On Opportunity Culture impact:
“We’re seeing the increase, not only in student achievement, but increase in just the climate and the culture on the campus and that feeling of ‘we’re all in this together,’ which I think is one of the elements of Opportunity Culture that we don’t see in a typical coaching model.”—Texas superintendent
“Opportunity Culture gives us that mechanism to reward our finest, our greatest, our most effective educators. It gives them a chance to spread their wings as leaders. It takes the profession to a new level: I’m a teacher and a leader—I have the ability to influence student lives, but also influence the lives of my colleagues.”—Texas superintendent
“We had to kind of navigate what Opportunity Culture looked like during a pandemic, but for last year, having the students back in, we really could fully, fully execute on the strategy that Opportunity Culture provides, and it was a game-changer.”—Area superintendent, North Carolina
It’s something that I wish every school and every teacher and every student could experience.—Elementary School Multi-Classroom Leader
On being a multi-classroom leader:
Being an MCL in Opportunity Culture is literally like my dream job…. I don’t have to give up my lifelong dream of being a teacher and working with kids to have some kind of leadership….That it’s possible to have both makes me feel like I can stay in education forever. —K-8 Multi-Classroom Leader
As a classroom teacher I always felt like I wasn’t having the biggest impact that I could have and now as an MCL I can see the impact across 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. —K-8 Multi-Classroom Leader
If an MCL position had been available when I took on the assistant principalship, more than likely, I probably would not be an administrator, I will be completely honest—I mean, it’s a great opportunity for anybody that wants to take on more leadership roles. —Elementary School Principal
When this position came up, it was really the best of both worlds. … I knew I could extend my reach as a leader and to other teachers, but still be able to have an impact on students, which is what I enjoy the most.” —Elementary School Multi-Classroom Leader
On supporting teachers:
Every time we do a survey… the surveys always say that the best thing we’ve ever done is to create the MCL positions. The teachers feel very supported, they feel like they have a workload that’s doable—and to hear teachers say that, that is a really big deal! —Middle School Principal
Teachers have that safe space [in collaborative team meetings] to talk about ‘hey, I’m really struggling with this’… and they’re actually having a chance to learn with one another.—High School Multi-Classroom Leader
I don’t know how many times I’ve heard from our staff, “I had no idea you even had a first-year teacher on your staff” because of the level of support that they receive from the multi-classroom leaders. —Elementary School Principal
Oh my gosh, this is the best opportunity that I could have ever asked for! I feel like I’ve gone from a first-year teacher to a third-year teacher in six months. —Elementary School Team Teacher
Teachers need support. Veteran teachers, first-day-ever teachers, everybody needs support.—K-8 Multi-Classroom Leader
On being a team reach teacher:
I felt like I was kind of in this same spot in my professional learning and professional growth and being able to step into [this role] and rethink how I’m doing stuff really gave me the opportunity to learn and to grow. —High School Team Reach Teacher
Opportunity Culture really gave me the opportunity to stay and continue to improve my craft and continue to reach these kids. It’s awesome.—Elementary School Team Reach Teacher
Because I was able to have more students, it made me be a better planner, it made me think through every little minor detail that sometimes we forget, which then helped me to see ahead of time where… gaps might be…and led to my students having better achievement.—High School Team Reach Teacher
On creating a team culture:
Opportunity Culture has been an incredible tool for kind of jelling our staff together and creating shared leadership within the building…. Our staff continually talks about collaboration; they talk about the level of support that they feel. —K-8 Principal
Because I am working right alongside with the teachers and they see me working right alongside with the students, there is a lot more buy-in from the teachers…so that just helps build that culture that we’re in this together. —K-8 Multi-Classroom Leader
I’ve seen a positive culture. We’re planning together, we’re working together. We’re doing the hard work—but it’s together, and they know I’m on their side. —Elementary School Multi-Classroom Leader
On higher pay:
The increase in pay makes you feel professional. It makes you feel like somebody values your work and is going to pay you more. —K-8 Multi-Classroom Leader
This is one of the greatest opportunities teachers have to increase their salary as well as increasing their skill set and their leadership abilities. I think it’s an amazing opportunity that you just cannot get anywhere else. —Elementary School Multi-Classroom Leader
On recruitment and retention:
Our teacher retention rate has been the highest it’s been in the last 20 years at this school, and I attribute it to the Opportunity Culture that we have here… because teachers feel like they have leadership opportunities, they have a say in the school, and they also know that their feedback is really valued. —Elementary School Principal
Opportunity Culture really helps with teacher recruitment and retention—who wouldn’t want that level of support? —Elementary School Principal
On student impact:
With the coaching that our MCL’s are providing to our teachers, we saw an increase in the number of teachers who outperform the state in terms of growth of students. —District Superintendent
I cannot express how my kids love coming to school now. And you know why they want to come to school? Because they are getting what they need. —Elementary School Principal
More of what Opportunity Culture educators say:
- Surveys show strong educator support for Opportunity Culture implementation to continue in their schools.
- Read what educators have written about their Opportunity Culture roles.
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