how do we pay our teachers more that is a question that keeps principals
a question that keeps principals
a question that keeps principals district leaders superintendents and
district leaders superintendents and
district leaders superintendents and policy makers up at night as a high
policy makers up at night as a high
policy makers up at night as a high school math teacher I loved teaching I
school math teacher I loved teaching I
school math teacher I loved teaching I love my kids I love my families I love
love my kids I love my families I love
love my kids I love my families I love the content I loved it all in my
the content I loved it all in my
the content I loved it all in my classroom my kids were breaking down
classroom my kids were breaking down
classroom my kids were breaking down barriers
barriers
barriers I saw the student who had previously
I saw the student who had previously
I saw the student who had previously failed his last math class achieved one
failed his last math class achieved one
failed his last math class achieved one of the highest scores on our state exam
of the highest scores on our state exam
of the highest scores on our state exam I saw the student who said to me that he
I saw the student who said to me that he
I saw the student who said to me that he wasn’t the college type can mean his
wasn’t the college type can mean his
wasn’t the college type can mean his college acceptance letter in my
college acceptance letter in my
college acceptance letter in my classroom my kids were defying
classroom my kids were defying
classroom my kids were defying stereotypes they were doing what society
stereotypes they were doing what society
stereotypes they were doing what society said it was too late for them to do in
said it was too late for them to do in
said it was too late for them to do in my classroom I was changing the world
my classroom I was changing the world
my classroom I was changing the world I believe that teaching is one of the
I believe that teaching is one of the
I believe that teaching is one of the most patriotic acts in this country
but as a teacher I did not feel
but as a teacher I did not feel patriotic I felt broke I felt very broke
patriotic I felt broke I felt very broke
patriotic I felt broke I felt very broke I was struggling on a salary of $33,000
I was struggling on a salary of $33,000
I was struggling on a salary of $33,000 but I knew that this was my life’s work
but I knew that this was my life’s work
but I knew that this was my life’s work and purpose I knew that I wanted to
and purpose I knew that I wanted to
and purpose I knew that I wanted to reach even more kids and I knew that I
reach even more kids and I knew that I
reach even more kids and I knew that I wanted to create a different reality for
wanted to create a different reality for
wanted to create a different reality for our teachers so I became a principal how
our teachers so I became a principal how
our teachers so I became a principal how do we pay our teachers more well to
do we pay our teachers more well to
do we pay our teachers more well to answer that question it requires us to
answer that question it requires us to
answer that question it requires us to think about school a little different
think about school a little different
think about school a little different and that’s tough because school is one
and that’s tough because school is one
and that’s tough because school is one of the few experiences good or bad that
of the few experiences good or bad that
of the few experiences good or bad that we all share and for most of us that’s a
we all share and for most of us that’s a
we all share and for most of us that’s a teacher in the front of a classroom with
teacher in the front of a classroom with
teacher in the front of a classroom with a group of students for most of us I’m
a group of students for most of us I’m
a group of students for most of us I’m sure that vision probably doesn’t
sure that vision probably doesn’t
sure that vision probably doesn’t include one of my favorite people
include one of my favorite people
include one of my favorite people Beyonce
but she is exactly who I think about
but she is exactly who I think about when I think about school differently
when I think about school differently
when I think about school differently take a moment and think about all the
take a moment and think about all the
take a moment and think about all the different venues where beyonce has
different venues where beyonce has
different venues where beyonce has performed the Super Bowl Madison Square
performed the Super Bowl Madison Square
performed the Super Bowl Madison Square Garden the Grammys the BT Awards some of
Garden the Grammys the BT Awards some of
Garden the Grammys the BT Awards some of the largest venues in the US and in the
the largest venues in the US and in the
the largest venues in the US and in the world so how does she get access to them
world so how does she get access to them
world so how does she get access to them well let’s look at her data she has
well let’s look at her data she has
well let’s look at her data she has released six solo albums each one of
released six solo albums each one of
released six solo albums each one of them went straight to number one
them went straight to number one
them went straight to number one therefore there is a hundred percent
therefore there is a hundred percent
therefore there is a hundred percent probability if Beyonce drops an album
probability if Beyonce drops an album
probability if Beyonce drops an album tomorrow it will be number one and an
tomorrow it will be number one and an
tomorrow it will be number one and an entertainers job is to make people feel
