#TeachersAtED Archive
Our chat is once a month on the third Tuesday at 7:00 EST. These chats are hosted by teachers working at the US Department of Education as Teaching Ambassador Fellows in order to hear from teachers on policy issues and share resources. More about our program at: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/teacherfellowship/index.html
Tuesday May 17, 2016
Q1: Please briefly introduce yourself, your location, and your role in education.
Welcome to !
Q1: Please briefly introduce yourself, your location, and your role in education. https://t.co/E8U4vqLCfk
A1. Hi, my name is Fatima Korisha Ali Shah Hosein, I'm in Caracas-Venezuela, Virtual Tutor and e-learning implementation
A1: Stacey Johnston HS teacher from LV, Nevada.
A1: Julia Dezen. New Orleans, teacher development and US Department of Education Teacher Ambassador.
A1: Teaching Ambassador Fellow from DC; passionate about educational equity and education as a vehicle to racial justice.
Q2: How can teacher recruitment and training help lift the profession?
A2: Value and utilize teachers' internal expertise and treat us as the professionals and experts in our field.
A2:Training should focus on cohort models like Teaching Fellows. Fellows have high retention. https://t.co/PFN5itz4tP
A2: Recruit early: When I'm teaching, I make sure to use the phrase, "you are so smart and kind-you should be a teacher."
A2: Recruitment needs to elevate the prestige of entering teaching. Teaching needs to be viewed as a viable profession.
A2. Offering opportunities in programs where the teachers can have an active participation
A2:Ts need a strong support/mentor system and timely PD.Burnout/overwhelmed make ppl leave who could thrive otherwise.
A2: Recruitment needs to start high school or earlier. does this well, helps students see teaching as possible.
A2: Offer training that honors the importance and the challenge of our work as educators.
Q3: How can professional development be redesigned to best lift and equip teachers?
A3. With the application of innovative strategies, interactivity, creativity, technology.
A3: Teacher-led PD tailored to the needs of educators. Differentiate for staff just as we differentiate for students.
A3: Teacher-led prof. learning over one-off sessions; more opps for collaboration; weave cultural comp. thru PD plan for year
A3: Personalized learning is for more than kids; it's also for PD. PD should be tailored to teacher needs, not admin agendas.
A3: Edcamps recognize teacher expertise. I always learn at
I agree! Differentiation shouldn't only be for students. https://t.co/F1lBCGOvkI
A3: Personalized learning is for more than kids; it's also for PD. PD should be tailored to teacher needs, not admin agendas.
A3:teacher centered/teacher led/Edcamp style.
A3: PD must be based on trust in teacher as professional. Give Ts the space and freedom to build solutions to problems.
A3: A great person to follow for ideas on personalized PD is . She builds PD on individualized plans for each teacher.
Shout out to https://t.co/yJ1ufDRxOd
A3: PD must be based on trust in teacher as professional. Give Ts the space and freedom to build solutions to problems.
Q4: What are the key school conditions that must be developed and refined to lift up the profession?
Q4: What are the key school conditions that must be developed and refined to lift up the profession?
agreed. Professionalism doesn't=mplementation of packaged curriculum...means designing curriculum based on S needs.
A4: Trust teacher expertise and ask what supports are needed from admin/parents/community to ensure student needs are met
A4: Michael was close....but what teachers really need is the three Ts....Time, Trust and Talk. https://t.co/hJRSpALqIf
A4. Incorporate tech, increase ts participation, create ts network to exchange with ts from other schools and/or countries
great point...questions also need to swing other way with admin/parents/communities asking Ts what they need.
A4: Collab. culture; clear norms; collective buy-in to PD framework; distributive leadership; connection to greater community
A4: Most important is trust. Teachers must be trusted to act as professionals; no trust stifles innovation and creativity.
A3: PD can guide teachers to best leverage what we know--our students, their needs, their data.
would be nice if PD was always built around student needs/data rather than latest fad or admin priority.
A4:Collaborative mindset,"our" kids vs."my"kids outlook,trust, compromise, communication.
would add teachers need voice in setting norms for PD....can't have norms imposed and then expect collab.
A4: Teachers need time....to plan, to grade, to create. Time banks in proposal is good start. https://t.co/8Te8vUDqoW
A4: Finally, teachers need chances to talk and collaborate. Currently too few opportunities for collegial conversations.
this is such a key point. There is NO replacement for classroom replacement in identifying what works.
Q5: How can career pathways for teachers be reimagined and redesigned in order to lift the profession?
Q5: How can career pathways for teachers be reimagined and redesigned in order to lift the profession? https://t.co/vS1Z2YNvVs
very true. Our profession needs greater room for collaboration to reduce this problem.
