The February newsletter includes audio reflections from former principal and Opportunity Culture Fellow, Jenny O’Meara, profiles of two Opportunity Culture educators named regional Principals of the Year, and much more. Read the February 2022 newsletter here.
Beverley Tyndall
An Opportunity Culture® Principal Reflects
In this first Opportunity Culture Audio piece, we hear from Jenny O’Meara, who until 2021 served as a principal for a middle school using Opportunity Culture roles. O’Meara worked in Edgecombe County Public Schools in a rural part of North Carolina, which has taken its Opportunity Culture implementation district-wide.
Losing our teachers: High turnover, shortages, burnout are a problem for our schools and children
From Northern Kentucky Tribune, February 21, 2022, by Jan Hillard
Every year our schools face the persistent problem of teachers deciding not to return to their schools. Over half a million teachers leave or change schools each year. Schools that serve lower income students often see turnover rates that are 50% greater than other schools. In addition, non-retention rates are 70% greater for math and science teachers.
High turnover rates present significant costs for schools. Nationally, the problem of teacher non-retention costs upwards of $8.5 billion each year. The Learning Policy Institute estimates that teacher turnover costs school districts $20-30,000 for every teacher who leaves the district. Non-retention, coupled with the cost of new recruitment, can total 150% of a departing teacher’s salary.
Read more…
The Great Resignation Hasn’t Hit School Teachers Yet. Here’s Why It Still Might
From CNET, February 14, 2022 by Antonio Ruiz Camacho
The pandemic may be the last straw for a profession mired in stagnant pay, compounding demands and endemic burnout. The situation has some asking if the field of teaching needs a reset.
It took just a simple question for Andria Nelson to grasp how different the world of education was from everything else. Nelson had quit her teaching job just months into the 2020-21 school year and taken a job as a communications specialist for a transportation company. Her innocent request—seeking someone to cover for her so she could go to the bathroom—raised some amused eyebrows around the office. Read more…
A Culture of Opportunity
From Odessa Living Magazine, Winter 2021, by Avery Pullin
When Dr. Scott Muri was hired by Ector County ISD, it wasn’t just his knowledge of student learning he brought with him. He also knew how to develop teachers. One vital tool he implemented at ECISD was a new initiative: Opportunity Culture.
Though grants were given to kickstart Opportunity Culture, it is now a fully sustainable, self-funded program that allows the district to utilize their best teachers to train other teachers on their team. These teachers, known as multi-classroom leaders (MCLs), go through a rigorous interview process both with the district and with campus administration. They must show their knowledge of teaching students, coaching colleagues, and analyzing data. Read more…
Dr. Valerie Bridges on Innovative Edgecombe County Public Schools
Dr. Valerie Bridges, superintendent of Edgecombe County Public Schools, says the district strives to stay innovative to benefit students and teachers.
NC Superintendents of the Year on Their Opportunity Culture® Districts
Dr. Valerie Bridges and Dr. Anthony Jackson, 2022 and 2020 recipients of the A. Craig Phillips North Carolina Superintendent of the Year award, describe how the Opportunity Culture initiative has improved student outcomes and increased teacher retention in their districts.
Para Las Familias Con Barreras Lingüísticas, ¿Qué Ha Funcionado Bien En El Aprendizaje A Distancia?
Muchos distritos que usan la iniciativa de Opportunity Culture atienden a un número significativo de estudiantes cuyas familias hablan principalmente español. ¿Cómo les afectó el cambio a la metodología de aprendizaje a distancia que se produjo en la primavera de 2020? y ¿tuvieron alguna experiencia educativa nueva que quisieran que continuara después de la pandemia? Para averiguarlo, entrevistamos a una madre y a su hijo provenientes de siete familias diferentes y de cinco distritos de Opportunity Culture, desde pequeños distritos rurales hasta grandes ciudades.
For Families with Language Barriers, What Worked in Remote Learning?
Many Opportunity Culture districts serve significant numbers of students whose families speak primarily Spanish. How did the spring 2020 shift to remote learning affect them, and did they have any new educational experiences that they wish would continue post-pandemic? We interviewed a parent and child from seven families in five Opportunity Culture districts—from small rural to large city districts—to find out.
District hires associate super
From OA Online, September 15, 2021
The Ector County ISD Board of Trustees voted 6-0 to approve Anthony Sorola as associate superintendent of operations. Sorola, who was OK’d during a Tuesday night workshop, replaces Stephanie Howard, who is now superintendent at Crane ISD….
… An evaluation of Opportunity Culture conducted by Texas Tech University indicates that the program is working well in Ector County ISD, especially during a pandemic year. According to the presentation, students perform better on standardized tests when taught by teachers in the Opportunity Culture program. Read More…