Education Leadership Forum Focuses on the Future of Teaching in Georgia; Progressive Strategies to Improve Instruction for All Students

Panelists Highlight Promising Practices, Address Teacher Training & Certification, Explore New Staffing and Compensation Models, and Discuss Workforce Pipeline Issues

WASHINGTON – May 9, 2008 – Preparing all students to participate in a knowledge-based economy is a demanding challenge. As pressure is continually placed on teachers to meet this challenge alone, the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF) today convened an education leadership forum, “The Future of Teaching in Georgia,” to discuss how transforming teaching can meet the learning needs of 21st century students.

This forum, sponsored by MetLife Foundation, is the first in a series of conversations that NCTAF is holding across the country to call attention to the fact that quality teaching should not be looked at as an individual accomplishment. Instead, there is a need to bring the spirit and power of teamwork to schools – teamwork that builds the capacity to improve performance, increase teaching effectiveness, and close achievement gaps.

“No teacher should be expected to do this job alone,” said NCTAF President Tom Carroll. “Quality teaching results from the collective effort of teachers who join forces to improve performance beyond what any of them can accomplish on their own.”

At the forum, two panels addressed existing challenges and highlighted initiatives and strategies that offer better support for new teachers. Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Beverly Hall discussed APS’s efforts to strengthen teaching quality through a national mentoring model, using coaches, instructional leaders, and job-embedded professional development to help Atlanta’s teachers evolve from good teachers to excellent teachers.

Another panelist, Lowndes County Superintendent Steve Smith, highlighted his district’s strong partnership with Valdosta State University and the induction project that helps new teachers become a part of their learning community. He also focused on how his district restructured the school day to provide teachers with more team planning time focused on improving student learning.

Carroll said that these school districts show how teamwork begins with the careful induction of new teachers into a learning organization and is sustained through professional development that is embedded in the day-to-day fabric of work in the school.

“If we want to retain teachers, improve teaching quality, and increase student learning, it is essential that school leaders provide opportunities for collaboration,” said MetLife Foundation President Sibyl Jacobson. “NCTAF is well positioned to promote the importance of teamwork as a way to strengthen schools.”

Other panelists covered a range of topics, including pathways to teaching, mentoring and induction, coaches and instructional leaders, collaborative teaching and learning, higher education/K-12 partnerships, strong principal leadership, math and science instruction, closing achievement gaps, teacher compensation, teacher preparation and certification, and workforce pipeline issues.

Donna Lowry, Education Reporter, WXIA-TV 11Alive (NBC Affiliate), moderated both panels. Panelists included: Wheda Acolatse, Teacher, Alonzo F. Herndon Elementary School; Andrew Broy, Assoc. Superintendent, GA Department of Education; Ann Cramer, Director North America, IBM Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs; Beverly Hall, Superintendent, Atlanta Public Schools; Carolyn Hall, Principal, Kimberly Elementary School; Bill Haskin, Teacher, Hahira Middle School; Patricia Paterson, Executive Director for the P-16 Office of the University System of Georgia; Jennifer Rippner Buck, Executive Director, The Governor's Office of Student Achievement; and Steve Smith, Superintendent, Lowndes County Schools.

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The National Commission on Teaching and America's Future (NCTAF) is a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. NCTAF is dedicated to providing every child with competent, caring, qualified teaching in schools organized for success. With a network coalition of 25 states and links to professional educational organizations across the nation, NCTAF provides leadership on innovation and improvement in teaching and learning in America’s schools. For more information, visit NCTAF’s website: www.nctaf.org.