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In HPS the Teachers are also Students
This summer, as students were enjoying time spent with family and friends, the administration, faculty and staff at Hauppauge Public Schools were hard at work exploring ways to improve on an already dynamic educational program.
Nothing is more complex, challenging, or important than assuring high levels of learning for each and every student. And no single factor has a greater impact on student learning than skillful teaching.
With this in mind, the Hauppauge Public Schools enlisted the expertise of the Research for Better Teaching (RBT). RBT is a professional development organization dedicated to improving classroom teaching and school leadership. Founded in 1979 by Jonathon Saphier, Ed.D., RBT works to strengthen organizational culture and to institutionalize the study of teaching within schools and throughout school districts.
The Studying Skillful Teaching program is RBT's cornerstone program for building teachers' capacity - the knowledge and skills as well as the courage and conviction - to promote students' motivation, learning, and increased achievement. It is based on the belief that teaching is a process of decision-making; and that skillful teachers never stop learning through experimentation, data analysis, study, and collegial sharing about what works best for their students. This reflective dialogue is consistently rated by our clients as an invaluable asset for building common and coherent language among their educators.
Thus far in the Skillful Teacher course, through three cohorts, HPS has had 76 teachers and 17 administrators participate. Cohort 4 begins later in the Fall.
There is a course through the same group, Research for Better Teaching, called Analyzing Teaching for Student Results which will also begin in the Fall. This course is for every administrator in the district. It is designed to help administrators to better support the Skillful Teacher course while observing teachers.
Reflecting the national shift towards learning-focused supervision and evaluation, the Analyzing Teaching for Student Results (ATSR) program helps leaders zero in on high-leverage teaching strategies that make a difference to student learning. During the program, participants examine and use both a common language and a concept system about teaching to support any state framework. The program provides multiple opportunities for participants to develop keen observation and analytical skills that will support teachers in building their own capacity to impact students' learning.
It is all part of the big picture mission of making Hauppauge teachers and administrators the best they can be.
Click Here to see the Skillful Teacher Flyer