97 School Districts Added to Iowa’s Teacher Leadership System

Iowa Department of Education Director Ryan Wise announced last week the next group of school districts chosen to launch local teacher leadership plans through Iowa’s Teacher Leadership and Compensation System. Ninety-seven school districts have been added to the state system, bringing the total number of districts in the teacher leadership system to 295 (88 percent of Iowa districts).
 
Iowa’s teacher leadership system, which taps into the expertise of top teachers to improve classroom instruction and raise student achievement, is the centerpiece of the state’s landmark education reform package passed by the Legislature in 2013. It is the nation’s most comprehensive teacher leadership system. About 25 percent of Iowa teachers will be in leadership roles when the system is fully phased in.
 
As of this fall, all 336 Iowa school districts had applied to join the teacher leadership system. The 97 newly accepted districts will implement their teacher leadership plans in the 2016-17 school year. The remaining 40 school districts will have an opportunity to refine and re-submit their plans for approval in the next two months. Wise said he is hopeful that all of Iowa’s school districts will join the teacher leadership system by the 2016-17 school year.
 
“I have had the opportunity to visit many school districts with teacher leadership plans, and the feedback has been very positive,” Wise said. “What I’m hearing is that the system empowers teachers and principals to work together in new ways and that teachers have found greater support, opportunities for collaboration, and ownership over decision-making, particularly as it relates to professional development for their colleagues.”
 
A recent report on the first year of Iowa’s teacher leadership system found progress has been made toward each of the system’s five goals, including attracting new teachers, retaining effective teachers, promoting collaboration, rewarding professional growth and effective teaching, and improving student achievement. In addition, students in the first 39 participating school districts saw a jump in proficiency rates on state math and reading tests.
 
School districts are chosen for the system based on recommendations of the Commission on Educator Leadership and Compensation, which evaluates applications.
 
Of the 97 newly accepted districts, the following are in the Heartland AEA service area: Ballard, Colfax-Mingo, Coon Rapids-Bayard, Exira-Elk Horn-Kimballton, Glidden-Ralston, Interstate 35, Lynnville-Sully, Madrid, Martensdale-St Marys, Newton, PCM, Perry, Twin Cedars and Woodward-Granger.