Educators have the biggest impact on student achievement in any type of school. CEAM builds relationships with educators across the state as we work to provide all students with the best educational opportunities possible.
“I disliked the bureaucracy in the public school system. There was a lot of red tape around how to teach and it took the joy and fun out of being an educator. I feel like a first-year teacher again. I feel the joy of educating. This is the first time in my career that I’ve been able to wake up and really feel excited about going to school. ” – Mikael Spears, after his first year teaching at Kansas City International Academy
We work with teachers in all types of schools to help them have the freedom to use their knowledge and creativeness to make lasting change in children’s lives.
Teachers in Missouri public charter schools and private schools have proven over and over again that having the freedom to teach and impact the structure of their school has had a real impact on their success in the classroom.
Educator Effectiveness is the single most important factor, outside the home, affecting student achievement. CEAM is dedicated to advancing policies that ensure the highest quality teachers are in Missouri classrooms.
We all want the most effective teachers in the classroom working with our students, but in order for this to happen, certain policies need to be in place that provide rewards to effective educators and help support educators who may be struggling. CEAM wants to work with educators and not against them because they have the ability to transform learning opportunities for students in the classroom. policies that CEAM focuses on include:
Performance-Based Evaluations Performance-based evaluations require that at least a portion of a teacher’s evaluation be based on a measure of how his or her students perform on standardized tests. Using a performance-based evaluation will ensure that good teachers are rewarded, struggling teachers are supported, and the few bad teachers are dismissed.
Reforming Teacher Tenure In Missouri, tenure for a K-12 teacher is also referred to as an “indefinite contract” and it is awarded after a teacher has taught in the same district for five years. The process of firing ineffective teachers who have already been awarded tenure is very long and costly, which discourages schools from holding teachers accountable for low performance.
Eliminating Last In, First Out (LIFO) Last In, First Out is the practice that many states, including Missouri, adhere to when forced to lay off teachers. This practice requires a district to fire the least senior teacher regardless of performance when layoffs need to be made.