I’ve really been swamped of late, but wanted to bring your attention to a handful of great teacher stories that you should be sure to check out this weekend if you haven’t seen them already.
• The AFT announces its first grants under its $3.3. million Innovation Fund, including efforts to expand peer-assistance and -review programs, overhaul evaluation systems, create innovative contracts a la Green Dot, and even incorporate student achievement in compensation systems.
• Harvard University Teacher expert Susan Moore Johnson and a colleague put forth a new pay model, similar to the Teacher Advancement Program but with a few additional components. (Colleague Debra Viadero has extensive story on this that will be up on edweek.org. soon.)
• The Washington Teachers’ Union sues to prevent D.C. Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s move to lay off 388 employees, including over 200 teachers; both students and teachers protest. The union alleges that Rhee hired a bunch of new teachers to circumvent the contract language and create the need for a “reduction in force,” which doesn’t proceed strictly by seniority; it says veterans were disproportionately targeted.