School Improvement Plan Analysis (SIP)

Conflict Case Study: Retaining Teachers in High Poverty Schools

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Reflection:

Working in a Title I schol can be a struggle for teachers especially for teachers that lack expereince, which is the case in my school, Rogers Garden Elementary. 75% of my instructional staff are within their first 1-2 years of teaching, this presents a struggle.  When I reflect on my experience as a teacher, some of my greatest resources were the veteran teachers that I shared the hallway with.  When I think of the struggles that new teachers face, I can barely begin to grasp the struggles that they are faced with.  New teachers are just tryng to establish their classroom management procedures, they are developing their repretoire of resources that will be needed to teach the students that have some of the greatest academic needs.  Additionally, they are choosing to work in a school that is under state sanctions with Differentiated Accountability.  So, while they are developing as teachers, they are being scrutinized every step of the way but school-based administration, district level administration as well as state personnel. 

We do have support coaches in place to support the staff in almost all disciplines.  The coaching staff is stellar, the most solid I have ever seen.  Uniquely, they are skilled in their discipline but also well-skilled in the analysis and use of data to make instructional decisions. These coaches provide a great source of support for all learners (both students and staff.)  The coaches work to spend time with every teacher every day, but they are spread thin.  The needs of the teachers in our school are tremendous.  I believe it took me at least five years of teaching to become proficient in the area of Literacy instruction and even longer to become what I consider "good."

My opinion is that teaching is a job that sits at the heart of all others.  It is exhausting and emotionally "trying" at times and it is also the most rewarding adventure that one will ever take.  To impact the life of a child is the greatest gift of all and it is truly what I believe is a "calling" to serve.  
So when things get hard.  Stress gets high and frustration is rearing its ugly head ... we have to sit back and ask ourselves "why" we began doing this.  

The quote from a short YouTube movie entitled "How Great I Am" is ...
"Being perfect is not about the scoreboard out there. It's not about winning. It's about you and your relationship to your self and to your family and your friends.  Being perfect is about being able to look your friends in the eye and know that you didn't let them down because you told them the truth. And that truth is that you did everything you could do ...there wasn't one more thing you could have done. Can you live in that moment- as best you can with clear eyes and love in your heart- with joy in your heart? If you can do that [ladies and] gentlemen, then you are perfect."  

Be perfect ... Do EVERYTHING you can.  Keep your focus on the "work."  The important "work," which is making the difference in the life of a child.  My fellow learners ... "WE GOT THIS!!"  Our value is not measured by the district.  It is not measured by a state standardized test.  Our value is in our ability raise these children up to meet potential they never realized they had.  

These kids are great.  They can do anything.  ...and so can YOU!  Believe.  "Have high expectations ...no one rises to low ones." You inspire me.  

The above project outlines ways that we can build capacity and improve teacher retention.  The teachers get burnt out quickly.  What are we doing to act as a buffer for those "trying" times?