Teachers rule in experimental school

9.3.10 – Detroit — Students at Palmer Park Preparatory Academy this year won't have to worry about being sent to the principal's office. Their school won't have one.

When Michigan’s first teacher-led school opens Tuesday in the former Barbara Jordan Elementary, the principal and assistant principal will be replaced by two lead teachers and an executive administrator.

Committees of teachers and service workers will make curriculum and operational decisions for the pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade school and, teachers say, do away with the time used to complete paperwork and await approvals from district administrators.

The school was developed at the urging of a group of teachers, including Ann Crowley, who spearheaded the academy’s launch with Detroit Public Schools, and with the support of their union.

“We want to offer a quality education to children in this community,” said Crowley, who has taught for more than two decades.

Detroit Federation of Teachers President Keith Johnson added: “Rather than having those decisions dictated, these teachers will be the crafters of those decisions.”

When teachers were interviewed to fill the 35 positions at the school, candidates had to demonstrate a belief in the overall concept and a willingness to shoulder added responsibility, since group meetings will be held in what used to be teachers’ planning periods and the work day will likely run longer than one in a traditional academic setting, Crowley said.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100903/SCHOOLS/9030390/1409/metro/Teachers-rule-in-experimental-school#ixzz0ySnNvBBP

Comments

  1. Rex White
    September 3, 2010 at 1:37 pm

    Getting warmer. :) Be careful not to trade one autocratic model for another. Without facilitation training and anonymous monthly surveys the planing meetings will serve to divide and collide and synergy will not take place. If there is a chairperson for each committee the games is lost and will set us back another 10-20 years. Meetings need to be with the ENTIRE school staff and with a third party trained facilitator if you are to reach FULL potential. Good luck.

    Reply
  2. MOMwithAbrain
    September 3, 2010 at 9:46 pm

    This COULD work. Put the pride to the side and focus on providing a quality education for the students MINUS the social engineering and I suspect they will see positive results

    Reply

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September 3rd, 2010

Jimmy Kilpatrick

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