Teachers Know Best: Teachers’ Views on Professional Development

Every teacher has strengths and weaknesses—so what happens when teachers who are weak in some areas pair with teachers who are strong in those areas to share their skills? Findings from an initiative developed by the Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) suggest that when teachers work together, everybody wins—and grows.

In this open letter to teachers, I am restating my claim that teachers are the experts. I urge teachers to talk with other teachers about their practice, and raise their voice about what they need to help their students learn.

Summers usually offer educators a moment to take a breath and recharge. But this year was different. With the pandemic disrupting the country, district and school leaders were overwhelmed, trying to devise plans for schools for the fall, whether remote, in person, or hybrid.