entertainers job is to make people feel
entertainers job is to make people feel and Beyonce certainly excels at that
and Beyonce certainly excels at that
and Beyonce certainly excels at that when I listen to her music
when I listen to her music
when I listen to her music I feel confident and empowered and my
I feel confident and empowered and my
I feel confident and empowered and my identity as a black woman so with such a
identity as a black woman so with such a
identity as a black woman so with such a clear impact we want her to reach as
clear impact we want her to reach as
clear impact we want her to reach as many people as possible and not just
many people as possible and not just
many people as possible and not just through recordings but live great data
through recordings but live great data
through recordings but live great data leads to access to a larger venue which
leads to access to a larger venue which
leads to access to a larger venue which leads to an even greater impact so how
leads to an even greater impact so how
leads to an even greater impact so how does apply to paying our teachers more
does apply to paying our teachers more
does apply to paying our teachers more well there are Beyonce educators in
well there are Beyonce educators in
well there are Beyonce educators in every single school building dropping
every single school building dropping
every single school building dropping number-one albums year after year in the
number-one albums year after year in the
number-one albums year after year in the form of mine blowing results with their
form of mine blowing results with their
form of mine blowing results with their kids so with great data they should
kids so with great data they should
kids so with great data they should receive access to a larger venue which
receive access to a larger venue which
receive access to a larger venue which would lead to an even greater impact but
would lead to an even greater impact but
would lead to an even greater impact but this is not the case in education
this is not the case in education
this is not the case in education because for a teacher there is really
because for a teacher there is really
because for a teacher there is really only one venue a classroom it is also
only one venue a classroom it is also
only one venue a classroom it is also incredibly difficult to find a Beyonce
incredibly difficult to find a Beyonce
incredibly difficult to find a Beyonce as
as
as cater to place in every single classroom
cater to place in every single classroom
cater to place in every single classroom in a building and this is something that
in a building and this is something that
in a building and this is something that all schools struggle with however this
all schools struggle with however this
all schools struggle with however this challenge is multiplied and low-income
challenge is multiplied and low-income
challenge is multiplied and low-income communities at Ranson IB middle school
communities at Ranson IB middle school
communities at Ranson IB middle school where I am the proud principal sixty
where I am the proud principal sixty
where I am the proud principal sixty five sixty five percent of our scholars
five sixty five percent of our scholars
five sixty five percent of our scholars come to us below grade level so we do
come to us below grade level so we do
come to us below grade level so we do not have time to wait on a Beyonce
not have time to wait on a Beyonce
not have time to wait on a Beyonce educator to magically materialize in
educator to magically materialize in
educator to magically materialize in every single classroom so rather than
every single classroom so rather than
every single classroom so rather than asking the question how can we place a
asking the question how can we place a
asking the question how can we place a Beyonce educator in every single
Beyonce educator in every single
Beyonce educator in every single classroom we flip the question how can
classroom we flip the question how can
classroom we flip the question how can we rethink our venues and place every
we rethink our venues and place every
we rethink our venues and place every child in front of a Beyonce educator
child in front of a Beyonce educator
child in front of a Beyonce educator while paying that educator more here’s
while paying that educator more here’s
while paying that educator more here’s how we did it
how we did it
how we did it meet Bobby miles mr. miles was actually
meet Bobby miles mr. miles was actually
meet Bobby miles mr. miles was actually a pre-med major at winston-salem State
a pre-med major at winston-salem State
a pre-med major at winston-salem State University and his dreams to be a
University and his dreams to be a
University and his dreams to be a pediatrician were completely derailed
pediatrician were completely derailed
pediatrician were completely derailed after a summer medical internship which
after a summer medical internship which
after a summer medical internship which he hated
he hated
he hated so a mentor suggested to him that given
so a mentor suggested to him that given
so a mentor suggested to him that given his love for kids he considered teaching
his love for kids he considered teaching
his love for kids he considered teaching and it was something that he thought
and it was something that he thought
and it was something that he thought about before but shied away from after
about before but shied away from after
about before but shied away from after filling the profession wasn’t respected
filling the profession wasn’t respected
filling the profession wasn’t respected but he took the risk and ten years ago
