Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Louisiana Educator: A Day In the Field

Louisiana Educator: A Day In the Field:


A Day In the Field

I spent a whole day yesterday visiting schools and talking to principals and teachers. I was able to visit the high poverty school featured recently in the national blog Teacher in a Strange Land. What a treat!

Last year this school was considered a failing school and was close to being taken over by the state. Most children were performing as very low levels and some suffered from neglect, abuse and handicaps. All the students are high poverty.

Instead of being taken over, the school was allowed to reorganize this school year. A new principal who is a National Board Certified Teacher was able to hand pick her staff which is now made up of seasoned Board Certified Teachers, some teachers from the previous year, and new teachers including a few TFA teachers. Here are my impressions based on my short visit.

There is a tremendous team spirit at the school with the principal as the undisputed leader. Everywhere you go