On Performance
Justin Baeder is a public school principal in Seattle and a doctoral student studying principal performance and productivity at the University of Washington. In this blog he examined issues of performance, improvement, and the changing nature of the education profession. This blog is no longer being updated.
Recruitment & Retention
Opinion
How Will $1 Billion Change the STEM Teaching Workforce?
The Associated Press is reporting that President Obama's budget proposal includes $1 billion over the next several years for a STEM "Master Teacher Corps." US News & World Report offers some additional details about the plan's rationale:
Education
Opinion
Finding the Right "Grain Size" for Standardization
Teacher and writer/speaker/tech expert Bill Ferriter suggested in a blog post last Thursday that scripted curriculum is the equivalent of running shoes that do more harm than good, constraining healthy, natural functioning.
School & District Management
Opinion
The Largest Classroom Tech Infusion in History
This fall, I'd like to see an unprecedented amount of new technology enter our nation's classrooms. It's powerful, it's easy, and it won't cost a dime.
Assessment
Opinion
The Golden Age of Common Core
I believe we're in a "golden age" with the Common Core State Standards. It's certainly a golden age for curriculum publishers, who can now sell the same materials in 45 states, but that's not what I'm talking about here. I'm talking about the classroom.
Education
Opinion
How Useful Are Standards?
Standards are everywhere. All month, I'm participating in an online conference on the Common Core State Standards. Students have long been expected to meet their state standards, and now most states are making the shift to the CCSS.
Education
Opinion
Is Starbucks the Right Model for Educational Excellence?
I live in Seattle, so it's probably no surprise that I go to Starbucks quite a bit. Locally, Starbucks is respected to a certain point, but it's not considered premium coffee, and most certainly not the best in town. If you want an espresso that will change your life, you'd do better to hit up one of the local places.
Recruitment & Retention
Opinion
The Future of the NEA in the Age of Performance
Stephen Sawchuck has a major article out today on the NEA's struggle to adapt to a changing world. He notes that the organization's membership has dropped by about 100,000 in the past two years, and is projected to drop another 200,000 by 2014. For an organization of over 3 million, this is a small percentage, but Sawchuck notes that it's a major sign of change.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
MA Teacher Evaluation Law Weakens LIFO, Signals Pre-Emptive Compromise
The National School Boards Association's Legal Clips newsletter reports that Massachusetts recently passed a new teacher evaluation bill under threat of a ballot initiative backed by Stand for Children:
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Principals and Teacher Contract Non-Renewals
Last school year, I took a survey on teacher non-renewal, and when the researcher shared the results with me later (a common practice in educational research), I thought they were worth sharing here. Thanks to Dr. Andy Nixon of the University of West Georgia for writing the following summary of his research on principals involved in non-renewing a teacher's contract. (Note that this is a brief summary for this blog, and not the full version for scholarly publication.)
Recruitment & Retention
Opinion
Teaching Compliance
In my previous post, I introduced Seth Godin's recent manifesto Stop Stealing Dreams (What Is School For?). In answering his own question, Godin suggests that school is "for" some purposes that are no longer relevant, and weren't so great to begin with.
Education
Opinion
Are Schools 'Stealing Dreams'?
Friday was my last day with Seattle Public Schools, so I hope to devote much more time to this blog from this point on. The topic of performance in the education profession is more important than ever, and I'm eager to re-engage with you; feel free to email me at justin.baeder@gmail.com.
Education
Opinion
On Holding "The District" Accountable
At the end of this school year, I will have served a decade in Seattle Public Schools. I am stepping down to move closer to extended family and pursue professional development work, as well as finish my graduate studies. I will look back fondly on my time in Seattle, but as the district prepares to welcome a new Superintendent, José Banda of Anaheim, I want to share my perspective as both an insider (as a Seattle principal) and a soon-to-be outsider.
School & District Management
Opinion
The Downside of Focusing on Results
Author's note: This blog is on a reduced posting schedule until July 2012, when normal posting will resume. You can subscribe via email to be notified when new posts are added.
Teaching Profession
Opinion
Unflattening Teaching and Raising the Ceiling on Pay
In my previous post, I suggested that teaching positions be reconfigured so that they have varying levels of responsibility and compensation. A robust discussion has ensued in the comments, and as I always hope when I write here, this has pushed my thinking further on the issue.