Survey Shows Experienced Teachers Avoiding Bad Schools (TX)
October 20, 2010
The idea of being a dedicated teacher is one thing. Actually getting on the battlefield in that classroom is another.
A new state survey shows “experienced” Texas teachers are choosing to avoid tougher, lower-performing schools. Those teachers want to work in more affluent areas. Ann Best with the Houston Independent School District says you’ll find a different story in Houston.
"We’ve articulated a strategic direction as a district where we prioritize having among many things an effective teacher in every classroom," Best says.
HISD has attempted to buck that statewide trend of experienced teachers choosing only affluent schools. The district has pulled from various programs like Teach for America to get highly educated young teachers in the classroom.
But are these young faces experienced?
"We try and hire principals who are going to be strong and instructional leaders who can be right there on the campus and support those teachers and their work," Bes t says.
"At the risk of being overly blunt that’s a blatant lie. That’s what these new teachers are telling us," Gayle Fallon with the Teacher’s Union says.
Fallon says, and the district confirms this, at least 7 Teachers for America teachers have quit. Fallon says in addition to providing mentors in rougher areas, she suggests the district compensate teachers like a former superintendent in the 1980s.
"Billy Reagan found a way to get them into rough schools. He paid them extra, but we used to call it combat pay," Fallon says.
However, school officials say the approach they’re using is working. That includes new teacher applicants giving sample lessons, aggressive recruiting, accountability, help on an educators career pathway and fair compensation.
"I think parents can expect to see us living up to our word in terms of being a district on a mission to ensure an effective teacher in every classroom," Best says.
These young faces in the classroom will eventually show just how successful HISD has been.