TURN Exchange: Turn Blog

TURN Exchange: Turn Blog http://turnexchange.net/blog.html CEC Awarded $2 Million to Increase Teacher Leadership in School Improvement <a href="http://cecillinois.org/" target="_blank"><img style="float: left; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="/blog/cec-awarded-2-million-to-increase.attachment/cec-5893/CEC.png" alt="" width="48" height="89" /></a>Lombard, Illinois (PRWEB) January 17, 2012 -- <a href="http://cecillinois.org/" target="_blank">The Consortium for Educational Change</a> today announced $2 million in support of the Teacher Union Reform Network (TURN), a national network of American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association union locals. CEC received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for this work.  http://turnexchange.net/blog/cec-awarded-2-million-to-increase.html Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:36:44 GMT A Laser-Like Focus on Teaching Effectiveness <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="/blog/a-laser-like-focus-on-teaching.attachment/gl-turn-3603/GL%20TURN%20achievement.jpg" alt="" width="100" height="99" />Downers Grove, IL (Nov 3-4, 2011) ~ The fall meeting of Great Lakes continued the laser-like focus on "Multiple Measures to Improve Teaching Effectiveness and Student Learning"attracting 200+ union, school and district leaders to the two-day event.  http://turnexchange.net/blog/a-laser-like-focus-on-teaching.html Fri, 04 Nov 2011 17:25:57 GMT SW TURN Reframes the Conversation <img style="float: left;" src="/blog/sw-turn-reframes-the.attachment/sw-turn-3366/SW%20TURN%20lessons.png" alt="" width="120" height="74" />Long Beach (Oct 29-30, 2011) ~ Local leaders from five states (Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Texas) continued focus on the Results for Students Frame that has been developed over the past few months by Southwest TURN. http://turnexchange.net/blog/sw-turn-reframes-the.html Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:33:04 GMT TURNing Lemons Into Lemonade <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="/blog/turning-lemons-into.attachment/rick-on-harmonica-169/rick-on-harmonica.jpg" alt="" width="63" height="128" />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.  http://turnexchange.net/blog/turning-lemons-into.html Sun, 30 Oct 2011 19:29:57 GMT Collaboration, Transparency & Capacity-Building <img style="float: left; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="/blog/collaboration-transparency-.attachment/tom-7795/tom.jpg" alt="" width="90" height="86" />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.  http://turnexchange.net/blog/collaboration-transparency-.html Sun, 30 Oct 2011 16:36:45 GMT Learning from Peers I came away with a different perspective on our NC Teaching Conditions Survey.  I'm interested in seeing our county data in the way that Eric showed us could be displayed to compare school perceptions.  It appears to be a tool for exploring issues important to teaching and learning rather than a mere evaluation piece for principals.  I hope to have 100% participation at my school site this year.   http://turnexchange.net/blog/the-why-what-and-how-of/learning-from.html Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:17:37 GMT MASE TURN What an amazing professional development for our teacher's unions. I will help my union to make a more concerted effort to collaborate with school officials, with the inclusion of connecting student performance, to teacher effectiveness, to working conditions.  I would also like to start our conversations from an interest based approach.   http://turnexchange.net/blog/the-why-what-and-how-of/mase.html Fri, 21 Oct 2011 02:24:24 GMT Notes on NE TURN Mtg_Sep 23, 2011 What a terrific meeting.  Below are a few comments on 2 presentations as well as aa few recommendations. PRESENTATION #1 - The Changing Landscape of Public Education, by W. Patrick Dolan: Pat presented an overview of public education that suggested the pace of reform far exceeds the capacity of ED, state DOEs, local LEAs, unions, etc..  And not only are policy decisions being made at the apex of a power/influence triangle, where Pat places ED, but those policy decisions are directed at the bottom of the power/influence triangle, i.e. classrooms, where teachers have little, if any, power/influence.  PRESENTATION #2 - Waiver review and national union responses, by Jo Anderson: Jo gave a terrific overview/summary of ED's position on NCLB waivers.  His clear explanations elevated the group's understandings about the waivers.  For example, Jo's outline of a graduated timeline for state's alignment to waiver agreements provided context to Pat's sense of urgency.  