This column first appeared on EducationNC on February 23, 2018. As a young child I was always taught the famous proverb: If you love your job, you will never work a day in your life. I discovered my passion in education—my love for learning and teaching. So I have truly never “worked” since I was […]
Analysis: New Study Finds Huge Student Learning Gains in Schools Where Teachers Mentor Their Colleagues as Multi-Classroom Leaders
This column was first published on The 74 on February 13, 2018. In survey after survey, teachers report dissatisfaction with the professional development they receive. Many aren’t satisfied with their professional learning communities or coaching opportunities. Teachers say they want more on-the-job development, career advancement while teaching, and collaboration time. Some teachers are getting what […]
When Teachers Leave Midyear, Instructional Teacher-Leadership Keeps Classes Strong
This column first appeared on EducationNC on February 7, 2018. I recently sat down to talk with my principal about why the multi-classroom leader role has proved so crucial when midyear turnover leaves a teaching team short, or with a long-term substitute. My journey in education began in 2009 when I joined Teach for America […]
Opportunity Culture: In the News, On the Radio–and a Milken Award!
Multi-classroom leaders have been in the spotlight this week! In the News: The recent release of a study by the American Institutes for Research and the Brookings Institution highlights the power of multi-classroom leaders (MCLs). The team teachers studied, who were now on teams led by MCLs, were, on average, at the 50th percentile in […]
New Research on Opportunity Culture: Multi-Classroom Leaders’ Teams Produce Significant Learning Gains
This column first appeared in Education Next on January 17, 2018. What if every student actually could have an excellent teacher? According to a new study released through the CALDER Center, it might be possible. Study authors Ben Backes of American Institutes for Research (AIR) and Michael Hansen of the Brookings Institution found that students in classrooms […]
Brookings-AIR Study Finds Large Academic Gains in Opportunity Culture
Students in classrooms of team teachers led by “multi-classroom leaders” showed sizeable academic gains, according to a new study from the American Institutes for Research and the Brookings Institution. The team teachers were, on average, at the 50th percentile in the student learning gains they produced before joining a team led by a multi-classroom leader. […]
Beyoncé and Teacher Pay: TEDx Talk Tells All!
What does Beyoncé have to do with great teachers? Ranson IB Middle School Principal Erica Jordan-Thomas wants you to know: “There are Beyoncé educators in every single school building dropping number 1 albums year after year in the form of mind-blowing results with their kids.” But, Jordan-Thomas says in her just-posted Fall 2017 TEDx talk, […]
Days in the Life: Video, Vignette Show the Work of a Successful Multi-Classroom Leader
When Opportunity Culture multi-classroom leaders describe their jobs—providing intensive, on-the-job coaching, support for planning, and data analysis leadership to a team of teachers while continuing to teach students, too—they hear the same question: How do you fit all that in? See the answer in a new video and vignette from Public Impact: Days in the […]
Opportunity Culture Voices: From Action Plan to Teacher of the Year — in One Year
This column is by Stacie Bunn and was published on EdNC.org, November 9, 2017 Editor’s Note: Stacie Bunn is an Opportunity Culture Fellow. Learn more about the Opportunity Culture initiative here. In 2012, after 15 years of classroom experience and a year as an instructional coach, I became the multi-classroom leader (MCL) for science at […]
Opportunity Culture + Summit Learning: North Little Rock Pilots Statewide Plan
To kick off a statewide Arkansas initiative to reach all students with excellent teaching, North Little Rock Middle School will begin creating an Opportunity Culture for teachers and students this fall, using teams led by multi-classroom leaders—experienced, excellent teachers who are paid more to lead a team, and are held accountable for student outcomes, teacher […]
Opportunity Culture Voices: How My West Texas School Elevated Struggling Young Readers (and Their Teachers)
For years, my school, Washington Elementary in Big Spring, Texas, struggled to meet all our students’ literacy needs. We group students in tiers, as in the “Response to Intervention” model, but each year we were still left with extremely large groups in Tier II and Tier III — struggling students and chronically struggling students. Each […]
Advanced Teaching Roles: Guideposts for Excellence at Scale
For the growing number of Opportunity Culture schools—and schools using accountable teacher leadership and other advanced teaching roles—Public Impact provides a new suite of tools. They guide districts and schools to achieve excellence in teaching and learning with these roles, like the very best Opportunity Culture schools nationally. The tools are based on four years […]