As a former teacher, I’m all for what’s best for good teachers–from salary, benefits and working conditions to recognition. And I really like the fact that each year Hillsborough County honors one of its own as its “Teacher of the Year.” In an age when teaching is less than lionized as a profession, there’s never been more of a societal need for occasions and forums to recognize our best. And to remind our communities about what we value besides financial success and pop-culture icons.
But with 15,000 teachers in the district, the process of selecting the “best of the best” is certainly daunting. But it could be less so.
Note those seven recently named “Teacher of the Year” finalists: three from elementaries, Claywell, Lanier and Mitchell; two from middle schools, Williams and Young; and two from high schools, King and Spoto. Why not at least try, however imperfectly, to compare comparables? Why not three distinct TOTY awards that acknowledge the uniquely inherent differences of each level? Most notably secondary and elementary.
Why not grant that one is much more subject-driven? Why not concede the different skill sets necessary to effectively motivate young children, tweens and teens? Why not concede that it’s not fair to compare a really good second-grade teacher with a really good 12th-grade physics instructor? Any more than it’s reasonable to compare a really good seventh-grade math teacher with a really good high school band and orchestra director.
Of course, superior teachers–at any level–have certain constants in common. Discipline, dedication, creativity, spontaneity and sense of humor come readily to mind. They also earn respect—and get results. That’s a given.
It’s also a given that schools never have enough. But those they do have, they want to hang on to–and honor. As publicly–and hopefully as fairly–as possible.