With the start of a new school year imminent, Hillsborough County is now geared for year one of its $200-million partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. One that will hopefully kick start the process of yielding ever better, more accountable, properly rewarded teachers — the key ingredient in the learning process. To be sure, there’s no lack of assessment and accountability tools, nor — after a deliberative, workshop-dominated selection process — a dearth of assessors.
And yet.
That’s a lot of money — that needs to be matched — that might possibly be better utilized in recruitment and incentives.
I wish I disagreed with most research and evidence that indicates that the really good teachers — the kind we all want our own kids to be exposed to — are born, not made. But mentors, it should be acknowledged, can help. They can help the good to get better. But they can’t help the bad to become good.
As a former teacher, I’ve seen it. Students, involved parents, fellow teachers, coaches, police resource officers, guidance counselors, librarians, administrators and probably school bus drivers and cafeteria personnel can all tell you who the good teachers are. It has little or nothing to do with degrees, National Board certification, resumes, seniority or even sample lessons.
But it’s that obvious. It’s that acknowledged. The best teachers flat out know their stuff. They didn’t do better in, say, educational psychology than the subject they actually teach. And they’re tough; they’re demanding; they’re fair; they’re consistent; they’re common sensical; they’re funny; and they’re creative, spontaneous and relevant without being gimmicky. They can use pop culture without pandering to it. They’re also respected — because they’ve earned it.
Dedication is a given. Their reputations precede them. Class to class. Year to year. A self-perpetuating cycle of excellence.
Everybody also knows who’s ineffective because they’re boring and discipline-challenged. They know who’s frazzled and hopes to escape to counseling or administration or Mary Kay. They know who tenure protects and insulates from accountability and having to compete in the private sector.
I trust the county’s Gates partnership will validate these real-world verities, ultimately puncture the cocoon of tenure for slackers and maybe even get creative in diverting funds to help recruit the best and brightest, where the real payoff will be.