By Scott Nolt, First Published by Real Clear Education, February 17, 2016
“My blended classroom opens the door to 21st-century learning, student-centered instruction, project-based learning, and an emphasis on learning as a lifelong experience.” Blended-Learning Teacher Scott Nolt encourages teachers interested in blending learning to “go all in,” adapt their classes to best meet the needs of students, and make students active in their learning.
Beverley Tyndall
What Could You Do in an Opportunity Culture®? (2016)
See OpportunityCulture.org/jobs for job openings in Opportunity Culture® schools, and watch what current Opportunity Culture® educators have to say about their roles as teacher-leaders known as multi-classroom leaders (MCLs), blended-learning teachers, and...
Scott Nolt on Being a Blended-Learning Teacher
Scott Nolt, a blended-learning history teacher at Jay M. Robinson High School in Cabarrus County, explains how blended learning enables him to personalize instruction for students at all levels. Read Scott's related blog post, Blending the Best: Better Learning for...
Opportunity Culture® Voices: MCL vs PLC–What’s the Difference?
“When out with friends or at dinner parties, I frequently get asked, ‘So what do you do?’ My ‘I’m a biology multi-classroom leader’ response receives perplexed looks, so my boyfriend usually pipes in, ‘It’s kind of like the science department chair’—and then I have to kindly say, ‘Well, sort of, except that I do all this other stuff…’
“As the leader of a five-person teaching team at a high-need Charlotte, N.C., high school, I teach a senior International Baccalaureate biology class every other day for one period—leaving 88 percent of my time to coach my team teachers, teach with them, pull out students to work one-on-one, lead data meetings, or anything else necessary to help my teachers and students succeed. Now, instead of teaching just my own 80 or 100 students, I reach all 500 biology students.”
–Charlotte-Mecklenburg Multi-Classroom Leader for Biology Erin A. Burns, in More Powerful Than a Department Chair
In January’s installment in the Opportunity Culture series on Real Clear Education, Erin Burns writes about her experience as a multi-classroom leader (MCL) at West Charlotte High School, and the difference between that role and a previous position as a “professional learning community” (PLC) lead. “As PLC lead, I was in the dark,” about what the teachers in the PLC actually did in the classrooms–and no true authority to match the title, regardless of how the teachers were doing.
As an MCL, she has authority to coach the team, and accountability for the results of all the team’s students. She continues to teach, but has just one regularly scheduled class–giving her great flexibility to co-teach, analyze student data for the team, lead the lesson planning for each week, and meet weekly with the team together and individually.
Read more in her full column about how she does it all, and what glitches she’s encountered–and the difference it makes for students, and hear her thoughts in the accompanying video.
This is the ninth in the Opportunity Culture series–read them all here.
More Powerful Than a Department Chair
By Erin Burns, First Published by Real Clear Education, January 19, 2016
“Now, as a multi-classroom leader, or MCL, I partake in every step of my team’s lesson plans, execution, and analysis.” Biology Multi-Classroom Leader Erin Burns contrasts her role with a traditional department chair, noting the higher authority and accountability, giving her far greater involvement in teacher and student success.
Erin Burns on Being a Multi-Classroom Leader
Erin Burns describes her role as a multi-classroom leader at West Charlotte High School, where she leads a team of biology teachers reaching 500 students. Read Erin's related blog post, More Powerful Than a Department Chair. Can’t access YouTube? Watch this video on...
Opportunity Culture® Results: Dashboard 2.0
22,000+ students reached by Opportunity Culture® teachers, more than 800 teachers in advanced or team roles, $2 million in higher pay in one year alone, and more high growth and less low growth than other schools: These are just a few results from the schools in...
Opportunity Culture® Voices: Why All Schools Need Multi-Classroom Leadership
"When I was asked to be on my school’s design team for a new initiative, I had no idea what I was getting into. I heard it would help build relationships with students and the community, and improve learning, so I thought, 'Cool. I’m in. That is right up my alley.'...
Amy Sparks on Being a Multi-Classroom Leader
Multi-Classroom Leader Amy Sparks highlights how even high-achieving schools and students can continue to grow with an Opportunity Culture®, which extends the reach of great teachers and their teams to more students. Read Amy's related blog post, When Top...
When Top Students Drop: Why Even Good Schools Need to Grow
By Amy Sparks, First Published by Real Clear Education, December 15, 2015
“Teachers share the value of learning—so doesn’t it make sense that we should get many chances to learn, too?” Multi-Classroom Leader Amy Sparks saw a more supportive teaching environment under her school’s Opportunity Culture model that led to growth in both honors and non-honors classes.