but he took the risk and ten years ago
but he took the risk and ten years ago he joined the Branson Ivy family as a
he joined the Branson Ivy family as a
he joined the Branson Ivy family as a sixth grade science teacher and pretty
sixth grade science teacher and pretty
sixth grade science teacher and pretty soon he made his mark he had some of the
soon he made his mark he had some of the
soon he made his mark he had some of the highest science data in the district he
highest science data in the district he
highest science data in the district he was also a district Teacher of the Year
was also a district Teacher of the Year
was also a district Teacher of the Year finalist so he may not look like Beyonce
finalist so he may not look like Beyonce
finalist so he may not look like Beyonce but he is definitely a Beyonce educator
but he is definitely a Beyonce educator
but he is definitely a Beyonce educator but at the time mr. miles was only
but at the time mr. miles was only
but at the time mr. miles was only reaching a hundred and twenty students
reaching a hundred and twenty students
reaching a hundred and twenty students which was just ten percent of our school
which was just ten percent of our school
which was just ten percent of our school population so he was working really hard
population so he was working really hard
population so he was working really hard and getting great results but his venue
and getting great results but his venue
and getting great results but his venue was holding him back
was holding him back
was holding him back today mr. miles reaches 937 scholars
today mr. miles reaches 937 scholars
today mr. miles reaches 937 scholars which is a hundred percent of our school
which is a hundred percent of our school
which is a hundred percent of our school population now how we did it is not
population now how we did it is not
population now how we did it is not rocket science we just simply rethought
rocket science we just simply rethought
rocket science we just simply rethought our venues five years ago we partnered
our venues five years ago we partnered
our venues five years ago we partnered with an organization called a public
with an organization called a public
with an organization called a public impact and through that partnership we
impact and through that partnership we
impact and through that partnership we created what’s called an opportunity
created what’s called an opportunity
created what’s called an opportunity culture an opportunity culture expands
culture an opportunity culture expands
culture an opportunity culture expands the reach of effective educators to
the reach of effective educators to
the reach of effective educators to reach more students while paying that
reach more students while paying that
reach more students while paying that educator more so there’s many ways to do
educator more so there’s many ways to do
educator more so there’s many ways to do this but the way that we chose is to
this but the way that we chose is to
this but the way that we chose is to have excellent educators leading teacher
have excellent educators leading teacher
have excellent educators leading teacher teams so there was a new position that
teams so there was a new position that
teams so there was a new position that we created called a multi classroom
we created called a multi classroom
we created called a multi classroom leader or we like to call it an MCL mr.
leader or we like to call it an MCL mr.
leader or we like to call it an MCL mr. miles was one of our first MC ELLs
miles was one of our first MC ELLs
miles was one of our first MC ELLs and in this role he spent his time in
and in this role he spent his time in
and in this role he spent his time in primarily three ways the first is that
primarily three ways the first is that
primarily three ways the first is that he created all the lesson plans for the
he created all the lesson plans for the
he created all the lesson plans for the entire science department
entire science department
entire science department so at Ranson IB we have five science
so at Ranson IB we have five science
so at Ranson IB we have five science teachers and every single day each one
teachers and every single day each one
teachers and every single day each one of those teachers is delivering a lesson
of those teachers is delivering a lesson
of those teachers is delivering a lesson created by mr. miles so even though he
created by mr. miles so even though he
created by mr. miles so even though he cannot physically be in five places at
cannot physically be in five places at
cannot physically be in five places at once
once
once his instruction is there the second way
his instruction is there the second way
his instruction is there the second way that he spends his time is that he
that he spends his time is that he
that he spends his time is that he serves as the instructional coach for
serves as the instructional coach for
serves as the instructional coach for those five science teachers so every
those five science teachers so every
those five science teachers so every single week he visits their classroom
single week he visits their classroom
single week he visits their classroom and he has a locked in feedback time to
and he has a locked in feedback time to
and he has a locked in feedback time to celebrate what’s going really well and
celebrate what’s going really well and
celebrate what’s going really well and identify one bite-sized action step for
identify one bite-sized action step for
identify one bite-sized action step for the next week and lastly but most
the next week and lastly but most
the next week and lastly but most importantly mr. miles still gets to be a
