Defining Effectiveness and Talent in an Educator
“Attracting and keeping great teachers and leaders in America’s classrooms” is number two on the fact sheet that was presented to the nation by the White House in 2009. To accomplish this “revising teacher evaluation, compensation, and retention policies to encourage and reward effectiveness; and working to ensure that our most talented teachers are placed in the schools and subjects where they are needed the most” is suggested. The primary way to revise teacher compensation and encourage and reward effectiveness has been what is referred to as “Pay for Performance” meaning that teachers will be paid based on the number of students that pass the state standardized test (CRCT).
When I think of the effective colleagues I have the privilege to work with each day, CRCT scores rarely cross my mind and if they do it is impart that we have been conditioned to think that scores define a teacher or a student. I think of the teacher that stayed late every afternoon to read with one of her first grade students. He could read Dr. Suess independently at the end of the year when he could not recognize letters at the beginning of that year. I think of the teacher that stood by one of her second graders when he lost his mother and then by a third grader when he lost his father. Both of these students found a safe place in her classroom, a place that they could grieve and be loved despite the harsh reality of the world around them. They are healthy and good natured boys when they could have easily shut down after such tragedy. I think of teachers that work their fingers to the bone in an effort to have special education students experience a small victory. I think of teachers that push gifted students to be deeper thinkers and accomplish even more than they thought they could. I think of art teachers and music teachers that see a spark of creativity in students that struggle in academics. These teachers organize activities that cultivate that spark into a blaze of hope and inspiration.
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