Turning Around Troubled Schools

What this article didn't tell everyone is that not all AUSL schools have good teacher retention. One in particular is using the mask of 'education reform' to instead teach to the test. I taught for one year at that particular AUSL school and will be the first to tell anyone that before accolades are given to this organization, some of its schools need new leadership. If teachers can't be retained because of top-bottom micromanagement and tactless leadership, then how is that benefiting urban students? This article does a great job of highlighting what it is that urban students so desperately need, however I am not convinced that wearing teachers out over student test scores--such as one unnamed AUSL school does--is the answer to urban educational problems. (by the way-not all 'mentor' teachers are actually veteran teachers).

former AUSL teacher of IL 7:24PM August 21, 2009

I am a teacher who teachers at an at-risk school. Our school is successful, because we have "strong" leadership in the building. The teacher's strengths are used to get things done efficently and effectively. We have team meetings that support the teachers and students efforts. There is a consistent learning environment that has been estabhished throughout the school. Every child and parent understands the expectations and consequences of our school's behavioral and learning expectations. We collobrate to look at our assessment data and use well researched theories to plan out ways to help our students increase achievement. We reach out to our parents and develop good trusting relationships. Most students want to learn, but haven't been taught the skills to be successful.

I believe a successful school begins with a strong principal. Principals,too need to be monitored by their bosses. Principals should be walking around their buildings monitoring their teachers. Making sure that the highest quality of teaching and learning is taking place. There are many schools operating with great teachers, but led by inept principals. Look at the "whole" picture, before yanking around good teachers and principals out of their positions.

Some thoughts to share of MI 8:05PM June 29, 2009

I completely agree with many of the comments fellow teachers have expressed about the problem with lazy students and not teachers. The gap between hard working students and lazy students is becoming ludicrous.

We had a girl who lived directly across the street from her elementary school and still missed 38 days by the 100th day of school. When we tried to counsel one parent about her unruly child, she showed up to the conference 1 hour late and drunk at 9:30 in the morning. I can give tests out to students and have the top score at 97% and the bottom score at 10%. Any exams or assignments which test classic pieces of literature have to be checked against sparknotes or cliffnotes. Nearly 80% of students have admitted to cheating at least once, and most of them see nothing wrong with cheating.

I do want accountability for teachers, but anyone who spends a few hours in any classroom will know the truth. The problem in education rests with lazy, apathetic, disruptive, and cheating students, and parents who do not parent their children. This problem is nationwide, and even major philanthropists are beginning to notice. Bill Cosby saw the problem with parents who buy $150 sneakers but don't have encylcopedias or school supplies at home. Bill Gates told students at his magnet schools that real world bosses are much tougher than teachers. And Oprah Winfrey opened her school in South Africa because she saw first hand how unappreciative and unmotivated American students are to their foreign counterparts.

Jeremy Kasperson of ND 3:32PM June 15, 2009

I left teaching because I felt the the way the educational system was going and the way society in the United States regarded the educational system and their teachers with blame, it was not going in the right direction. I received my MBA and currently conduct Corporate Training (Adult Education). Obviously, the pay is about double. I've also been coaching basketball at a youth organization for teens during the past 14 years and really have become a big-brother to many of them and given them direction where parenting was lacking...

Have you ever been a teacher? Have you ever tought in a school lately?

I wish every single American Mom and Dad could be a teacher for atleast one year. See how it is to actually teach a class where students don't behave and parents aren't on your side and at the same time your trying to teach them why we fought the British in the Revolutionary War when all they care about is their I-POD, cellular phone, and what Kim Kardashian or Tila Tequila is going to do tonight... IT's in our society... We need to flush it away and we need parents to take charge...

Think4Yurself of CA 12:12PM June 09, 2009