Thirty-Eight 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.

Thirty-eight school districts have been added to the state system, bringing the total number of districts in the teacher leadership system to 332 of 333 Iowa districts in the 2016-17 school year.
  
All Iowa school districts have applied to join the teacher leadership system. The 38 newly accepted districts will implement their teacher leadership plans in the 2016-17 school year. The remaining district, Riceville Community School District, will refine and re-submit its plan for approval.
 
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.
 
Newly accepted districts in the Heartland AEA area are Melcher-Dallas, Pleasantville and Southeast Warren.