Blogs on Teacher Compensation

We continue our week long Virtual Deeper Learning Community of Practice where we hope to engage the Edutopia and larger education community in an online dialogue about teacher practice for deeper learning. We are exploring the following question from multiple perspectives -- exemplary practices, policy, professional development and coaching teachers towards deeper learning.

It is a truth universally accepted that teachers -- most, if not all -- commit to the classroom because they love what they do. But shouldn't they be paid well, too, and prized for their contributions to society? That's the question posed by American Teacher, an absorbing, insightful and ultimately depressing documentary that joins the national fray over teacher compensation and turnover.

In last week's post, part one, I fantasized about what a credential program might look like years down the line. Now I'm going to take a look at the staff, differentiating the credential, and curriculum.

This column inaugurates my biweekly blog on Edutopia.org. I'm excited to contribute to our site on a regular basis and will be writing about the interesting people and places I encounter. I'll also be discussing some themes and stories from my upcoming book, Education Nation: Six Leading Edges of Innovation in our Schools (Jossey-Bass, July), based upon our recent work at Edutopia, linking to many of our films, articles, and resources.