Louisiana Turnaround: Year One
If you're a regular reader of Teacher in a Strange Land, you know I've been closely following a turnaround school in Louisiana this year. I had the rich experience of doing professional development work with the staff--at the very beginning, when a potent stew of wariness and possibility filled the room, and a midpoint workshop where trust had taken root and teachers were sharing their beliefs about good teaching, even if it wasn't the party line. I had dinner with some of them, heard some heartbreaking tales about their students--and even got a fuming e-mail from one, who thought I was dismissive of Teach for America corps members who leave "failing" schools in Louisiana to capitalize on their two years' of teaching expertise in ed- policy world.
I also got some irate e-mails from the other side--progressive educators who loathe all four highly prescriptive Race to the Top options for low-performing schools: turnaround, transformation, restart and closure. Writing
I also got some irate e-mails from the other side--progressive educators who loathe all four highly prescriptive Race to the Top options for low-performing schools: turnaround, transformation, restart and closure. Writing