By Amber Hines; first published by EducationNC, March 5, 2019
“Our students are digital natives, so they’re confident with technology; it can give them the freedom to share their thoughts and think critically about both their own and their peers’ work.” For Multi-Classroom Leader Amber Hines, who uses two-way video recording and QR codes with her students, technology enhances instruction by drawing out and engaging her teaching team’s students. Read More…
Beverley Tyndall
Opportunity Culture® Dashboard Updates Data on Nationwide Initiative
March 6, 2019, CHAPEL HILL, N.C.— Public Impact, which created and leads the national Opportunity Culture initiative, updates the Opportunity Culture dashboard annually and today released the latest results from 2018–19, showing that student learning continues to benefit, and teachers want to keep and grow Opportunity Culture. Read the full press release…
3 Districts to Implement Opportunity Culture® with Advanced Teaching Roles
January 31, 2019, CHAPEL HILL, N.C.— In the latest round of funding for the state’s Advanced Teaching Roles pilot, the North Carolina State Board of Education awarded grants to three districts that will implement Opportunity Culture roles—Halifax County and Hertford County in eastern North Carolina and Lexington City Schools in Davidson County. Read the full press release…
Guilford County System Tries New Approach to Help Students at Struggling Schools
From The Greensboro News & Record, January 14, 2019 by Jessie Pounds
After 10 years teaching English at Dudley High School, Ashley Ekwem-Thorpe had plenty of “Panther” pride, but also a desire for a new adventure. So this school year she applied for a new position advertised at Hairston Middle School, a feeder school to Dudley.
Opportunity Culture® Schools in N.C. Outpace State Results
December 13, 2018, CHAPEL HILL, N.C.— In 2017–18, while only 27 percent of non-Opportunity Culture schools in North Carolina exceeded student learning growth targets, nearly double that—53 percent—of Opportunity Culture schools exceeded growth, Public Impact announced. Read the full press release…
Multi-Classroom Leadership
Multi-Classroom Leadership is the cornerstone of an Opportunity Culture. Teachers with a record of high-growth student learning and leadership competencies, known as multi-classroom leaders or MCLs, both teach part of the time and lead small, collaborative teams of two to eight teachers, paraprofessionals, and teacher residents in the same grade or subject to meet each MCL’s standards of excellence.
Using Teacher-Leaders to Improve Schools
From The Hechinger Report, November 29, 2018 by Tara Garcia Mathewson
Edgecombe County Public Schools in rural North Carolina has long had trouble filling all of its open teaching positions. Historically, there just hasn’t been enough interest among qualified candidates. But that’s changing.
‘Opportunity Culture®’ Approach Spreads Teacher Leadership Without Requiring Exit From Classroom
From Education Dive, November 20, 2018, by Allie Gross
A solution to teacher recruitment and retention may be hidden within a district’s staff, according to a new article in The Hechinger Report that details Opportunity Culture, a creative initiative where effective educators double as “teacher-leaders” and spend time coaching other teachers in a school.
Winter 2018 Newsletter
The Winter 2018 edition of our newsletter for Opportunity Culture educators includes an announcement of the 2018–19 Opportunity Culture Fellows; facts about the research on Multi-Classroom Leadership; a spotlight on Opportunity Culture results in North Carolina; plus recent publications, news stories from around the country, and free tools and resources that you need now! Read the Winter 2018 newsletter here.