Dorsey Hopson and Chris Barbic today issued a joint press release outlining their commitment to making Memphis, Tennessee Teacher Town USA. From the press release via Chalkbeat:
Hopson and Barbic said they both fully support the over-arching goal of Teacher Town USA: To strengthen the talent pipeline of teachers and school leaders in Shelby County who can achieve dramatic improvements in student achievement year after year.
Teacher Town USA will focus particular attention on retaining, developing, and recruiting talented teachers to serve “priority schools,’’ meaning those that rank in the bottom five percent in Tennessee in terms of student achievement. Currently, 68 schools in Memphis are in the priority school category.
On the surface I’m very excited by this announcement. Sounds like our two district leaders are going to devote their time and energy not just to reforming the way we evaluate and test teachers but also focus on other strategies to invest them in moving to and teaching here in Memphis. Much of their wording coincides with pieces I’ve written here in BCE about the need to recruit and retain the best teaching talent here in Memphis. Their strategy is as follows:
The superintendents said they will work with Teacher Town USA to build a broad base of public and private support in coming months among philanthropic, business, community and political leadership. In addition the Teacher Town USA effort will seek significant national funding to retain, recruit and train top teachers for Memphis.
Looking forward to seeing what the future holds for Memphis, Tennessee, Teacher Town USA
Title picture from Choose901.com
Update: I’ve had a few communications from parties concerned that this announcement isn’t all it appears to be. While I think that the language of the press release and the strategies outlined would lead to improved teacher quality and teacher job satisfaction in our city, they must be properly implemented to make them happen. Here’s to hoping!
MeghanK
January 16, 2014
They lay off something like 100-200 teachers every year. In addition, there are many home-grown aspiring teachers in this city. But we need to recruit others to move here?
I attended the teacher town hall meeting in September 2013 with Superintendent Hopson where a teacher complained about being surplussed (laid off). She said she had been recruited here in the spring from Chicago. She and her husband (also a teacher) were told teachers were badly needed here, and when they got here, they were both surplussed.
I can’t imagine why they would be doing this except to undermine the power of veteran teachers. Can you? It hurts the kids as well.
bluffcityed
January 16, 2014
Personally I’d need to know more about who’s being laid off any why. For example I know several teachers in their first 1-3 years that have been surplussed at least once in the last couple years, so I’m hesitant to say they’re trying to undermine veteran teachers without more data. One thing I hope they do focus on is the bureaucracy. Getting things done at the central office can take a long time (in my experience) and I wonder if her being laid off wasn’t somehow related to that?
Agreed it hurts kids when long term quality teachers get laid off, but again, I’d want to know more of the facts before rendering a judgement. If you have anything about who’s being laid off such as years teaching, scores, subjects taught, etc., please send them my way as I’d love to write something up going more in depth about this!
MeghanK
January 17, 2014
You’re hesitant to render a judgement AGAINST this out of state recruiting, but you are quick to render one SUPPORTING it. Interesting.
bluffcityed
January 17, 2014
What’s wrong with out of state recruiting? Don’t our kids benefit when they get teachers with a diverse set of backgrounds and a variety of experiences?