importantly mr. miles still gets to be a
importantly mr. miles still gets to be a teacher the last thing that we want to
teacher the last thing that we want to
teacher the last thing that we want to do is provide only one opportunity for
do is provide only one opportunity for
do is provide only one opportunity for our teachers to excel in the profession
our teachers to excel in the profession
our teachers to excel in the profession and having them leave the classroom so
and having them leave the classroom so
and having them leave the classroom so every single week Mr mouse sits down
every single week Mr mouse sits down
every single week Mr mouse sits down with his teachers and they analyze data
with his teachers and they analyze data
with his teachers and they analyze data to determine what students need a little
to determine what students need a little
to determine what students need a little bit more help and he creates a lesson
bit more help and he creates a lesson
bit more help and he creates a lesson plan tailored to those to their needs
plan tailored to those to their needs
plan tailored to those to their needs and he delivers that lesson plan himself
and he delivers that lesson plan himself
and he delivers that lesson plan himself in a small group setting mr. miles
in a small group setting mr. miles
in a small group setting mr. miles just like Beyonce creates really strong
just like Beyonce creates really strong
just like Beyonce creates really strong connections with kids black males make
connections with kids black males make
connections with kids black males make up less than 2% of the teaching
up less than 2% of the teaching
up less than 2% of the teaching profession however a trance and ib1
profession however a trance and ib1
profession however a trance and ib1 and three of our students is a black boy
and three of our students is a black boy
and three of our students is a black boy so not only have we expanded mr. mouths
so not only have we expanded mr. mouths
so not only have we expanded mr. mouths instructional impact but we’ve expanded
instructional impact but we’ve expanded
instructional impact but we’ve expanded the opportunity for our black boys to
the opportunity for our black boys to
the opportunity for our black boys to see themselves in their teacher
so we’ve created an opportunity for
so we’ve created an opportunity for culture of culture for our teachers but
culture of culture for our teachers but
culture of culture for our teachers but we’ve also created an opportunity
we’ve also created an opportunity
we’ve also created an opportunity culture for our kids every single child
culture for our kids every single child
culture for our kids every single child comes to us at a different starting
comes to us at a different starting
comes to us at a different starting point and a unique way in which they
point and a unique way in which they
point and a unique way in which they learn and it is our responsibility as
learn and it is our responsibility as
learn and it is our responsibility as educators to meet them where they are
educators to meet them where they are
educators to meet them where they are and to create a personalized learning
and to create a personalized learning
and to create a personalized learning experience for every single child so
experience for every single child so
experience for every single child so there was a second position that we
there was a second position that we
there was a second position that we created through opportunity culture
created through opportunity culture
created through opportunity culture called a blended learning teacher meet
called a blended learning teacher meet
called a blended learning teacher meet Molly Whalen miss Whalen was actually an
Molly Whalen miss Whalen was actually an
Molly Whalen miss Whalen was actually an experienced math teacher and she had
experienced math teacher and she had
experienced math teacher and she had left the classroom to explore her
left the classroom to explore her
left the classroom to explore her interests in graduate school to become a
interests in graduate school to become a
interests in graduate school to become a social worker and while there she deeply
social worker and while there she deeply
social worker and while there she deeply missed the classroom so she moved back
missed the classroom so she moved back
missed the classroom so she moved back to Charlotte and joined the Ranson Ivy
to Charlotte and joined the Ranson Ivy
to Charlotte and joined the Ranson Ivy family as a 7th grade math teacher and
family as a 7th grade math teacher and
family as a 7th grade math teacher and after just one year it was so clear that
after just one year it was so clear that
after just one year it was so clear that miss Whalen was a Beyonce educator
miss Whalen was a Beyonce educator
miss Whalen was a Beyonce educator students at all levels in her classroom
students at all levels in her classroom
students at all levels in her classroom made high growth meaning that they
made high growth meaning that they
made high growth meaning that they achieved more than a year’s worth of
achieved more than a year’s worth of
achieved more than a year’s worth of growth and less than a year’s time so we
growth and less than a year’s time so we
growth and less than a year’s time so we approached her about taking on this new
approached her about taking on this new
approached her about taking on this new position of becoming a blended learning
position of becoming a blended learning
position of becoming a blended learning teacher or for the sake of an acronym we
teacher or for the sake of an acronym we
teacher or for the sake of an acronym we call it a BLT
