subject: Alicia Henry's guide to increased student learning and success includes investment in our teachers. The time is now! [print this page] Alicia Henry's guide to increased student learning and success includes investment in our teachers. The time is now!
In today's Wall Street Journal on-line addition (www.WSJ.com), Bill Gates discusses the formula to create better teachers. I have provided the link for you at the end of this article. Take a moment to copy and past this link in your address bar. It is worth the read.
It has been proven that the number one factor that affects student learning and success is the teacher. Therefore, it is wise to invest in our teachers through effective and meaningful professional development for the main purpose of improving student learning. However, professional development is usually the first line item to be cut from school budgets if you are even lucky enough to have money in that budget line to begin with.
As a school principal, I was responsible for the oversight of the Reading First Grant Program that the Elementary School I worked at qualified for. A team of professionals and I spent many hours writing the grant and we were successful in securing it. The part of the grant that was most appealing to me included the many opportunities for professional development that included my instructional staff, support staff, and administrative staff. Time and money were provided so that staff could engage in learning activities that would directly affect teaching methods and instructional delivery. We changed how we were doing things, developed a collaborative vision, and student learning improved. In three years of the program, our school was identified as High Performing/Gap Closing and we were named a Blue Ribbon School in 2009. The staff worked diligently in ensuring we focused on our goal, improved student success for all students. It worked, and it was exciting to watch adults learning and implementing changes in their teaching.
However, we also need to look at our college programs that train our future teachers and administrators. Somehow, we need to provide an opportunity for "teachers/administrators in training" to work with master teachers and administrators for longer than 8-16 weeks. The time is now as we look to improve evaluation standards for administrators and teachers. Educators should meet strict guidelines before they are considered "master teachers/administrators" so that we can ensure that our future leaders in education are working with teachers and administrators that have a proven record of success. Required professional development should be part of educator's contract from the beginning.
How do we budget for this? How do we not? Maybe the unions can work with the district and provide money for professional development through the dues they collect. Maybe we look for donations from individuals like Bill Gates to fund professional development efforts. Maybe we think outside of the box and come up with creative ways to make this happen. Our children are that important that they deserve the best trained professionals in every classroom in America. Let's make it happen.
