Here’s a great teacher portrait by Peter Smagorinsky, at the University of Georgia, who is writing a series of these and getting them out to journalists. This  models yet another avenue for getting our education story out: if you don’t want (or have the time) to write about your own work, get your favorite education prof to write a tribute about a teacher you yourself admire.

One caveat: Smagorinsky includes a rant on “Mega-Ag” and standardized testing, and we’ve been emphasizing that teachers should stick with the positive in the public statements they write — not because we love or defend Mega-Ag, but because we think it’s essential to build our own positive image. And we know that many teachers will want to avoid saying things that could get them in trouble back in their schools and districts.

And meanwhile, our thoughts go out to the many teachers and families on the East Coast whose lives have been disrupted by mega-storm Sandy, and who can’t spare a moment to read about things like this right now — if they even have the electricity to access the web.