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Overview of Potential Future P-16 Partnership Initiatives to Strengthen Teacher Effectiveness. MINNESOTA P-16 EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP January 28, 2009. Importance of Teacher Effectiveness. The teacher is the single most influential factor in student learning
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Overview of Potential Future P-16 Partnership Initiatives to Strengthen Teacher Effectiveness MINNESOTA P-16 EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP January 28, 2009
Importance of Teacher Effectiveness • The teacher is the single most influential factor in student learning • Students whose teachers know their content and how to teach it well achieve substantially more • Effects of a very good teacher last beyond the one year
Focus on Four Critical Factors in the Teacher Effectiveness Continuum Teacher preparation Induction Professional development School leadership
Teacher Preparation • Collaborative efforts to recruit teacher candidates of promise • School-based preparation that embeds teacher preparation and continuous professional development in the school setting • Formal classes and clinical experiences on-site that connect to the learning needs of P-12 students in the school • Focus on the needs of today’s schools • Emphasize skills for data collection, analysis, and use in targeting student’s instructional needs
Induction • Comprehensive induction systems that provide early career development for beginning teachers • Pattern of career-focused professional learning that is collegial, supportive, and non-evaluative • Including but not limited to mentoring • Results: • Increased retention of early career teachers • Improved teaching practices
Professional Development • Access to sustained professional development in core areas such as reading for all teachers • Development of cultural competence for all school staff • Organization of school schedules for collaboration with colleagues to focus on student problems, examine data, build curriculum, and organize instruction • Continued professional development to promote higher level thinking and depth of curriculum
School Leadership • Second only to classroom instruction among all school-related factors that contribute to student learning • Successful leadership practices: setting directions, developing people, and redesigning the organization • School climate where all learners and families are valued, including those from various racial, language, and income groups • Ensuring alignment among goals, programs, policies and professional development
Further considerations • Necessary to focus on Minnesota context • Continuing need for research • Opportunity for collaboration among organizations that contribute to the success of P-12 learners Minnesota P-16 Education Partnership has had an interest in teacher effectiveness since its founding