October 14, Cara Fitzpatrick, Michael LaForgia. and Adam Playford. Tampa Bay Times. 490 First Avenue South. St. Petersburg, FL 33701

Transcription

1 Octber 14, 2015 Cara Fitzpatrick, Michael LaFrgia and Adam Playfrd Tampa Bay Times 490 First Avenue Suth St. Petersburg, FL Cara, Michael and Adam, In fllw up t ur phne call, this letter prvides infrmatin n current and upcming effrts t imprve recruitment and retentin f highly qualified teachers. There are measures specific t the Scale Up fr Success schls and measures applicable t all schls. Yu will find additinal details n measures yu mentined as being part f yur article, and there are thers yu may nt knw abut. Please use this infrmatin t prvide readers a full cntext f 1

2 current effrts. We have included additinal infrmatin regarding the IB supplement t demnstrate it is nt cmparable t a recruitment/retentin bnus in high pverty schls. Teachers-In-Training - Psitins have been psted and hiring will ccur as sn as pssible fr tw new psitins at each f the five Scale Up fr Success schls. Each schl will have tw fully certified teachers n staff full time t teach side-by-side with current classrm teachers. One teacher will be fr K-2 and the ther will be fr 3-5. The Teachers-In-Training will learn the way f wrk in each schl, becme part f the schl cmmunity and prvide additinal instructinal supprt t classrm teachers. If a vacancy ccurs, they will be hired fr that vacancy t ensure a seamless transitin with n lss f instructinal time fr students. When a Teacher-in-Training fills a vacancy, their psitin will immediately be filled with anther individual t always ensure a fully staffed schl. Federal grant t reduce arts teacher turnver As f the schl year, a fur-year grant-funded prject is prviding prfessinal develpment fr 25 music and art teachers in 10 high pverty schls t reduce arts teacher turnver and imprve student achievement. The five Scale Up fr Success schls are amng the 10 schls in the prject. Art and music teachers underwent training fr the prject in July, and it was intrduced in the schl setting at the beginning f the schl year. The prject has included: a threeday summer institute fr teachers, three visits t each teacher by an assigned mentr fr bservatin/feedback and ne prfessinal develpment sessin. Three mre prfessinal develpment sessins will be held this schl year, and each teacher will have at least eight mre mentr visits alng with phne/ cntact with mentrs. Participating teachers, mentrs and the grant manager will bserve master teachers in the classrm twice a year, fcusing n student engagement and curriculum delivery. Participating schls: Azalea Middle, Bear Creek Elementary, Campbell Park Elementary, Fairmunt Park Elementary, Jhn Hpkins Middle, Lakewd Elementary, Maxim Elementary, Melrse Elementary, Tyrne Middle, and Wdlawn Elementary. The grant amunt is $977,000. 2

3 Interviewing imprvements Principals at the five schls have received additinal training in interviewing and hiring, and beginning this schl year, the Scale Up fr Success schls will implement the use f Interview Teams fr filling teacher vacancies. While all schls are highly encuraged t get input frm current staff when filling vacancies, the structured use f Interview Teams will be new fr these schls. Interview Teams will be made up f schl and district persnnel. The use f Interview Teams will ensure a higher level f scrutiny in selecting the best candidates fr their schls. Preferential hiring Principals at the Scale Up fr Success schls have several preferential hiring ptins available t them: Hire ahead f all ther schls in the district. Review/cntact screened candidates prir t the annual jb fair. N bligatin t hire invluntary transfers. Ability t hire teachers frm ther schls in the district at any time during the schl year. TNTP As yu are aware, Pinellas Cunty Schls partnered with TNTP t prvide mre resurces and supprt t all teachers at the five Scale Up fr Success schls. They wrk with schl districts and states acrss the cuntry t grw great teachers and principals, and build systems that priritize effective teaching in every classrm. The prgram began in Pinellas at Campbell Park Elementary during the schl year and was expanded t include all five schls in TNTP wrks with schls t increase student achievement by wrking with leaders and teachers t create high-functining learning envirnments by building upn the schl s strengths t meet student needs. Since the prgram began, TNTP has led fcus grups and cnducted classrm bservatins t prvide principals and district leaders with infrmatin t help develp the unique areas f fcus fr each schl. TNTP will cntinue t wrk with principals and their leadership teams t finalize and implement strategies and supprts t imprve student utcmes. 3

4 New sftware fr 2016 hiring seasn Human Resurces plans t implement SearchSft t imprve hiring prcesses at all schls. With the sftware, principals will receive lists f candidates that have cmplete applicatins n file and have met all the Flrida Department f Educatin certificatin requirements. This will streamline the hiring prcess and prevent the pssibility f principals interviewing candidates nt ready t be hired as full time teachers. New apprach t annual jb fair Fr the past three years, the district has held its jb fair earlier in the hiring seasn t ensure access t the best new teacher candidates, especially spring cllege graduates. Revamped apprach t rientatin/mentring The Prfessinal Develpment department has develped and implemented an imprved summer rientatin fr new teachers (Embrace Pinellas), and revised the mentring prgram fr new teachers. New trainings fr mentrs began in the summer, and a new handbk was prepared t help supprt the mentr/mentee relatinship. IB Supplement As negtiated with PCTA, IB teachers receive a supplement (14% f annual salary) fr wrking n activities ther than planning during their planning time. It is the same supplement paid t secndary teachers wh teach during their planning perid. It shuld nt be cnfused r cmpared with a bnus meant t recruit and retain teachers in high pverty schls. The district pays negtiated supplements fr additinal wrk t varius emplyee psitins, including band directrs, yearbk advisrs, athletic caches, etc. Additinal pints t cnsider: Yu plan t pint ut the use f substitutes that did nt earn teacher certificatins r were nn-renewed fr teaching psitins. 4

5 Pinellas requires substitutes t have Assciate f Arts degrees r 60 semester hurs. If a substitute was previusly a teacher, they have higher qualificatins with a bachelr s degree. While there may be substitutes that were nt able t pass the teacher certificatin exam, this des nt disqualify them frm being substitutes. Teachers nn-renewed fr a teaching psitin are still eligible fr substitute teacher psitins. They wuld likely have higher qualificatins than thse required fr substitute psitins. In sme cases, teacher turnver was intentinal in the district s effrts t build quality instructinal staffs in these schls. This was the case with the turnarund plans which included having staff members reapply fr psitins. Regards, Melanie Marquez Parra Directr, Strategic Cmmunicatins Pinellas Cunty Schls 5