Are we doing everything we can?

by Mel Sussman

Earlier this week, President Obama gave a speech to students throughout the nation, urging them to “set your own goals for your education---and to do everything you can to meet them.” He spoke to the teacher’s responsibility of inspiring students and pushing them to learn and closed his speech by remarking that “your teachers and I are doing everything we can to make sure you have education you need.”

Strong words and straightforward advice from this nation’s leader.

But not necessarily all true.

A former colleague, who is now an instructional coach in a school district which will remain nameless, told me recently that while some teachers embrace professional learning, too many (even one is too much) still resist the idea of using coaching or professional development to improve their teaching methods.

While I'm not astounded by this finding, I find it extremely disappointing that we are in the business of helping kids and increasing student achievement and yet there teachers out there who would rather settle for the status quo.

I'm left wondering: Are we truly doing everything we can to help students get the education they need?

Mel Sussman, a former school principal, is a principal consultant at McREL.

Comments

[Claus]

We should also bear in mind that many teachers have had very bad professional development experiences: Useless, ineffective, drive-by workshops that do little or nothing to improve practice.

In districts with well-designed professional learning opportunities, teachers most often rise to the occasion as they understand the value. Hamilton County, TN offers a case in point. Teachers who had been maligned as ineffective flourished under a system that provided well-designed staff development and support.