A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

Next Steps for School Administrators

What can be done at the local level to address these complex teacher quality issues? The following questions are designed to challenge principals and other administrators to think about how they might begin. These questions are intended to be thought-provoking and do not have easy answers. They may, however, encourage people to extend themselves beyond their traditional roles and to take action.

• Is professional development sustained, intensive, and an integral part of a teacher's regular work day in our school?
• Do we focus on giving beginning and experienced teachers the tools they need to deliver a high-quality education to every child?
• Is our professional development based on research and best practices?
• Do we incorporate multiple forms of learning for our staff such as group study, action research, self-study, and curriculum development?
• What kinds of opportunities do we provide to help teachers develop leadership skills?
• To what extent is our professional development connected to student standards? To the content over which teachers need to have mastery? To the pedagogical skills they need?
• How far have we gone from the deficit model—"teachers need to be fixed"—to the growth model that seeks to build on teachers' knowledge and skills? What balance do we have between support and challenge?
• Who plans professional development and determines its focus? To what extent is it designed to address problems identified by teachers and others in the school?
• Are professional development opportunities part of a coherent, long-term plan for improving teaching and student learning?
• How much time and other resources are we devoting to professional development? How close are we to the leading corporations in this respect?
• When we evaluate our professional development, are we trying to document a positive correlation between increased teacher effectiveness and improved student achievement?

[Next Steps for Colleges and Universities]

[Next Steps for Business Leaders]