Jo's real-time quotations of AFT's and NEA's responses to the waivers was well-timed. FOR CONSIDERATION: 1)  Is there a place to insert the "purpose" of public education along side Pat Dolan's "structure" and "function?"  Would there be any difference in how we imagine and frame policy if we were to consider the purpose of [public] education rather than only the structure and function? 2)  Revisit the role of teachers in "Teachers" Union Reform Network.  Of 34 participants, only 5 were practicing classroom teachers.  4 of those are or have been Teacher Ambassador Fellows with ED.  3 of those were participating on behalf of ED.  As an extension of the TURN's emphasis on the professionalization of teachers, what can be done to steward more teacher involvement in TURN? Specific suggestions may include: a) Each union attending TURN should bring at least one teacher to the next meeting (Feb 3, 2012 in Boston). b) Unions should work with districts to ensure that teachers take advantage of release/study* time for this type of professional development.  By involving teachers in TURN-type conferences, the teaching profession (and unions) will build capacity. c) Create "teacher research" positions within each school where .25 to .5 of a teacher's contract is bought out by the district, union or 3rd party so that teacher have the time to study policy and participate in and/or influence decision-making. d)  Sustain a professional development/PLC model for union leaders.  If TURN can serve as an opportunity for union leaders to collaborate and support each other, then terrific.  Maybe break-out sessions (for a larger group) would help more people find what they are looking for.  On the other hand, it would be terrific for union leaders and classroom teachers to spend more time with each other, so why separate? http://turnexchange.net/blog/ne-turn---serious-about-teacher/notes-on-ne-turn-mtg_sep-23.html Tue, 18 Oct 2011 01:00:18 GMT Please tell us more I got a brief glimpse of the meeting via Skype.  They patched me in to talk about TURNexchange.Net and how it is designed to support the work of TURN regions.  Of course, one of the things we discussed was the blog and how one goes about posting comments. If you were a participant, we are asking you to post a take-away, i.e. something you learned and how you will apply it to your work as a local leader.   Gary http://turnexchange.net/blog/the-why-what-and-how-of/please-tell-us.html Mon, 17 Oct 2011 19:27:36 GMT The Why, What, and How of Collaboration 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?" http://turnexchange.net/blog/the-why-what-and-how-of.html Sun, 16 Oct 2011 16:32:21 GMT NE TURN - Serious About Teacher Support & Evaluation <img style="float: left; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="/blog/ne-turn-rttt-sig-.attachment/patkathleen-1049/Pat&kathleen.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="129" />West Cambridge, MA (Sept 23, 2011) ~ The title of this blog article is taken from a <a href="http://www.stuartfoundation.org/newsandreports/inthenews/11-09-07/Evaluating_Teachers_New_Study_Underscores_Effectiveness_of_Rigorous_Peer_Assistance_and_Review_PAR_Programs.aspx" target="_blank">recently published study</a> 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. http://turnexchange.net/blog/ne-turn---serious-about-teacher.html Sun, 02 Oct 2011 17:07:52 GMT Regional Coordinators Look Ahead Lisle, Illinois (July 7, 2011) TURN Regional Coordinators met to review accomplishments under the Ford Incubation grant, coordinate regional efforts for the coming year, and frame a set of issues/questions for the National TURN meeting, in October.  All five regions were represented: CalTURN, Great Lakes, Northeast, Southwest, and Mid-Atlantic/Southest. http://turnexchange.net/blog/regional-coordinators-look.html Wed, 24 Aug 2011 18:34:54 GMT SW TURN Expands Reform Agenda <a href="http://www.sbsadams50.org/content/" target="_blank"><img style="margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; float: left;" src="/blog.attachment/swturn-01-2082/SWTURN-01.jpg" alt="" width="130" height="98" /></a>Las Vegas, NV (June 9-10, 2011) ~ 30 Representatives from NEA and AFT local leaders in five states (CO, NM, TX, KS, NE, and NV) met for continuing work on two strands of inquiry (multiple measures of teacher effectiveness & the use of learning time) and to develop skills to frame their message with the public and policy-makers. http://turnexchange.net/blog/sw-turns-expanding-reform.html Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:49:32 GMT Take aways and NEA vs. AFT I'm glad you mentioned the NEA/AFT issue, Steve, because I was one of those who said I was disappointed that our NEA leadership has been so silent on the very issues we grapple with in TURN, both regionally and nationally.  