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What is a Teacher Forum?
The early successes of the South Carolina Teacher Forum resulted in the formation of local District Teacher Forums which have applied techniques and structures learned at the South Carolina Teacher Forum meetings to district or county education issues and policies. District Teacher Forums are voluntary, non-partisan groups of exemplary teachers, whose core membership is made up Campus Teachers of the Year, joined together for the purpose of developing new skills, exercising leadership and self-direction, and exploring collaboratively education policy issues. The forum operates as a cohort, a group that meets multiple times during the year with a shared purpose of learning and serving. The District Teacher Forum aims to develop teacher leadership. The organizational structure of each District Teacher Forum may vary slightly according to the needs and desires of the teachers making it up. However, each Forum agrees to continue the positive and professional spirit of the State Teacher Forum.
Why Should I Start One?
Through local forums, teachers start to break through their professional isolation, meeting across lines which have previously defined grades, subjects, schools, districts, and even counties and geographic regions. The forum process enables educators to comprehensively analyze strengths, areas for improvement, and issues of concern as well as to begin to consider education policy at the building, district, state, and federal levels. Teachers quickly begin to broaden their perspective beyond a single classroom. The Forum’s focus is on building leadership capacity rather than instruction.
Conducting a local forum offers numerous advantages. Current research continues to indicate that teacher support is critical if changes are to come. Policy leaders must ensure that teachers are empowered. Overall, local forums can open the lines of communication for teachers, administrators, and policy leaders; encourage collegiality among teachers; create a vision of educational excellence, while enhancing the public perception of teachers.
In generating support for your efforts to start a forum in your district, being able to outline the benefits to teachers, administrators, parents, and students is an effective way to help others see that a local forum can be a win-win situation for all involved. With that in mind, here is a partial list of benefits. You may want to add to the list.
Conducting a local forum offers numerous advantages. Current research continues to indicate that teacher support is critical if changes are to come. Policy leaders must ensure that teachers are empowered. Overall, local forums can open the lines of communication for teachers, administrators, and policy leaders; encourage collegiality among teachers; create a vision of educational excellence, while enhancing the public perception of teachers.
In generating support for your efforts to start a forum in your district, being able to outline the benefits to teachers, administrators, parents, and students is an effective way to help others see that a local forum can be a win-win situation for all involved. With that in mind, here is a partial list of benefits. You may want to add to the list.
Benefits of a Teacher Forum
To Teachers…
To Administrators…
To Students and Parents…
- Emphasizes professionalism and teacher leadership
- Expands teachers’ visions beyond a single classroom in a particular building
- Generates energy and ideas as teachers assess and seek ways to improve education
- Improves working relationships among teachers, administrators, and policy makers
- Provides an avenue or means to make constructive suggestions and specific recommendations to key policy makers and administrators
- Encourages teachers to become proactive in the educational process rather than reactive
- Increases knowledge of professional community, educational policy, and discipline-related knowledge
- Promotes communication between teachers across grades, subjects, buildings, districts, and perhaps even geographic boundaries
To Administrators…
- Provides the teachers’ perspective on policy decisions
- Creates a sense of partnership among teachers, administrators, and policy makers
- Emphasizes professionalism and teacher leadership
- Encourages teachers to utilize knowledge and skills to work for continued instructional effectiveness
- Gains teacher support through a broader understanding of total school operations and management
- Enhances collaboration among staff
- Promotes teacher utilization and application of current research for educational improvement
To Students and Parents…
- Provides professional teaching expertise and classroom leadership
- Creates a positive school climate and learning environment
- Stimulates discovery of unique ways to meet student needs
- Encourages cooperation among school personnel, parents, community, policy makers, and students
- Enhances teachers’ ability to learn about and use the latest educational research and techniques
- Provides and supports teacher leadership to assist in making educational decisions
Starting a District Teacher Forum: Lessons Learned in South Carolina
Things That Need to Take Place
There are a number of actions required for starting a forum. The sequence in which these steps occur will depend upon you and your particular local situation. These are provided as guidance; feel free to work within the context of your individual situation.
1. Spread the Word
Your district may have made it possible for you to attend the South Carolina Teacher Forum conferences by paying your conference fees and/or granting professional leave for you to attend. Writing or calling your district superintendent to thank him/her for allowing you to attend the South Carolina Teacher Forum conference(s) might provide an opportunity to start the dialogue. Sharing what you have learned through the forum that will help you become a more effective teacher will help validate the forum experience. You may even wish to mention that local forums exist all over the state and how valuable one could be for your district.
