Professional development, training programs and support for educators can improve teaching and learning, according to leaders of United Teachers Los Angeles. In this column, they write that teachers want to work with administrators to create more effective evaluations that include support for teachers who need help. The union leaders also suggest the use of incentives to keep highly qualified teachers in the classroom. Los Angeles Times
As teachers, we want to see our profession strengthened. Here is our framework for positive change.
- Overhaul the way we evaluate teachers and administrators: Evaluations should also be a two-way street, with teachers involved in evaluating the administrators they work with every day.
- Have top-notch teachers help their colleagues: ...need to reinstate the highly effective mentor teaching program (a victim of budget cuts) and tap into the wealth of national board certified teachers ...these educators have met rigorous national standards for teaching, and their expertise should be put to work helping struggling teachers.
- Offer professional support throughout a teacher's career: schools should have effective, teacher-driven professional development and common planning periods for collaboration and sharing of best practices.
- Offer incentives to keep accomplished teachers in the classroom: We should also look at pay initiatives that are working, such as the salary increase for educators who earn national board certification. That incentive has kept countless exceptional teachers in the classroom.
- Revamp teacher training programs at colleges and universities: Teacher certification programs need to concentrate on the skills teachers need the minute they step into their own classrooms.
- Give teachers a say in hiring their colleagues: ...teachers should routinely interview teacher candidates.
The most ineffective thing we can do to improve teacher quality is a tweak here and a tweak there.
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