The intended goals of the TLC (Teacher Leadership and Compensation) system are as follows:
- Attract able and promising new teachers by offering competitive starting salaries and offering short-term and long-term professional development and leadership opportunities.
- Retain effective teachers by providing enhanced career opportunities.
- Promote collaboration by developing and supporting opportunities for teachers in schools and school districts statewide to learn from each other.
- Reward professional growth and effective teaching by providing pathways for career opportunities that come with increased leadership responsibilities and involve increased compensation.
- Improve student achievement by strengthening instruction.
To that end the task force at Benton Community is developing a system based on the Instructional Coach Model - one of three options available for consideration. Under the plan three additional teacher leadership roles have been identified - model teachers, instructional coaches, and curriculum/professional development leaders. Within the plan design the district must demonstrate a good faith effort of selecting at least 25 percent of the teacher workforce to serve in leadership roles.
The task force continues to meet regular and plan to share a draft of the plan with the school advisory committee at a joint meeting scheduled for December 11th. A special thank you to members of the task force engaged in this work.
