Extending the Reach of Excellent Teachers - Opportunity Culture

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Indianapolis Public Schools

Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) is the first district in the country to include Opportunity Culture roles in the new teachers contract, ratified by 93 percent of the Indianapolis Education Association members and approved in a 6–0 vote of the IPS Board of School Commissioners. The contract offers pay supplements of up to $18,300 for teachers leading teams—35 percent of the district’s average salary. That comes on top of a major base pay raise—the first in five years—for teachers across the board. Those pay decisions mean that in 2016–17, for example, a 16-year teacher will be able to earn $77,700 by taking on the highest-paid Opportunity Culture role, which involves leading a team of four to six teachers.

IPS

The contract includes multiple Opportunity Culture roles, with the highest pay for multi-classroom leaders, who continue to teach while leading a team. In IPS, an MCL who leads a team of one teacher and a paraprofessional known as a reach associate will earn a $6,800 stipend. MCLs who lead a team of two to three teachers and a reach associate will earn an $11,400 stipend. Those leading a team of four to six teachers and two reach associates will earn $18,300 stipends.

All teachers teaching on an MCL-led team will earn $1,300 supplements, if the school can afford to do this for each team in the school.

The contract also includes $6,800 supplements for “expanded-impact teachers,” great teachers who extend their reach to at least 33 percent more students with paraprofessional support, but who do not lead teams.

A team of teachers and administrators at each school decides how to redo schedules and reallocate money to fund pay supplements permanently, in contrast to temporarily grant-funded programs. Opportunity Culture schools in Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) are expected to reallocate funds primarily from vacant positions to fund the supplements.

Six IPS schools (four elementary and two secondary schools) began implementing Opportunity Culture in 2016–17. Nine more schools (seven elementary and two secondary) joined in 2017–18, with more schools working on the design stage for implementation in the 2018–19 school year.

The changes are part of an ambitious strategic plan for the district, under the leadership of Superintendent Lewis Ferebee. “We’re delighted to give our schools the opportunity to give all teachers the support, on-the-job learning, leadership opportunities, and higher pay they deserve,” Ferebee said. “I want all students to benefit from excellent teaching.”

In 2017, IPS received honorable mention on the National Council on Teacher Quality’s list of Great Districts for Great Teachers. NCTQ said “Indianapolis Public Schools is to be commended for creating innovative teacher leadership roles and staffing structures that increase the impact of highly effective teachers. Through the district’s Opportunity Culture initiative, teachers can take on leadership roles that allow them to work with other teachers while maintaining a classroom presence. These teacher leaders can earn up to $18,300 more than their base salary.”

 

For more information on the IPS teachers union contract, read the full press release here.

For more information on IPS piloting Opportunity Culture models, read our press release here.

For information about current Opportunity Culture job openings in IPS, see here.

 

Read more about Opportunity Culture in IPS in these articles from Chalkbeat:

Indianapolis is experimenting with a new kind of teacher — and it’s transforming this school, February 16, 2017 by Dylan Peers McCoy

IPS pilot offers cash to keep great teachers in the classroom while they train peers, February 17, 2016 by Dylan Peers McCoy

 

Watch a video about the positive impact Opportunity Culture is having on teachers and students at Lew Wallace Elementary School:

IPS rewarding exceptional teachers, April 11, 2017 by Rich Van Wyk of WTHR-TV

Opportunity Culture Sites

  • Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools and Project L.I.F.T.
  • Syracuse City School District
  • Cabarrus County Schools
  • Indianapolis Public Schools
  • Texas Education Agency
  • Fulton County Schools
  • Maricopa County
  • Edgecombe County Public Schools
  • North Little Rock
  • Vance County Schools
  • Metro Nashville Public Schools
  • Opportunity Culture Charter School Network

Featured Publications

Days in the Life: The Work of a Successful Multi-Classroom Leader

November 28, 2017

Pioneering Blended-Learning Teachers Reach More Students

October 25, 2016

ESSA: New Law, New Opportunity

July 28, 2016

Understanding the Opportunity Culture Principles

July 28, 2016

Paid Educator Residencies, Within Budget

June 20, 2016

Principal Tools

June 7, 2016

Pioneering Multi-Classroom Leaders

June 1, 2016

More Publications...

Opportunity Culture News & Views

Guilford County Becomes N.C.’s 5th Opportunity Culture District

Under Superintendent Sharon Contreras, Guilford County Schools, based in Greensboro, N.C., has joined the national Opportunity Culture initiative to extend the reach of excellent teachers and their teams to more students, for more pay, within schools’ recurring budgets. Researchers at the … Read more...

Public Impact Is Hiring: Paid Internships Available

We're hiring! Public Impact seeks interns to start immediately and in June, focused on two data projects. As part of their role, interns will: Gather both quantitative and qualitative data using a wide variety of sources, including research journals, online publications, interviews, and … Read more...

Opportunity Culture by the Numbers: 2017-18 Dashboard Updates

Quick Stats from the Opportunity Culture Dashboard, updated for 2017-18: 225+ schools committed to Opportunity Culture 1,450+ teachers with advanced roles or on-the-job development 41,000+ students reached by excellent teachers extending their reach $3.3 million in extra pay for … Read more...

Finding Inspiration Again Through Teacher Leadership

This column first appeared on EducationNC on February 23, 2018. As a young child I was always taught the famous proverb: If you love your job, you will never work a day in your life. I discovered my passion in education—my love for learning and teaching. So I have truly never “worked” since I was … Read more...

Job Opportunity at Public Impact: Entry-Level Research Analyst

Public Impact continues to grow and hire great new members of our team. See our latest opportunity, for an entry-level research analyst, and apply now! Work includes quantitative and qualitative analysis, learning from experienced professionals, and working independently and as a collaborative … Read more...

Public Impact Keeps Growing! Media & Communications Assistant Wanted

We're hiring--now seeking a media, communications, and editorial assistant. Public Impact is a national education policy and management consulting firm based in Chapel Hill, N.C. Our mission is to improve education dramatically for all students, especially low-income students, students of color, … Read more...

Join the Growing Public Impact Team!

We're hiring entry- and mid-level consultants to start this summer--join us! We are a team of professionals from many backgrounds, including former teachers. We conduct research to understand what leads to better outcomes, and we develop and implement innovative solutions to create dramatic … Read more...

More News...

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