Overview
Collaborative Teacher Development Initiative
In response to the growing need to make fundamental changes in the traditional high school, the Business Education Compact and a coalition of education and business partners have begun a five-year Oregon statewide initiative called the Collaborative Teacher Development Initiative.
Initiative Purpose
The purpose of the Initiative is to redesign teacher preparation and professional development programs to support the new roles, relationships and responsibilities needed to assure that high school graduates are prepared for college, work and citizenship. The goal is to focus on the most effective strategies of teaching so that students will achieve high standards and schools will achieve their performance goals
The Initiative is grounded in the belief that high quality teacher development is essential to assuring student success in Oregon high schools. It is based upon education research and recent Oregon state standards for education. It also enhances the efforts of partner organizations such as the Oregon Small Schools Initiative and the Chalkboard Project.
Global competitiveness, rapid advances in technology and other world changes amidst veteran classroom teachers retiring in record numbers have brought state and national attention to the need for making changes in the traditional high school.
Guiding Principles Commitment to the Following:
- Improving academic achievement for all students with the application of more effective teacher instruction models
- Supporting leadership and collaboration for continuous school improvement through changes in systems and learning culture
- Supporting core values for student success:
- Personalized, active and meaningful learning
- High academic expectations
- Learning for understanding and application
- Learning beyond the classroom
- Student-centered, standard-based teaching
- Culturally responsive and reciprocal
- Assisting teachers to redefine and develop new teaching roles for increasing academic rigor and relevancy
- Increasing teacher understanding of new methods to extend the high school classroom to take advantage of learning opportunities beyond the classroom
- Developing teacher coaching skills and strategies to promote personalization and more active involvement of students in their own learning
- Supporting efforts that develop outstanding teacher leaders and instructional coaches
- Collaborating with partner organizations that share common vision and principles
Teacher Development Models
Higher education and secondary education, as well as business and industry coalition partners will work together to develop and test professional development and preparation program models. These models will help both secondary teachers and administrators acquire additional knowledge and skills in instructional strategies, school culture and curriculum modifications to improve achievement of all students.