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Education Letter to the Editor

Development: ‘Other Half’ of the Teacher Equation

April 08, 2008 1 min read
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To the Editor:

We support former Govs. James B. Hunt Jr. of North Carolina and Thomas H. Kean of New Jersey in calling attention to the need to ensure high-quality teachers for all students (“A New National Strategy for Improving Teaching in High Need Schools,” Commentary, March 5, 2008). Unfortunately, absent from their proposed agenda is attention to the ongoing professional development that all teachers need for continuous effective teaching.

Attracting and inducting new teachers is only half the equation for ensuring effective teachers for every student. Like the international-benchmark countries identified in the McKinsey & Co. report the authors cite, the National Staff Development Council recognizes and supports the importance of having every teacher engaging in effective professional learning every day, so every student achieves.

Stephanie Hirsh

Executive Director

National Staff Development Council

Oxford, Ohio

More letters to the editor.

A version of this article appeared in the April 09, 2008 edition of Education Week as Development: ‘Other Half’ of the Teacher Equation

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