Posted by:
Aaron Listhaus
K-12 Classroom teacher
Long Island, NY

Topic:
Collaboration from the Beginning

Message:
The best way to collaborate with teacher unions is for them to be part of the reform effort. Teacher unions must be part of the decision-making process from the very beginning. Too often, we allow ourselves to get trapped into a labor versus management paradigm that forces both sides to stake their positions, rather than solve problems collaboratively.

Successful professional development hinges on two components: articulating clear goals for student achievement and developing support mechanisms for teachers so that they can enable their students to achieve at higher levels. By thinking about both components, teachers, like the students we serve, will understand what is being expected of them and what support systems are in place to will enable them to achieve their goals.

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