Jody, I am teaching in Mason County where we just got a new superintendent who is micromanaging staff. We are getting emails from our principals several times a week informing us that we must use prescribed teaching methods, and we must document in lesson plans. We have frequent walkthroughs, including people from central office. Today, my colleague had a post walkthrough conference after 1 of 3 “model school consultants” scored her lesson yesterday. My friend was devastated because she received low marks on everything. Among other items, her rigor was criticized, even though it was an introductory lesson. I am working harder than I ever have in my 40+ years of teaching, and though I have yet to receive a low observation, I feel the dread of it acutely. What can we teachers do?
One thing that can help is to send a letter to your superintendent and school board -- get as many teacher signatures on it as you can. Feel free to share my article with them in the letter. And be sure to include the astonishing national figures on the teacher shortage; the future is bleak concerning the number of people entering the teaching field, so administrators need to reverse course and do everything they can to keep teachers in the field, not drive them out! Best wishes!
Jody, I am teaching in Mason County where we just got a new superintendent who is micromanaging staff. We are getting emails from our principals several times a week informing us that we must use prescribed teaching methods, and we must document in lesson plans. We have frequent walkthroughs, including people from central office. Today, my colleague had a post walkthrough conference after 1 of 3 “model school consultants” scored her lesson yesterday. My friend was devastated because she received low marks on everything. Among other items, her rigor was criticized, even though it was an introductory lesson. I am working harder than I ever have in my 40+ years of teaching, and though I have yet to receive a low observation, I feel the dread of it acutely. What can we teachers do?
One thing that can help is to send a letter to your superintendent and school board -- get as many teacher signatures on it as you can. Feel free to share my article with them in the letter. And be sure to include the astonishing national figures on the teacher shortage; the future is bleak concerning the number of people entering the teaching field, so administrators need to reverse course and do everything they can to keep teachers in the field, not drive them out! Best wishes!