Arrange a discussion or meeting with CERRA staff to discuss the establishment of your local forum if you need guidance.
Once your superintendent is on board, the next step is to gather support at the school level. Building principals need to be aware of the professional development opportunities offered by a District Teacher Forum. They will most likely be granting any needed professional leave for forum activities so an informational session or written communication with them would be time well spent. It is important that all groups understand that a teacher forum is a positive professional growth experience and not a gripe session. There is no space within a forum for the airing of grievances.
2. Seek an Administrative Sponsor
After you have received the support of your superintendent and have confirmed interest among Campus Teachers of the Year, you will need to find a sponsor/contact on the administrative end of things. Every successful forum has benefited from the help of a key district staff members who serves as a liaison. Good choices are public relations/public information officers, personnel directors, or subject-level or other type of coordinator. Your administrative sponsor can help provide a comfortable meeting space and necessary supplies (chart paper, markers, name tags or table tents, notepads, folders, etc.), refreshments or meals, assistance with mailings, and typing/copying assistance.
Once you have secured a meeting location, your sponsor may be able to help you with securing release time at the district level. Professional release time for meetings is approached in different ways, but the majority of the forums are provided in-service or release time. Be prepared, however, that administrators may want to see the results of your first year’s work before granting in-service time for forum activities. In this case, it is acceptable to schedule forum events for after school hours.
3. Organize a Leadership Council
The leadership council, as described in the Step by Step Guide, will carry the primary responsibility for organizing the District Teacher Forum. The leadership council should be a diverse yet comprehensive representation of your forum’s membership and should be committed to the teacher forum concept. These leadership council members should also be willing to devote the necessary time and effort to your local forum activities and projects. Many districts include the following members in the leadership council: Current and prior District Teachers of the Year, finalists for District Teacher of the Year, and the sponsor.
4. Draft a Proposal or Mission Statement and a Constitution and By-laws
Creating a vision of what your forum can accomplish and inviting others to share that vision can be an important part of establishing a successful forum. Developing a concise proposal or mission statement for a District Teacher Forum provides an opportunity to clearly explain the rationale behind and benefits of the Teacher Forum.
Many currently existing District Teacher Forums have these documents and would be glad to share copies with you. Many districts fashion their mission statements after the South Carolina Teacher Forum’s mission statement. When you approach administrators with these documents drafted that clearly outline your purpose and proposed activities, your District Teacher Forum has a much greater chance of being viewed as a positive, non-threatening way to channel administrative policies and decisions.
5. Plan Your Meeting and/or Conferences
Once your forum is established, it is time to plan your meetings. Use the guide presented within this document to prepare for the meetings. Careful planning and organizing by the Leadership Council can ensure a successful time of professional collaboration and development.
There are a number of actions required for starting a forum. The sequence in which these steps occur will depend upon you and your particular local situation. These are provided as guidance; feel free to work within the context of your individual situation.
1. Spread the Word
Your district may have made it possible for you to attend the South Carolina Teacher Forum conferences by paying your conference fees and/or granting professional leave for you to attend. Writing or calling your district superintendent to thank him/her for allowing you to attend the South Carolina Teacher Forum conference(s) might provide an opportunity to start the dialogue. Sharing what you have learned through the forum that will help you become a more effective teacher will help validate the forum experience. You may even wish to mention that local forums exist all over the state and how valuable one could be for your district.
Arrange a discussion or meeting with CERRA staff to discuss the establishment of your local forum if you need guidance.
Once your superintendent is on board, the next step is to gather support at the school level. Building principals need to be aware of the professional development opportunities offered by a District Teacher Forum. They will most likely be granting any needed professional leave for forum activities so an informational session or written communication with them would be time well spent. It is important that all groups understand that a teacher forum is a positive professional growth experience and not a gripe session. There is no space within a forum for the airing of grievances.
2. Seek an Administrative Sponsor
After you have received the support of your superintendent and have confirmed interest among Campus Teachers of the Year, you will need to find a sponsor/contact on the administrative end of things. Every successful forum has benefited from the help of a key district staff members who serves as a liaison. Good choices are public relations/public information officers, personnel directors, or subject-level or other type of coordinator. Your administrative sponsor can help provide a comfortable meeting space and necessary supplies (chart paper, markers, name tags or table tents, notepads, folders, etc.), refreshments or meals, assistance with mailings, and typing/copying assistance.
