Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/281716
ISEA Communiqué • isea.org March 2014 7 STATE Teacher Leadership- How Did We Get Here, Where Are We Going? educators from across the state have been hearing, talking and learning about the concept of a statewide system of teacher leadership and compensation for the past three years. the idea was first introduced in october 2011 as a part of Governor branstad's blueprint for education. Given the far-reaching scope of the concept it was decided that all of the stakeholders needed more time to study this idea. the task force on teacher leadership and compensation (tlc) was formed in 2012 involving educators, AeA staff, administrators, school board members, parents, higher education, community members, and the department of education. the tlc task force issued its final report in the fall of 2012. the report suggested a system that would create and fund multiple, meaningful and well-designed leadership opportunities open to all teachers in iowa. Simultaneously, as the task force was doing its work, the iSeA wanted to hear what our members thought about teacher leadership, its potential and the cautions to be aware of. to that end, the iSeA partnered with new Voice Strategies to produce the ViVA iSeA teachers idea exchange which allowed all iSeA members an opportunity to share their thoughts on the subject. the resulting report "Re-imagining School leadership for the 21st century" helped the iSeA shape its thinking as this important policy discussion moved forward. in 2013, legislation finally passed which created a statewide system of teacher leadership and compensation and established a commission on educator leadership and compensation. the law established a four- year process for implementation, with the first year a planning year and the years after will bring school districts representing a third of the iowa public school student population into the system. on March 3, the iowa department of education released the names of the districts, found at: www.educateiowa.gov, that were approved to receive funding in the first year of the new teacher leadership and compensation system. they represented a cross-section of school districts from each AeA, and represent each size tier based on student population. this fall, these districts will implement their system of teacher leadership as outlined in their application. At the same time these first districts are working on the process of implementing their plans, all of the other districts in the state are eligible to apply to participate in the second year of implementation. the commission will meet in April 2014 and will develop the next timeline for applications and awards. the process will be completed a third time for the final round of districts to participate until 100 percent of iowa's school districts have an opportunity to be represented with a teacher leadership program. Resources, including applications of districts approved in the first round, are available on the department of education website found at: www.educateiowa.gov. we know many iSeA members have been part of district planning teams and have been engaged in researching, planning and writing district applications. we also know, after hearing from members, that there are places where teachers have not been as involved in the development of district plans. we know that some educators are excited about the potential of this system and some are still learning more about it and are asking good questions. for this bold new statewide system of teacher leadership and compensation to be successful, it is imperative that teachers are involved in the planning, selection and implementation process. what is envisioned is a cultural shift in the way teachers are utilized in schools and to assist in colleagues supporting each other to enhance student learning. in an effort to support our members in this process, the iSeA is partnering with the School Administrators of iowa (SAi) in hosting a teacher leadership conference on June 12, 2014 at the ffA enrichment center on the dMAcc campus. this learning opportunity will help lay the foundation for collaborative working relationships as school districts take on the challenge of implementing their systems, or work on plans for a future application. the iSeA will continue to provide training and support to our members as you embark on this work. As always, we want to hear from you about what you need. So do not hesitate to speak with your local uniServ director or iSeA executive board member by going to: www.isea.org. the following is a list of school districts which were awarded grants in the first round of applications. benton bettendorf burlington cedar Rapids colo-neSco council bluffs davenport delwood dubuque earlham east Marshall east union Gilbert Greene county hudson humboldt (in collaboration with twin Rivers) Johnston le Mars linn-Mar Marshalltown Mount pleasant Muscatine north polk norwalk oelwein ottumwa panorama pella Rock Valley Roland-Story Saydel Sioux city Southeast polk twin Rivers (in collaboration with humboldt) Van Meter waterloo west des Moines western dubuque winterset