Education's Gold Medal Learning Teams

As the world watches the Olympic Games in Beijing, evidence of the power of teamwork is everywhere. Most athletes, no matter if they are involved in an individual or team sport, point to a support system that is the source of their strength and a boon to their confidence. Likewise, to ensure that children in the United State are competitive in a global economy, we must support them with teams of teachers focused on increasing student achievement.

At the 2008 Symposium, NCTAF and Pearson Achievement Solutions honored exemplary “Learning Teams” from three districts across the country (Newark (NJ) Public Schools, the Wake County (NC) Public School System, and Woodland (GA) Middle School). To continue to seed the development of more learning teams, NCTAF and the Pearson Foundation invited a group of 18 “Learning Teams Fellows” from D.C., Maryland, and Virginia to learn from the awardees and other Symposium participants. At a working dinner, awardees were able to provide support, guidance and information to Fellows wishing to learn more about learning teams. Award winners emphasized that teamwork allows both teachers and students to feel empowered and supported. They noted that by creating a culture of collaboration, education becomes a team sport where no one is left alone to fend for themselves on the bench. Fellows left the Symposium feeling empowered, and eager to begin work on implementing these teams in their respective schools. Awardees left feeling excited to return to the classroom this fall!

So, as Michael Phelps continues to make history in his quest for eight gold medals, perhaps his most memorable moment of this Olympic Games will be the relay event – the event in which he relied on his team members to come from behind to clench the gold medal.

When teachers work together, just as Phelps and his teammates did, they too deserve gold medals. To see more examples of great teamwork in schools, click here.