Excellent Leaders and Teachers
Most successful students can share a story of that one teacher or school administrator that had a tremendous impact on their high school experience—someone who took a special interest in them personally, excited their imagination, and helped them overcome obstacles. We celebrate such leaders for the difference they make in the lives of countless young people, and ultimately for their contributions to the success of the nation as a whole.
But stories like these should not be limited to a handful of teachers, principals, or other administrators in a school or district. Instead, every student should benefit from contact with the highest caliber, most effective staff. Schools designated as needing improvement are especially in need of strong and effective leaders.
Policy Recommendations
To provide all students with the excellent leaders and teachers they need to succeed, the Campaign for High School Equity recommends:
- providing higher pay and other incentives, such as home-buying programs or tax credits, to attract highly effective school leaders and teachers to serve in high-need middle and high schools;
- establishing incentives for leaders and teachers whose students and schools show meaningful improvement in academic achievement and other outcomes;
- enabling school leaders and teachers working in high-need schools to teach effectively, as well as to understand students’ school, family, and community through training, effective orientation and mentoring programs, and other professional development opportunities;
- supporting principal and teacher recruitment and preparation that diversify the nation’s principal and teacher pool, integrate culturally competent school and classroom instructional and management techniques, and provide additional financial assistance to teacher candidates;
- developing and supporting education centers of excellence at minority-serving institutions;
- promoting the development of principals and teachers from the community by creating a pipeline that draws from sources such as teacher aides and existing high school students, and by recruiting highly qualified traditional and nontraditional professionals; and
- developing standards for managing diversity in the school context and requiring quality diversity management training and certification as a standard part of principal and teacher training.
Read other priorities:
- All Students Proficient and Prepared for College and Work
- High Schools That are Accountable for Student Success
- A Redesigned American High School
- Excellent Leaders and Teachers
- Community Investment in Student Success
- Equitable Learning Conditions
- Common Core State Standards
- Expanded Learning Opportunities
- Effective Teaching