call it a BLT
call it a BLT and in the role of being a BLT she would
and in the role of being a BLT she would
and in the role of being a BLT she would take what she knew about great
take what she knew about great
take what she knew about great instruction and combine that with the
instruction and combine that with the
instruction and combine that with the use of technology to create a
use of technology to create a
use of technology to create a personalized learning experience for her
personalized learning experience for her
personalized learning experience for her students so in her classroom she would
students so in her classroom she would
students so in her classroom she would have two groups of students one group
have two groups of students one group
have two groups of students one group who would need just a little bit more
who would need just a little bit more
who would need just a little bit more help would be with her face-to-face
help would be with her face-to-face
help would be with her face-to-face engaged in instruction the second group
engaged in instruction the second group
engaged in instruction the second group of students would be online engaged in a
of students would be online engaged in a
of students would be online engaged in a lesson that she created
lesson that she created
lesson that she created halfway through the lesson they would
halfway through the lesson they would
halfway through the lesson they would switch the students previously with her
switch the students previously with her
switch the students previously with her were now online practicing what they
were now online practicing what they
were now online practicing what they just learned and the students previously
just learned and the students previously
just learned and the students previously online are now with her enriching that
online are now with her enriching that
online are now with her enriching that content
content
content she was so phenomenal in this position
she was so phenomenal in this position
she was so phenomenal in this position that we could not stop there today miss
that we could not stop there today miss
that we could not stop there today miss Whalen is an MCL just like mr. miles
Whalen is an MCL just like mr. miles
Whalen is an MCL just like mr. miles leading a teaching team of three eighth
leading a teaching team of three eighth
leading a teaching team of three eighth grade math teachers she is now reaching
grade math teachers she is now reaching
grade math teachers she is now reaching 323 students with which is a third of
323 students with which is a third of
323 students with which is a third of our building and she is assisting in
our building and she is assisting in
our building and she is assisting in supporting those teachers and
supporting those teachers and
supporting those teachers and implementing the same blended learning
implementing the same blended learning
implementing the same blended learning model that she had in her classroom so
model that she had in her classroom so
model that she had in her classroom so we’ve created this opportunity culture
we’ve created this opportunity culture
we’ve created this opportunity culture for our teachers then we’ve created this
for our teachers then we’ve created this
for our teachers then we’ve created this opportunity culture for our kids but how
opportunity culture for our kids but how
opportunity culture for our kids but how does this actually pay our teachers more
does this actually pay our teachers more
does this actually pay our teachers more well I received my budget prior to the
well I received my budget prior to the
well I received my budget prior to the beginning of every school year and
beginning of every school year and
beginning of every school year and through flexibility that I have I can
through flexibility that I have I can
through flexibility that I have I can create positions and through this
create positions and through this
create positions and through this flexibility I can trade and create our
flexibility I can trade and create our
flexibility I can trade and create our opportunity culture positions adding at
opportunity culture positions adding at
opportunity culture positions adding at least $16,000 on to their teacher base
least $16,000 on to their teacher base
least $16,000 on to their teacher base salary and this is something that I’m
salary and this is something that I’m
salary and this is something that I’m doing within my existing budget so this
doing within my existing budget so this
doing within my existing budget so this does not cost me more does not cost the
does not cost me more does not cost the
does not cost me more does not cost the district more and the great thing about
district more and the great thing about
district more and the great thing about this is is that it doesn’t go away in
this is is that it doesn’t go away in
this is is that it doesn’t go away in comparison to some grant supplement
comparison to some grant supplement
comparison to some grant supplement programs so this is truly sustainable it
programs so this is truly sustainable it
programs so this is truly sustainable it won’t go away in a year even
won’t go away in a year even
won’t go away in a year even five years and what’s been the impact of
five years and what’s been the impact of
five years and what’s been the impact of opportunity culture in our building
opportunity culture in our building
opportunity culture in our building well our staff they’re happier there’s
well our staff they’re happier there’s
well our staff they’re happier there’s been some conversation around whether
been some conversation around whether
