Responding to the dismal state test results, Angella Dunston, director of the N.C. Education and Law Project with the N.C. Justice Center, hit the nail on the head. She said that the “state needs to do more to get qualified teachers into every classroom and effective leaders at every school.”
She’s absolutely right.
I have a three step program to get qualified teachers into every classroom and effective leaders at every school.
1. Eliminate certification barriers that keep qualified but uncertified professionals out of the profession.
2. Pay professionals in high demand fields like math, science, and special education more money. Moreover, offer incentive and performance bonuses to deserving teachers and administrators.
3. Significantly reduce the bureaucratic burden on teachers. Let them focus on improving instruction, not filling out paperwork and attending meetings.