As another great school year has come to a close, we pause to reflect on the outstanding work of our educators, both inside and outside of the classroom.
As we work together to develop plans and systems to better inspire student learning and success, teachers truly are the ‘boots on the ground,’ putting in the extra hours and hard work to make a real impact on the lives of our students.
But as we ask and expect more from those dedicated professionals, we also want to involve them more in the decisions that affect both them and their students.
While our teachers have always had a voice, they’re now stepping up in new ways – taking control of their professional development opportunities, teaching strategies and growth opportunities for themselves and our students.
A recent U.S. Department of Education “Teach to Lead” grant led to the establishment of a new teacher-led professional development think tank comprised of more than 20 Hamilton County teachers. Those educators are changing the ways we develop teaching talent through their collective brainstorming, research and exploring new tactics for teacher development. Through our growing emphasis on teacher leadership and empowerment, it is only fitting that the upcoming Hamilton County Department of Education Engage conference is, for the first time, entirely teacher-led and teacher-organized. This two-day conference to be held in late July will encourage innovation and engagement in the classroom through seminars, engaging speakers and discussion.