Outside Looking In

I am currently a teacher in training at Johns Hopkins University. My goal when I graduate is to become a high school English teacher. I have always envisioned my classroom as one that would inspire like Stand and Deliver and Dangerous Minds. That seems a bit cheesy and I will be the first to tell you that; I know it will be a lot harder to conduct a classroom than those movies portray. The bottom line, however, is that I love teaching and I invest a lot in my students. I am certain that I will be an excellent teacher.

So, why would I want to teach in Baltimore? Baltimore schools are struggling and there is no doubt that there is excellent student potential; it has that Hollywood beginning to it. But the more I hear about the administration, the more I tend to shy away from Baltimore. I had the chance to speak to a panel of charter school teachers and they all left the system because of lack of administrative support. I attended a school board meeting where I saw countless people issue complaints about the lack of support for their children. We can even scroll through this blog and find harsh critiques of administration. I have even met some teachers who have changed their philosophies about teaching and are looking to leave teaching altogether.

While that can be said for a lot of school systems, Baltimore is at a more critical starting point than most schools. Give a local teacher-to-be a choice between Baltimore and DC, DC is much more attractive. That is because of the display of leadership and the appearance of change you find in Washington. Michelle Rhee seems more responsive to student concerns than what I have seen out of Baltimore.

There is a bureaucracy in place that is killing the system. Apathetic administration is driving out good teachers and attracting equally apathetic teachers. What you are left with is a school system going through the motions. Dr. Alonso has a plan that grants autonomy to the principals, and that is a good first step. I just hope there is going to be some scrutiny of the people he is giving that power to. If not, there may not be a lot that Baltimore can do to attract and retain new and effective teachers.

Leadership. Leadership! Leadership?

Okay, we get it. In order to have an effective school, we need to have effective leaders in those schools. Experience, school data, and research tells us that a school’s principal is a crucial factor in determining student (and teacher) success. They set the tone as well as the rules. We have all probably been around a really wonderful principal at some time in our lives and we have all probably spent time in a school with a less than stellar principal. We know the difference between (How do you find time to sleep?) good and (How did you manage to get a degree?) not good. But where are they? Are they all in charter schools and private schools? Is there a farm where these ambitious, selfless, innovative leaders are grown? Can we buy a leader?

The life of a city principal isn’t glamorous. Their schools’ doors are often open for twelve hours a day with before and after school programs. And if I were the sole leader of that building, I would want to be there as long as those doors are open. And the actual job? Let’s face it. People don’t go to the principal to offer praise. If you want to see him or her, there is usually a problem. It truly takes a special person to run a school. There has to be trust, shared leadership, respect, pride, and of course the commitment to educating our students. So again, where do we find these visionaries and how do we get them to stay in our city? My advice for school boards and principal leaders: accountability, mentoring, recruitment and training.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for our city’s schools and principals. I am also eager to see if Dr. Alonso does stay with us for the full ten years. If he does keep that commitment, I believe it will be a big step in the right direction. He may be the leader that many principals have been looking to follow for years.