A5: Allow innovative roles for teachers giving them opporunities to be leaders without leaving the classroom
A5: Hybrid roles are necessary so teachers can lead from their classroom. Leading shouldn't require leaving students.
A5. With professional actualization but in a way that the teacher can incorporate imagination, creativity, strategies
A5: More hybrid roles; mentoring progs; PLCs; teacher advisory committees; collab. w/ districts and states for input on policy
requires a shift in mindset of what "leadership" requires....and what it means.
Lead without leaving! https://t.co/PQ5AbxIuCr
A5: Allow innovative roles for teachers giving them opporunities to be leaders without leaving the classroom
great point on mentoring programs. Ts playing larger role in new T development lifts seasoned AND new Ts!
A5: Iowa Teacher Leadership and Compensation System is great example of redefining career pathways. https://t.co/VlQpiJPAKs
A5: Provide pathways for teachers to stay in the classroom AND increase impact, salary, etc.
what do you think needs to be done to enhance teacher impact?
wonderful point. Too often only leadership develop for Ts is to become admin. Leadership can take other forms.
A5:Vet Ts also need to avoid burnout.Great educators need opportunity but not burnout, a fine balance.I love the hybrid idea!
. Open to many ideas. One idea--let "lessons learned" reach other teachers and children without the pain point
Q6: What is the biggest change you feel needs to be made in order to lift the teaching profession? https://t.co/63EXfbBvAC
Q6: What is the biggest change you feel needs to be made in order to lift the teaching profession?
that seems to be chat consensus....need personalized PD. Where is disconnect on why this is not happening?
A6. Adoption of new education tools, strategies, motivates the teachers.
A6: Teachers need to feel trusted and supported to make the decisions that affect their students on a daily basis.
A6:Learn from nations that revere rather than revile teachers & adopt similar practices 2 change nat'l dialogue re: teaching
A6: Biggest change needed is increased respect for profession....from policy makers, admin, parents and fellow teachers.
how do we shift mindsets to make that happen? That's a cultural/social shift...which is never easy.
Improve culture and we improve retention
It starts at the local level and grows
https://t.co/XyKLuYfMOZ
how do we shift mindsets to make that happen? That's a cultural/social shift...which is never easy.
Joining extremely late due to kid and! Sarah from MI
is key for teachers to FEEL trusted or to be trusted? Which is more achievable?
A6: it also starts with our colleagues taking on the dispositions of a professional
A6:More input from Ts on topics that directly affects Ts & Ss. Ts as strong resources not ones who are handed curriculum.
A6: provide flexibility, hybrid roles, reward responsibilities w/ increased pay, promote movement, & ask!
The one size fits all approach.
A6: R.E.S.P.E.C.T. initiative was great move in this direction.More work needed in this area. https://t.co/Tdn8binZll
how do we balance this with IDed need for more trust?Too often, accountability is misconstrued as lack of trust.
definitely BE trusted. My director facilitates, we create & engage w/
has to be linked with autonomy and agency https://t.co/hPMyXp3NLX
how do we balance this with IDed need for more trust?Too often, accountability is misconstrued as lack of trust.
shift from NCLB to ESSA gives hope for shift from "one size" mentality for students. Hopefully teachers next.
hard to demand respect and trust when colleagues don’t project same. Teachers need to recognize their import to the profession
Q7: What can teachers do on their own to lift up the profession?
A7. Participate in virtual conferences, exchange with others teachers experiences, ideas, strategies.
A7: Teachers must share their voices in order to advocate for their students' needs, as well as their own.
A7: know that teachers are the most important ambassadors for education in their communities.
A7: Keep engaging & spreading positive news about my school & our profession to anyone & everyone who will listen!
A7: Teachers must hold profession to highest standards. If teachers not acting professional, others should hold accountable.
Have you asked a teacher?---Teachers are experts in education and should lead.
so true. Teachers have to take control of the narrative around teaching. If we don't shape message, others will.
A7 cont'd: Promoting solutions to policy & advocacy people & groups. Debunking that Ts just whine & complain
A7: teachers need to invite the community into their classrooms esp legislators
A7:Self advocacy, seeking out great, meaningful leadership opportunities. Continuous learning/professional growth.
correct. Trust is more easily and meaningfully won one person at a time.
A7: Teachers must demand that all teachers treat each child as their own...and stand up for kids when that doesn't happen.
my sister just had one of hers in yesterday!
that’s the way to build trust in the profession. We have nothing to hide—unless we do.
A7: teachers can make sure they understand the impact that can have in their state and get involved
finding leadership roles is good...but we need to make sure to leverage those leadership roles to lift all teachers.
"meaningful collaboration" with Ts is required by law....but Ts must make sure to push for seat at table.
and make sure “meaningful collaboration” is just that
