CLARKSVILLE —
Clarksville Middle School voted 77 percent in favor of implementing the System for Teacher and Student Advancement, also called the TAP program, recently.
The program is aimed at improving educational techniques while opening it up so that teachers can earn performance-based bonuses, according to a press release from the school corporation.
Originally, 46 Indiana schools — including Clarksville High School — were chosen to participate, if teachers voted in favor of the program. The high school’s teachers voted in favor last month. The middle school was invited later to look into the program after a spot opened up.
The Indiana Department of Education is working with the Center of Excellence in Leadership of Learning at the University of Indianapolis to implement the program at selected schools.
“We are laying the foundation for the success of young people. We must raise the bar to get our young people where they need to be academically so that they can succeed in high school and in whatever path they choose in life,” said Greg Moe, principal at CMS, in the release.
“It’s going to be very exciting to have a [grade] five to 12 cohesive, aligned national school improvement model that focuses on helping students improve and helping teachers improve while rewarding and recognizing those improvements,” said Superintendent Kim Knott in the release.
The program involves professional development, with teachers working together to discover the best practices.
“This model makes it so that you’re more comfortable really digging in,” said Tammy Haub, who is in her 16th year of teaching, in the release. “The pressure is off when it’s your peers and it’s not punitive. It doesn’t go in your permanent record.”
Performance incentives will add up to $2,500 per year, per teacher. Mentor and Master teachers — who will have added responsibilities — will receive more compensation. The program is being paid for with Teacher Incentive Fund money from the U.S. Department of Education.
The program was developed in the 1990s and continues to grow nationwide, according to the release. In the 2010-11 school year, the TAP system will affect more than 10,000 teachers and 100,000 students.
That is expected to grow to 20,000 teachers and 200,000 students in the 2011-12 school year.
NATIONAL CONFERENCE
The decision to implement the TAP program put the district on the list for a national conference about labor-management collaboration, according to another press release from the school corporation.
The Feb. 15 to 16 conference in Denver is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, American Association of School Administrators, the National School Boards Association and more.
A total of 150 schools that are pursuing reforms that require a rethinking of the traditional labor-management relationship were chosen to attend. Clarksville did not make the original list, but was asked to participate once a spot opened up.
“I think it’s quite an honor. It’s a reflection of what we have been trying to do with the TAP program,” said Board President Bill Wilson. “Being part of a national scale of collaboration, I think, will give us a different and larger perspective. I hope we can learn from other’s ideas and get some new ideas and approaches. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Event sponsors are covering the costs of travel and accommodations for all those invited to participate. Dr. Knott, Wilson and Clarksville Education Association President Elect Trish Vogel will represent the corporation.
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