‘American Teacher’ screening, panel Thursday at School of the Future

This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.

Educators including Acting Superintendent Leroy Nunery and Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan will speak on a panel following a screening of the documentary American Teacher at High School of the Future Thursday evening.

The documentary, narrated by Matt Damon and co-produced by author Dave Eggers, follows the personal and work travails of four teachers in varied urban and rural settings. It makes the argument the that best way to increase the quality of the workforce is to pay teachers more.

There will be a community dinner at 5 p.m., a screening at 6 p.m., and the panel discussion at 7:30 p.m. Joining Nunery and Jordan on the panel are:

  • Jerusha Conner, Assistant Professor of Education, Villanova University;
  • Thomas Emerson, a teacher at School of the Future;
  • Dominic Gullo, a Professor in Drexel’s School of Education;
  • Andrew Ko, Senior Director, Microsoft Partners in Learning, and
  • Jeffrey Pestrak, Chief Academic Officer of Mastery Charter Schools.

School of the Future is located at 4021 Parkside Ave. in West Philadelphia.