive Instructional Change

CONTACT: Josh Fertel, of River City Marketing, LLC, +1-703-218-1750,
josh@rivercitymarketing.com, for EPIC; or Myra Sawyers, M.Ed., President,
EPIC, +1-571-233-6735, myrasawyers@epicreform.org

Web Site: http://www.epicreform.org/
http://www.teachermarch.org/

2008-05-19 20:05:23 0365779 PRNEWSWIRE