Great Districts for Great Teachers
COUNCIL ROCK SCHOOL DISTRICT EARNS “GREAT DISTRICT FOR GREAT TEACHERS” DESIGNATION AFTER EXTENSIVE EVALUATION
Washington, D.C.--The National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a national leader on teacher issues, has named Council Rock School District a winner in its Great Districts for Great Teachers initiative. Council Rock School District earned this honor after a rigorous analysis of over 50 district policies and district datapoints demonstrated that Council Rock School District is a leader in developing and caring for great teachers, so that they, in turn, can deliver great instruction to their students.
“Great Districts for Great Teachers is a celebration of great teaching,” said Kate Walsh, President of NCTQ. “We commend the hard, often politically challenging efforts by school districts who have managed to put together policies and practices that make them great places for great teachers to work.”
“We are honored that NCTQ selected us as one its Great Districts for Great Teachers,” said Superintendent Dr. Robert Fraser. “We are especially pleased that this award recognizes the tremendous work of our administrators to identify and support great teachers and of our great teachers themselves.”
NCTQ developed the criteria for this honor based on its experience stretching over a decade analyzing district human capital policies and practices as well as input from teachers and other education leaders. Great Districts for Great Teachers winners excel on five criteria that research indicate are related to effective teaching -- compensation, professional support, effective management and operations, career and leadership opportunities, and support services for students.
Specifically, Council Rock School District excels at providing:
- Professional development and coaching that are tailored to individual teachers’ needs.
- Substantial induction and ongoing mentoring and support for new teachers.
- Opportunities for teachers to participate in district decision making, from serving on hiring committees to strategic planning and curriculum development.
- Competitive salaries that provide teachers a good standard of living.
“Council Rock is a fabulous place for a teacher to land,” said one Council Rock School District teacher. “You become part of a family when you work in Council Rock. The community is involved and supportive of our work. The administrative team is encouraging and inspiring. As a matter of fact, the principals with whom I've worked rank among my favorite people in the district. Teachers are genuine in their desire to help students reach their potential. We are all united in our resolve to improve the lives of our students--and we work hard in pursuit of excellence, every single day.”
The 2018-2019 Great Districts for Great Teachers initiative included the review of eight large school districts across Pennsylvania. Of these eight, only Council Rock School District was named a winner, while Coatesville Area School District and the School District of Philadelphia have been awarded Honorable Mention status. All participating districts received customized analysis and recommendations on their teacher policies.
Previous Great Districts for Great Teachers winners include Boston Public Schools, Broward County School District (Florida), Denver Public Schools, District of Columbia Public Schools, Gwinnett County Public Schools (Georgia), New York City Public Schools, Pinellas County School District (Florida), and Pittsburgh Public Schools. Previous districts awarded Honorable Mention status include Duval County Public Schools (Florida), Indianapolis Public Schools, Newark Public Schools, and the School District of Osceola County (Florida).
More details about the program can be found at http://www.greatdistricts.org.