Teacher Quality Initiative

 

We have formed an alliance on the issue of teacher quality in the classroom with the primary goal to benefit all children in the Tacoma public school system.

 

We want to take advantage of a unique opportunity in the evolution of education. Every day brings more national media attention, commentary and movies about the immense challenges facing the education system. The heart of these conversations has a singular goal to promote higher achievement for every student and every school.

 

While some attempt simply to point to teachers or teacher unions as root causes of failure, we choose to focus on collaborative solutions. We understand the fundamental truth that success in our classrooms depends on quality teaching. We share that belief and a commitment to achieve the goal of quality teaching in every classroom. We also understand the challenges, sensitivities and debate around the issue of teacher quality.

 

In addition, the current labor agreement between Tacoma Public Schools and the TEA expires at the end of August 2011. While we soon will enter contract bargaining, we believe, the issues surrounding teacher quality need our attention now. Within that context, the school district and Tacoma Education Association have agreed to work together to identify and integrate best practices for teacher quality. We have agreed on a basic strategy independent of national debate, state legislation or outside solutions. Our agenda focuses on our mutual belief that our best solutions will come from enhancing Tacoma’s present system for selection, assignment and retention of excellent, creative teachers.

 

This alliance will address four fundamental topics:
• Professional practice, instruction and accountability
• Professional development and support
• Enhanced flexibility, creativity and innovation for schools and teachers
• Career ladders, compensation and incentives

 

The process will feature a series of steps. The first major step is a Listening Tour that launches Nov. 30 and runs through the end of January. The Listening Tour will include a series of forums – some with targeted stakeholder groups and some for the general public. We want to give interested people an opportunity to share their expertise, views and suggestions about how we can do better in Tacoma. Through moderated discussions at these forums, we will listen to our stakeholders, including students, teachers, parents, civic leaders and advocacy groups.

A second major step involves integrating best practices in the education industry within our local agreements. We already have begun reaching out to education practitioners and researchers around the country whose areas of study revolve around improving teacher quality in the classroom.

 

As superintendent and association president, we recognize the difficulty involved in changing decades of practice. But we both agree this is the most significant work we can do at this time in history. Ultimately, we ask for broad community support and understanding that our relationship with our teachers – and involving them in this change process – holds the key to our future success. Tacoma Public Schools and our community has a longstanding healthy and valued relationship with our teachers upon which we can generate more flexibility, innovation and respect that results in what all of us want – higher academic achievement for all Tacoma students.

 

Arthur O. Jarvis                                             J. Andy Coons     
Superintendent                                            President
Tacoma Public Schools                            Tacoma Education Association