Improving overall quality starts as early as the hiring process. To acquire the best possible candidates, hire outside of the teacher's immediate qualifications; some schools conduct teaching style assessments to determine whether a strong fit exists between the teacher's methods and the school's ideals. Equal distribution of teachers and responsibilities across all school divisions is also important. This technique develops a level of accountability between teachers to raise their own teaching standards.
According to Sabrina Laine's book, "Improving Teacher Quality," there is a direct proportion between the quality of teachers and the quality of the teaching environment. A proper teaching environment includes clean facilities, adequate supplies and access to the school's financial resources. School administrators may conduct group sessions with their staff in determining these needs; teachers can report on which types of services have been working well with their students and offer ideas on additional facilities to integrate into their classes.
Schools need to regularly monitor teacher performance to keep a consistent level of quality across all academic divisions. For example, schools can conduct peer classroom assessment with the staff. Each teacher would be assigned a partner and will evaluate his partner's class. The teacher would rate the other's content, style and level of student activity. The benefit of this activity is two-fold; school administrators would see the level of teaching performance on a teacher-by-teacher basis and will foster a sense of equity between teachers and their respective abilities.
Teachers, especially those in rapidly evolving fields such as science and technology, may go through training programs to expand their knowledge and expertise. Activities include a mentorship program in which newly hired teachers would be trained by industry experts and senior teachers on their content and classroom style. Schools can encourage teachers to go through enrichment programs by offering bonuses and pay increases; some schools may even require completion of these programs before a teacher can receive tenure.