been some conversation around whether it’s not tip it’s fair to pay some
it’s not tip it’s fair to pay some
it’s not tip it’s fair to pay some teachers more than others but our
teachers more than others but our
teachers more than others but our teachers truly value the support of
teachers truly value the support of
teachers truly value the support of their mcl no longer our teachers staying
their mcl no longer our teachers staying
their mcl no longer our teachers staying up late at night trying to figure out
up late at night trying to figure out
up late at night trying to figure out what they’re teaching the next day they
what they’re teaching the next day they
what they’re teaching the next day they have the support of their mcl and we are
have the support of their mcl and we are
have the support of their mcl and we are making teaching more sustainable through
making teaching more sustainable through
making teaching more sustainable through improving work/life balance secondly our
improving work/life balance secondly our
improving work/life balance secondly our teachers are getting better faster they
teachers are getting better faster they
teachers are getting better faster they are receiving feedback every single week
are receiving feedback every single week
are receiving feedback every single week from a Beyonce educator and when our
from a Beyonce educator and when our
from a Beyonce educator and when our teachers get better our kids get better
teachers get better our kids get better
teachers get better our kids get better and lastly but most importantly our kids
and lastly but most importantly our kids
and lastly but most importantly our kids are learning
are learning
are learning we have been ranked number two in the
we have been ranked number two in the
we have been ranked number two in the district for our growth and language
district for our growth and language
district for our growth and language arts and number three in the district
arts and number three in the district
arts and number three in the district for our growth in science opportunity
for our growth in science opportunity
for our growth in science opportunity culture is making a difference I said
culture is making a difference I said
culture is making a difference I said before that I believe that teaching is
before that I believe that teaching is
before that I believe that teaching is one of the most patriotic acts in this
one of the most patriotic acts in this
one of the most patriotic acts in this country every single day parents send
country every single day parents send
country every single day parents send their greatest gift to a teacher the
their greatest gift to a teacher the
their greatest gift to a teacher the fate of this country rests on the
fate of this country rests on the
fate of this country rests on the shoulders of our teachers the leaders of
shoulders of our teachers the leaders of
shoulders of our teachers the leaders of tomorrow are sitting in classrooms today
tomorrow are sitting in classrooms today
tomorrow are sitting in classrooms today with our teachers if we do not change
with our teachers if we do not change
with our teachers if we do not change the way that we pay our teachers because
the way that we pay our teachers because
the way that we pay our teachers because their pay does not reflect this impact
their pay does not reflect this impact
their pay does not reflect this impact more teachers will continue to leave the
more teachers will continue to leave the
more teachers will continue to leave the profession because they are tired of
profession because they are tired of
profession because they are tired of working two or three jobs just to
working two or three jobs just to
working two or three jobs just to provide for their family or even worse
provide for their family or even worse
provide for their family or even worse those who have the
those who have the
those who have the potential to be great teachers just like
potential to be great teachers just like
potential to be great teachers just like mr. miles and miss Whelan won’t even
mr. miles and miss Whelan won’t even
mr. miles and miss Whelan won’t even consider their profession at all
consider their profession at all
consider their profession at all opportunity culture it makes a
opportunity culture it makes a
opportunity culture it makes a difference and we took the risk five
difference and we took the risk five
difference and we took the risk five years ago a trance and I be to say yes
years ago a trance and I be to say yes
years ago a trance and I be to say yes to public impact and being one of the
to public impact and being one of the
to public impact and being one of the first district schools in the nation to
first district schools in the nation to
first district schools in the nation to change the way we pay our teachers so
change the way we pay our teachers so
change the way we pay our teachers so we’re serving not just as the case study
we’re serving not just as the case study
we’re serving not just as the case study of how to make this happen but we’re
of how to make this happen but we’re
of how to make this happen but we’re proving that it’s possible
proving that it’s possible
proving that it’s possible every student everywhere every day
every student everywhere every day
every student everywhere every day deserves access to a great teacher and a
deserves access to a great teacher and a
deserves access to a great teacher and a trance an IB that is not a slogan it is
trance an IB that is not a slogan it is
trance an IB that is not a slogan it is a reality thank you
a reality thank you
a reality thank you [Applause]
”
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