Results Now

The first quote I have decided to use is "We have created a system in which generations of talented, hard-working teachers have engaged in inferior practices without receiving feedback that would alert them to this fact". I am the superintendent and here is my stance.

We as a whole, administrators and teachers need to work together as a team to promote success for our students. If teachers are talented and hard-working but lack the experience through inferior practices then the administrators must work along with that teacher to improve teaching strategies. Teachers need to realize that their jobs are not being threatened and that comments and suggestions are used to help the teacher improve. During observations, administrators will focus on one to two areas of improvement. The administrators and teacher will work together such as professional development, team teaching, teacher observations and one-on-one guidance. The district will have a philosophy of "if the teacher fails then the administration had failed".

The second quote comes from page 26 and states "isolation ensures that new learning seldom leads to changes in practice-in what teachers teach or how well they teach". I am a supervisor and I would recommend the following.

To end teacher isolation, it would be mandatory that all teachers teaching the same subject matter will meet once a week. During these meetings, teachers will discuss lesson objectives, pace, tests, quizzes, homework, planning, share ideas and talk about student progress. Here teachers are working together in teams or team teaching. Teachers will improve and benefit from each other while promoting success for their students.

The third quote comes form page 163 and says "There are a lot of children who are suffering, and we should not have to wait another generation before we get things right". I am the schools principal and I offer the following position.

If your sink is leaking, you fix it. If your light bulb burns out, you change it. Why is this philosophy or motto not applied to schools? If your school is failing then fix. If your school is lacking then change it. To complete this statement, I will have the vision statement of the school re-modified or replaced. As principal of a school in need of change, I will start with the vision statement. Here the school and community will know the purpose and outcome set forth by school’s faculty and staff.