Sunday | June 3, 2007

This is the first in a series of two-day seminars. One of this event's major themes was teacher assignment and teaching quality as they relate to educational reform, but discussions also touched on such discrete areas as transfer policies, teacher turnover, tenure and dismissal, and principal discretion in staff assignment. A significant piece of the program was design to address research – both good and bad – on the impact of unions and the impact of teaching.

Welcome

Ed McElroy, President, American Federation of Teachers and Albert Shanker Institute

Why Teachers and Education Need a Union Voice

Diane Ravitch, Research Professor of Education, New York University; Member, Albert Shanker Institute Board of Directors

The Union’s Role in Ensuring That Teaching Quality Matches Student Needs

Part I. What Does the Research Say About Teaching Quality?

Suzanne Wilson, Chair, Department of Teacher Education, and Director, Center for the Scholarship of Teaching, Michigan State University

Part II. Staffing for Extra Need — Hard-to-Staff Schools and Positions — Union Policies, Union Effects

Howard Nelson, Senior Associate Director, Office of the President, American Federation of Teachers

Katherine Strunk, Assistant Professor of Education Policy, University of California, Davis

  • What does the research say is needed?
  • What do unions and administrations actually say and do?
  • What does the research suggest that unions and administrators might do differently?

PART III. Promoting and Recognizing Teacher Excellence: Pay for Performance, Mentoring and Induction, Peer Review and Intervention, Providing Quality Curriculum and Aligned Professional Development

Susan Moore Johnson, Carl H. Pforzheimer, Jr. Professor of Teaching and Learning, Harvard University; Member, Albert Shanker Institute Board of Directors

Fran Lawrence, President, Toledo Federation of Teachers and Chair, AFT PreK-12 Program and Policy Council

David K. Cohen, John Dewey Collegiate Professor of Education and Walter H. Annenberg Professor of Education Policy, University of Michigan; Member, Albert Shanker Institute Board of Directors

  • What does the research say is needed?
  • What do unions and administrations actually say and do?
  • What does the research suggest that unions and administrators might do differently?

Working on Partnerships

Part I. From Where the Superintendent Sits

Kathleen Cashin, Superintendent, Region 5, New York City Public Schools
Rudy Crew, Superintendent, Miami-Dade County Public Schools
Nanciann Gatta, Assistant Superintendent, Niles Township High School District
Gary Smuts, Superintendent, ABC Unified School District

 

Moderator: Barbara Byrd Bennett, Executive in Residence, Cleveland State University; Member, Albert Shanker Institute Board of Directors

Part II: From Where the Local President Sits

Karen Aronowitz, President, United Teachers of Dade
Dan Montgomery, President, North Suburban Teachers Union
Laura Rico, President, ABC Federation of Teachers
Randi Weingarten, President, United Federation of Teachers

 

Moderator: Toni Cortese, AFT Executive Vice President; Member, Albert Shanker Institute Board of Directors

Materials