U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joined seven fellow national education leaders last month in signing a shared vision for the future of the teaching profession during the opening 2012 Labor Management Conference in Cincinnati.
“Lessons and best practices from talented teachers is the driving force behind this shared vision for transforming the teaching profession,” said Duncan. “The principles outlined in the document represent ways to strengthen and elevate teaching as one of our nation’s most valued and respected professions.”
The shared vision, Transforming the Teaching Profession, focuses on three main goals: 1) high levels of student achievement judged by multiple measures; 2) increased equity through narrowing achievement and opportunity gaps; and 3) increased global competitiveness. Seven core principles make up the elements of achieving these goals. They include:
- A culture of shared responsibility and leadership;
- Recruiting top talent into schools prepared for success;
- Continuous growth and professional development;
- Effective teachers and principals;
- A professional career continuum with competitive compensation;
- Conditions that support successful teaching and learning; and
- Engaged communities
U.S. education leaders developed the shared vision following the 2012 International Summit on the Teaching Profession held in New York City in March. The event gathered teachers, union leaders, and education ministers from 23 high performing and rapidly improving countries and regions to share ideas and best practices for elevating teaching and improving student performance.
The 2012 Labor Management Conference brought together state and district teams nationwide to spotlight local work around the next generation of great teaching. Over a dozen state and district presenters showcased their work, which includes elements illustrated in the vision document such as collaborative working environments, career ladders, differentiated compensation, college and career ready standards, and community engagement to support classroom instruction.
For more information on the core principles, please visit http://www2.ed.gov/documents/labor-management-collaboration/2012-shared-vision.pdf
