Teacher Leaders

Student Well-Being & Movement Opinion The Atlanta Cheating Scandal and Motivation Theory
I know educators around the country empathize with Atlanta (we understood what drove them) but I hope we have learned from Atlanta as well. Tying pay raises and job evaluations to one yearly, standardized test makes no sense at all. We don't give our students an A or an F because of one test. Why is it okay to do this to teachers and schools?
Phylis Hoffman, April 8, 2015
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3 min read
Teaching Profession Opinion Four Things I Want to Say to Novice Teachers
Four things novice teachers should know: Welcome to a changed profession. Beware of media oversell. Act on your beliefs--but clarify them, first. Choose your heroes carefully.
Nancy Flanagan, April 2, 2015
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4 min read
School & District Management Opinion Open Letter to UTLA President and LAUSD Superintendent
It's time to take advantage of a lapsed contract, a reorganization of district administration, and the mediation process to create something new in the Los Angeles Unified School District, hybrid positions. A hybrid position would be where administrators would support schools by spending part of every work day actually teaching and the other part of the day would be devoted to administrative tasks of supporting students and schools.
Phylis Hoffman, March 31, 2015
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2 min read
Teaching Profession Opinion Nancie Atwell Gets It Exactly Right
Teaching in America has been systematically de-professionalized. It's no longer a job where experience and creativity are valued. The evidence around that--beginning with test score-based teacher evaluation, and ending with federal funding for Teach for America-- is incontrovertible. We keep saying we want teacher leaders at the table, informing policy. But when Nancie Atwell was given a seat at a big, shiny international table, we're stunned when she tells her truth?
Nancy Flanagan, March 28, 2015
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3 min read
U.S. Department of Education Teaching Ambassador Fellow Emily Davis, center, offers instructions to a group at the Teach to Lead summit in Boston.
U.S. Department of Education Teaching Ambassador Fellow Emily Davis, center, offers instructions to a group at the Teach to Lead summit in Boston.
Photo by Charlie Mahoney for Education Week
Teacher Preparation Teacher Leadership Movement Gets Boost From Ed. Dept.
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan has pledged continued support for the Department of Education’s Teach to Lead initiative.
Ross Brenneman, March 24, 2015
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5 min read
Assessment Opinion I Love My Job. Really.
You cannot measure self-esteem, self-worth, or readiness to face the world. You cannot quantify these teachable moments, ever. The more you try to do this, the more you tell me that my professionalism is equated to the scores that a set of my kids have received on a test that has no relevance to their daily life, the more you demean the battle against poverty, adolescence, and apathy that I fight each day.
Nancy Flanagan, March 24, 2015
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2 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
Jared Boggess for Education Week
Standards & Accountability Opinion Teaching the Common Core Requires Fine-Tuning School Policies
While the standards offer depth, they are not well supported by school instructional policies, writes teacher John Troutman McCrann.
John T. McCrann, March 23, 2015
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5 min read
Assessment Opinion Leveraging Teacher Evaluations in Los Angeles
The opportunity is there to negotiate for their priorities - smaller class-sizes, fully staffed schools, and a pay raise - if they are willing to accept three levels of performance in teacher evaluations. I think the three levels are worth it, if it means better conditions for teachers and students.
Phylis Hoffman, March 23, 2015
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3 min read
Teaching Profession Arne Duncan Offers Praise for Teacher-Leadership Initiative, But Future Is Murky
One year after the secretary challenged educators to hold him accountable for the growth of a major teacher-leadership program, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan summarized progress.
Ross Brenneman, March 13, 2015
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3 min read
Teaching Profession Opinion Vergara Part 3: Reimagining Tenure
In my 20-plus years of teaching one thing I have learned is teachers need the protection of tenure to effectively advocate for their students. I joined the most recent Educators 4 Excellence-Los Angeles (E4E-Los Angeles) policy team out of a strong desire to preserve tenure, along with collective bargaining rights and our unions. Here are some of the big takeaways of our recommendations for creating tenure for teachers in California.
Phylis Hoffman, March 3, 2015
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3 min read
School & District Management Opinion Garden-Variety Teacher Leadership
I worry that teacher leadership is being commodified--that teachers with exceptional talents in instruction, curriculum development, mentoring, analyzing district politics and influencing decision-making will not be seen as leaders unless they have a title or a stipend. I worry even more about how formal teacher leaders are "chosen"--just whose water they're expected to carry.
Nancy Flanagan, March 2, 2015
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2 min read
Teaching Profession Opinion Work Ethic and Audacity: The Heart of Teacher Leadership
For teachers, individual work ethic buys the chance to deviate from traditional pedagogical paths and try new things, Jessica Pack writes.
Jessica Pack, February 28, 2015
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3 min read
Teaching Profession Opinion If Districts Trust Teachers to Lead, They Won't Be Disappointed
Teachers need to trust their ideas and feel empowered to share and implement them, Bev Bricker writes.
Bev Bricker, February 28, 2015
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3 min read
Teaching Profession Opinion When Teachers Share a Vision, They Do Great Things
Jeff Austin says that his teacher-powered school is a model for success in his district, a testament to cooperation, collaboration, and a shared vision.
Jeff Austin, February 27, 2015
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4 min read
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