A Time for Teamwork in Schools

In Monday’s Washington Post, Jay Mathews’ column “Merit Pay Could Ruin Teacher Teamwork”, discusses the incentive bonus plan, created by Chancellor Michelle Rhee, for D.C. public school teachers and the need for collaboration among teachers.

Mathews said, “The idea troubles me, because it is at odds with what I have learned from charter leaders who have made great achievement gains in their independent public schools. Their staffs thrive on teamwork. Everyone shares lesson plans, swaps ideas and reinforces discipline to help each child.”

Teachers can be encouraged to work in teams and rewarded through pay systems that recognize their collaborative efforts to improve student learning. However, it is not always pay that teachers site as their biggest concern with the profession. The 2004-05 MetLife Survey of the American Teacher found that principals and teachers place a high value on personal connections and supportive professional relationships. The study also found that beginning teachers’ satisfaction with the quality of their professional support is directly related to whether they plan to remain in education.

The importance of teamwork and supportive learning environments is highlighted in the NCTAF pledge – Principle One: Create schools that are genuine learning communities. Learning teams are essential for building and deepening teacher knowledge, integrating new practitioners into a learning community, supporting constant professional development and encouraging dialogue on best practices.

NCTAF has been all over the United States seeking out learning communities and shining a spotlight on these best practices. Take Steve Smith, superintendent of Lowndes County School District in Valdosta, GA. After a working conditions survey of the district found that teachers were dissatisfied with the amount of time they had to collaborate with their colleagues, Smith rearranged the busing schedule in order to find an extra 90 minutes every day for teachers to work together. The big winners though are the students. At Lowndes High School, the graduation rate increased by 6 percent in one year, and the school is now meeting its AYP goals.

There is a lot of evidence that suggests teamwork is an integral part to building and sustaining a true learning organization. So back to Jay Mathews’ question, can teamwork and merit pay co-exist? What are your thoughts?