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

Panelists Highlight Promising Practices, Explore Policies that Improve Teacher Quality, and Address Ways to Overcome Challenges in Rural and Urban Districts

WASHINGTON – May 20, 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 Colorado,” to discuss how transforming teaching can meet the learning needs of 21st century students.

This forum, sponsored by MetLife Foundation, is the second 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 teachers. Kristin Waters, principal at Bruce Randolph Middle School, explained how the Denver-based school was transformed from the poorest performing middle school in the state to one of the best. Ms. Waters highlighted the school’s restructuring plan, which includes a student-centered approach to planning, data-driven instructional practices, and extensive professional development teams within the school.

Another panelist, Tammy Clementi-Watson, the interim superintendent from Aguilar Reorganized District 6, discussed the unique challenges that rural districts face and the work that her team of educators has engaged in to improve instruction in the 125-student district. Dr. Watson focused on their intensive staff development efforts and other instructional strategies to address weaknesses and gaps in student learning. She also noted that school leaders, particularly in rural areas, need to collaborate across districts to develop a network so they don’t have to solve problems in isolation.

Carroll said that these educators can lead the way in Colorado on how to transform schools with innovative 21st century teaching. “These school leaders are working in some of the state’s most challenging school environments and yet they have made significant gains because of their commitment to strengthening teaching quality for all students,” he said.

“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 strategies that empower teachers to improve instruction.”

Other panelists covered a range of topics, including job-embedded professional development, coaches and instructional leaders, collaborative teaching and learning, strong principal leadership, closing achievement gaps, teacher preparation and certification, and K-12 partnerships.

Cynthia Hessin, Executive Producer, Rocky Mountain PBS, moderated both panels. Panelists included: Tammy Clementi-Watson, Interim Superintendent, Aguilar Reorganized District 6; Tara Dotter, Teacher, Aguilar Reorganized District 6; Matt Gianneschi, Senior Policy Analyst for Education, Office of Governor Bill Ritter, Jr.; Dwight Jones, Commissioner of Education, Colorado Department of Education; Chrisanne LaHue, Teacher, Bruce Randolph Middle School; Lynn K. Rhodes, Dean of the School of Education at the University of Colorado, Denver; Kristin Waters, Principal, Bruce Randolph Middle School.

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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.