I hope that we can find a space and a time to pull together TURN locals at the NEA-RA in Chicago this year.  We need to figure out how best to get our voices and our agenda heard by our national leaders.  I'd love to hear people's ideas! http://turnexchange.net/blog/recalibrating-the-school-reform/take-aways-and-nea-vs.html Mon, 09 May 2011 01:53:52 GMT A Call for Labor/Management Collaboration <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="/blog/a-call-for-labormanagement.attachment/cafe-small-1894/cafe-small.jpg" alt="" width="100" height="90" />Los Angeles, CA (May 4-5, 2011) ~ Described as a "coalition of the willing," eleven district/union teams from across the state accepted inviations to attend a first-ever labor/management conference, co-sponsored by CalTURN and WestEd (<a href="/regions/calturn/archive/agenda.attachment/attachment/CalTURN_LaborMgtAgenda_May2011.doc">view agenda</a>). http://turnexchange.net/blog/a-call-for-labormanagement.html Thu, 05 May 2011 18:00:55 GMT Continuing Focus on Value-Added Measures <img style="float: left; margin: 5px;" src="/blog/continuing-focus-on-value-added.attachment/dolan1-9709/dolan1.jpg" alt="" width="101" height="97" />St. Charles, IL (May 4-5) ~ The spring meeting of Great Lakes TURN attracted 29 district/union teams from all six target states, plus one team from California to hear presentations and share updates on efforts to use value-added data to improve teacher effectiveness and appraisal systems. http://turnexchange.net/blog/continuing-focus-on-value-added.html Thu, 05 May 2011 14:32:44 GMT SW TURN Tackles Time Issue <img style="float: right; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px;" src="/blog/sw-turn-tackles-time.attachment/sw-turn-3372/SW turn meeting.jpg" alt="" width="185" height="142" />Boston, MA ~  Southwest TURN piggy-backed its regional meeting on the to follow the national TURN meeting with a topic focus that also dovetailed the national agenda.   Whereas the national meeting included a broad view of of Ford Foundation's funding priority of "Rethinking Time”, the regional meeting provided an opportunity to look at specific strategies for restructuring the school day and school year.   http://turnexchange.net/blog/sw-turn-tackles-time.html Mon, 02 May 2011 19:56:06 GMT Getting the Word out Good work Gary and Steve. I have often hoped RI would merge so I could be a member of both NEA and AFT. Randi did a superb job of reminding us that the future won't look like the past in union work. Tuesday Diane Ravitch will be in Providence. The 2000 teachers who have been fired, not laid off, in Providence will welcome her message. I'll be there. http://turnexchange.net/blog/recalibrating-the-school-reform/getting-the-word-1.html Sat, 30 Apr 2011 17:24:05 GMT Getting the Word Out Nice job with the blog posting, Steve.  It's already been reposted on Patrick Ledesma's <a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/leading_from_the_classroom/2011/04/a_teacher_reflects_on_the_us_department_of_educations_role_in_union_reform.html?r=1179910486&cmp=ENL-EU-VIEWS2" target="_blank">Leading From the Classroom blog</a>, on EdWeek, as well as <a href="http://progressed.blogspot.com/2011/04/usode-and-new-teacher-unionism.html" target="_blank">Gamal Sherif's blog on ProgressEd</a>.    http://turnexchange.net/blog/recalibrating-the-school-reform/getting-the-word.html Wed, 27 Apr 2011 15:55:05 GMT Blog and Take Aways <a title="TURN- Boston" href="http://www.ed.gov/blog/2011/04/a-teacher-reflects-on-eds-role-in-union-reform/" target="_blank">I wrote about it</a> on the ed.gov blog.  Please understand I write for the Department on this blog, hence the focus on Jo. I also appreciated Patrick's remarks, as I did in Philadelphia.  These resonated for me because we actually have an extra layer in Vermont - the individual schools have boards, that feed reprentatives onto the boards of supervisory unions, where much of the negotiation action takes place.  This layer of insulation has protected the structure, but we are misinterpreting the meaning, to our peril.  We are deceived that our legislative lobbying married to our member servicing (UDs) are doing the trick.  It's really just an accident of history. I was struck by the NEA leaders who expressed a wish that Randi was our president.  I'm NEA and we have issues with AFT here in VT, many of which could be better understood if we could get our collective heads out of our you-know-whats.  Some of the more radical NEA people here talk privately of defecting to AFT.  AFT leads and NEA follows. TURN - please remember that there are 10,000 rural NEA leaders like me who have no release time and struggle to keep up.  Capture us and you have a movement. http://turnexchange.net/blog/recalibrating-the-school-reform/blog-and-take.html Wed, 27 Apr 2011 00:21:12 GMT