Check out New Models to Alleviate Staff Shortages

An item from a K-12 blended learning organization.

Join us as participants in the Next Education Workforce learning cohort

No images? Click here

Join the conversation as we partner with communities to design and implement culturally responsive school change.

Explore New Models to Alleviate Teacher Shortages: Join Us in the NEW Learning Cohort! 

One of the best parts about being a Pahara Fellow has been the opportunity to discuss persistent education challenges with my brilliant cohort. One of the members of my Pahara class —  Rachel Skerritt — recently authored a fantastic article in the Fall 2022 issue of Education Next entitled, “What I learned Leading America’s First Public School.”

In the article, Rachel reflects on Boston Latin School, a public exam school in the Fenway area of Boston that was founded in 1635. As our Highlander Institute team grapples with how to support a growing number of school partners struggling with staff shortages this year, I couldn’t help but reflect on Rachel’s insights on teacher hiring. Among the teacher competencies of content expertise, pedagogical skill, and the ability to build relationships with students, our system currently places the most value on content expertise. Rachel writes:

“Districts should create pathways for [educators who are ‘great with kids’] to become proficient in hard-to-staff content areas so that school leaders do not need to feel forced to choose between content knowledge and the ability to forge trusting relationships with students.”

I wholeheartedly believe that our current system is ready for models that fundamentally redesign how we staff schools.

This month, Highlander Institute is excited to participate in the Next Education Workforce™ learning cohort series, as they explore ways to build team-based staffing models that support equity and improve learning outcomes.

Next Education Workforce™ (NEW) is currently accepting district teams of up to five leaders who are interested in thinking about innovative teaming structures within schools. We are looking for East Coast districts who may be interested in implementing what we learn from NEW. We are calling on our Highlander Institute network of leaders to reach out if you are willing to tackle this challenge together.

If you or your colleagues might be interested in participating in the Learning Cohort or you’d like to recommend a potential partner, please be in touch by contacting our Communications Manager, Maeve Murray.

I am so grateful to Rachel and my Pahara Fellowship colleagues for continuing to push the conversation and elevate ways that building leaders are succeeding and striving to better support the students and families they serve.

I’m Interested!