Staying current on research and best practices is the single most effective contribution a teacher can make to improve the school in which he or she works. Qualified teachers may bring a sizable amount of knowledge and experience to work each day, but being open and willing to receive more training sends a message to the administration and the community that there is always more to know. Additionally, there are multitudes of resources for teachers to hone skills in all aspects of working within schools, as well as grant sources, special workshops with paid tuition or stipends, or even workshops provided by companies who can provide low-cost or free educational materials for teachers attending the seminars.
The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education supports research that teachers who receive high quality preparation are more likely to remain in teaching and to inspire higher student achievement. Consistent with strong pre-teaching development is the importance of continued content knowledge acquisition. Research shows that a teacher with strong content knowledge is more likely to present instruction to students in ways that link to what they can comprehend. Further, knowledgeable teachers can more critically evaluate instructional materials and adapt them to students’ current understanding, particularly in the science and math fields.
Early childhood education may be the most effective way to influence development of children’s academic, social and cognitive learning. High quality education in the early years of preschool provides measurable results in helping children succeed in school, and is shown to prevent achievement gaps. Teachers who support and advocate for programs like Head Start and Child Care Development Fund are demonstrating the importance of pre-kindergarten education and quality child care.
Teachers who “walk the talk” and enroll their own children in local public schools are demonstrating a strong belief in public education. Working phone banks to pass local bond measures, attending school board meetings and turning out for PTA meetings and social events are other ways teachers endorse the value of public education. Because teachers often overextend themselves, a staff meeting may be a good place to start the conversation. Could teams of teachers rotate attendance at these extracurricular events so that no one teacher assumes too much of the after-hours volunteerism? The value of having staff attend these kinds of events speaks volumes to the community about teacher priorities in education. Further, inspiring parents to become more involved by extending invitations to spaghetti dinners, pot luck meetings, and family nights encourages the participation of parents in prioritizing school as key within their busy schedules.