The DPCC and its members have been
regular challengers of the
district and continue to criticize
school leaders for their response to a complaint the group filed with the Office of Civil Rights.
Ongoing professional learning includes: a three - day intensive summer training followed by weekly meetings with a
school - based T3 coach;
regular teacher -
leader cohort meetings and professional learning for teacher -
leaders across the
district or region; an annual conference; participation in an online collaboration platform.
The TAP System for Teacher and Student Advancement is implemented in
school districts across the country, affecting approximately 15,000 teachers and 200,000 students.46 With support from the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching,
school districts create multiple career paths for teachers, including career, mentor, and master teacher.47 Teacher
leaders participate in
school leadership teams with administrators, provide colleagues with
regular professional learning opportunities and individualized coaching, observe and provide feedback for instructional improvement, and are compensated for these additional responsibilities.48 Trained teacher
leaders in
schools using the TAP System have demonstrated an ability to evaluate classroom instruction with accuracy and consistency, and their observations are closely aligned to student learning gains in classrooms.49 According to Lori Johnson, a participating TAP master teacher in Phoenix, «It was the best decision I ever made professionally.
Our other
regular feature, Leading News, provides snapshots of critical news and reports on
school leadership, with this issue's selections responding to
district and state
leaders» requests for more information on ESSA implementation.