Duncan Praises New York’s Race to the Top Plan
Secretary Duncan speaks at a press confernce with New York Gov. David Paterson and other state leaders.
At the first stop on the second half of the “Courage in the Classroom” tour, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan praised New York leaders for state’s remarkably bold vision for reforming schools.
New York was one of 10 winners in the second phase of the Race to the Top program. Peer reviewers gave the state the second highest score in the competition.
Secretary Duncan made the comments at a press conference led by Gov. David Paterson and joined by leaders from across the state.
New York’s Mission: Improving Teacher Effectiveness
Secretary Duncan listens to NYSUT members discuss the union’s work to improve teacher effectiveness.
Teacher effectiveness is the most important factor in student success – and educators and state leaders are working together to improve the quality of teachers in New York.
On today’s second stop on the “Courage in the Classroom” bus tour, Secretary Duncan visited the headquarters of New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the state’s teacher union, to hear about how districts and teachers building models to support teacher development and improve teacher evaluation.
“The common goal that we all have is that every child has an effective teacher,” NYSUT President Richard Iannuzzi told the secretary, state officials, and union leaders at the event.
Members of NYSUT in six New York cities are working collaboratively with district leaders to create comprehensive models to improve the effectiveness of teachers in the classroom. The work is intended to help “strong teachers get better and struggling teachers improve,” said Karen Rock, a special education teacher in Plattsburgh, which is participating in the effort.
The U.S. Department of Education recently named the teacher-development program a finalist for a grant from the Investing in Innovation fund. With New York’s grant under the Race to the Top program, the state will be creating a new teacher evaluation program.
“We’re investing in you because of your collective leadership, your collective courage, and your willingness to take on these tough issues,” Secretary Duncan told the group.