Long Beach (Oct 28-29, 2011) ~ There was a clearly positive and optimistic tone to the conversations as nearly one hundred participants from across the country (a mix of teacher union representatives and a significant number of guests from the district side of the table) convened to mark progress and share experiences in reshaping the education reform agenda from the ground up -- with a focus on collaboration and systemic change. 

Long Beach (Oct 26-27, 2011 ~ Labor-management teams from 8 districts participated in the CalTURN conference, continuing the theme of collaboration established at the spring meeting.  By comparison, this meeting limited the number of speakers and presentations in order to maximize time for teams to learn from each other and to modify/update their local action plans. 

Raleigh NC (Oct 15-16, 2011) ~ The MidAtlantic-Southeast TURN (MASE) attracted teacher and union leaders from North Carolina, Georgia and Maryland to learn together about a number of efforts aimed at improving teaching effectiveness and student learning. The meeting began with the big question, "Why Collaborate?"

West Cambridge, MA (Sept 23, 2011) ~ The title of this blog article is taken from a recently published study that provides fresh evidence about the effectiveness and efficacy of teacher peer assistance and review programs.  It is also describes the tone of the fall meeting of Northeast Region TURN, as 35 participants from 8 northeast states were updated on national policies, practices and research; and engaged in conversations with local leaders who are pushing the envolope in developing more rigorous and comprehensive teacher evalation systems.