NCTAF, MetLife Foundation, and NPT Host Town Hall Meeting on Partnerships in Schools that Support Quality Teaching and Learning

May 9th Panel Discusses Strategies to Improve Student Outcomes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – May 9, 2007 – Turning around low-performing schools can seem like a daunting task, but educators say the spirit and power of teamwork makes all the difference in the world.

The National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF), MetLife Foundation, and Nashville Public Television (NPT) today convened a town hall meeting to discuss how state and local partnerships can support collaborative teaching efforts that improve learning for Tennessee’s students.

“Our ability to prepare millions of children for the 21st century knowledge-based economy will heavily depend on the ability of educators developing school environments where great teaching and learning can thrive,” said NCTAF’s President Tom Carroll. “Unfortunately, there are too many schools that are lagging behind in this effort.”

According to NCTAF, teachers leave the profession in droves because many schools are stuck in an old factory-era model that fails to encourage collaborative, supportive work environments. Almost half of new teachers leave the profession in five years. The problem is particularly acute in low-income communities, where one in five teachers leave each year. Principal turnover is just as alarming, with four years or less in one school as the typical stint for many.

“Schools with teacher and principal churn are never able to develop successful learning cultures because they are constantly rebuilding their staff,” said Carroll.

“Supportive relationships are important if we want to retain teachers and better ensure student success,” said Sibyl Jacobson, president of MetLife Foundation. “NCTAF is well positioned to promote the importance of collaborative learning teams as a way to strengthen our schools.”

Town hall attendees discussed what it means to create a culture of collaboration and success in schools. Panelists included representatives from state and local leadership, higher education, K-12 schools, and non-profit education organizations, all of which are key partners to help schools improve learning.

In addition to the discussion, Nashville’s Stratford High School was featured in a video aired during the town hall to showcase the positive impact of teacher collaboration. In 2006, Stratford was removed from the list of schools at risk for state takeover for the first time in eight years. Principal Brenda Elliott-Johnson attributes this success to building a team of educators, students, parents and community members who believe children can and want to succeed. In the past three years, the school’s graduation rate has increased from 38% to 54%.

NCTAF encourages educators to share best practices, join forces to solve problems and work together to support student achievement and success.

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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 of 23 partner 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.

MetLife Foundation supports programs that increase opportunities for young people to succeed, give students and teachers a voice in improving education, create connections between schools and communities and develop leadership. The Foundation works with national nonprofit organizations to develop a variety of programs, many of which address issues raised each year in The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher. For more information about MetLife Foundation, please visit www.metlife.org.