Response: We Need "Fewer John Waynes & More John Deweys"
(This is Part One of a two-part series.)
Last week's question was:
How can teachers best relate to Superintendents -- and vice versa?
This is a question that I regularly wrestle with in our school district, and I assume many others around the country do as well.
Today's guest responses will be coming from the perpective of teachers -- shared by Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers; Dean Vogel, President of the California Teachers Association (Disclosure: I am a proud member of the CTA); and Barnett Berry of the Center For Teaching Quality (Disclosure: I am a member of the Center's Teacher Leaders Network). Part Two in this series will be sharing thoughts from three Superintendents, as well as from readers.
Response From Randi Weingarten
Randi Weingarten is President of the American Federation of Teachers:
Fewer John Waynes, More John Deweys
How can teachers and superintendents best relate to one another? We have to walk in each other's shoes. Simple to say--but unfortunately not so simple to do.
I've worked with a lot of superintendents--as a teacher, as a local union leader, and now as the national president of the American Federation of Teachers. The best relationships I've had were those built on mutual respect--sharing a common goal but understanding each other's roles and responsibilities in achieving it. Essentially, it's about doing everything in our power to make our