Once you have secured a meeting location, your sponsor may be able to help you with securing release time at the district level. Professional release time for meetings is approached in different ways, but the majority of the forums are provided in-service or release time. Be prepared, however, that administrators may want to see the results of your first year’s work before granting in-service time for forum activities. In this case, it is acceptable to schedule forum events for after school hours.
3. Organize a Leadership Council
The leadership council, as described in the Step by Step Guide, will carry the primary responsibility for organizing the District Teacher Forum. The leadership council should be a diverse yet comprehensive representation of your forum’s membership and should be committed to the teacher forum concept. These leadership council members should also be willing to devote the necessary time and effort to your local forum activities and projects. Many districts include the following members in the leadership council: Current and prior District Teachers of the Year, finalists for District Teacher of the Year, and the sponsor.
4. Draft a Proposal or Mission Statement and a Constitution and By-laws
Creating a vision of what your forum can accomplish and inviting others to share that vision can be an important part of establishing a successful forum. Developing a concise proposal or mission statement for a District Teacher Forum provides an opportunity to clearly explain the rationale behind and benefits of the Teacher Forum.
Many currently existing District Teacher Forums have these documents and would be glad to share copies with you. Many districts fashion their mission statements after the South Carolina Teacher Forum’s mission statement. When you approach administrators with these documents drafted that clearly outline your purpose and proposed activities, your District Teacher Forum has a much greater chance of being viewed as a positive, non-threatening way to channel administrative policies and decisions.
5. Plan Your Meeting and/or Conferences
Once your forum is established, it is time to plan your meetings. Use the guide presented within this document to prepare for the meetings. Careful planning and organizing by the Leadership Council can ensure a successful time of professional collaboration and development.
Forum Structures
The “one-size-fits-all” structure for the formation of a District Teacher Forum is not feasible. The forum should be tailored to meet local needs while staying true to the intentions of the organization. Successful forums have been organized on a district and even regional basis. As you continue reading, remember that meeting the local needs of your teachers, schools, students, parents, and administrators is an important consideration. Creating a structure which best meets the needs of your particular area is vital.
In a similar manner, the various local teacher forums existing in SC have a wide array of membership selection criteria; however, the core membership is always made up of teachers of the year. A Campus Teacher of the Year is an individual who is named as the representative of the school for the academic year, and this person is nominated for the District Teacher of the Year. The District Teacher of the Year is the representative of the district, is nominated for the State Teacher of the Year, and participates in the South Carolina Teacher Forum. In some local forums, teachers may maintain their membership by paying nominal annual dues after their initial year or two of membership. In the majority of the forums, members are given a two-year membership. This does vary in districts with a large or small number of schools where members may serve one year or three memberships.
In a similar manner, the various local teacher forums existing in SC have a wide array of membership selection criteria; however, the core membership is always made up of teachers of the year. A Campus Teacher of the Year is an individual who is named as the representative of the school for the academic year, and this person is nominated for the District Teacher of the Year. The District Teacher of the Year is the representative of the district, is nominated for the State Teacher of the Year, and participates in the South Carolina Teacher Forum. In some local forums, teachers may maintain their membership by paying nominal annual dues after their initial year or two of membership. In the majority of the forums, members are given a two-year membership. This does vary in districts with a large or small number of schools where members may serve one year or three memberships.
Forum Funding
Just as there are many different ways to approach the membership of a local District Forum, there are as many ways to seek funding. In most cases, districts/counties provide the funding for their local teacher forums. However, the amount of money provided and what the money pays for differ greatly from forum to forum. In some local forums, districts pay for refreshments, lunch, substitutes when meetings as held, mailing costs, and/or schedule forum meetings on in-service or staff development days. In other districts, forum participation is an extracurricular activity, with no release or in-service time for meetings, and lunch paid for by the teachers.
Often, many good ideas get turned down early with the response, “It’s a good idea, but there’s just no money.” Planning your first year’s activities ahead of time and preparing a budget, along with a list of possible funding sources can be helpful. Funding sources might include:
When planning activities and a budget, don’t forget to take advantage of resources available to you at no change: e.g., using the Trustee’s Board room as a meeting place, the district’s mail courier, etc.
Often, many good ideas get turned down early with the response, “It’s a good idea, but there’s just no money.” Planning your first year’s activities ahead of time and preparing a budget, along with a list of possible funding sources can be helpful. Funding sources might include:
- District and/or staff development funding
- Business partners for the local forum
- Grants from educational funds and/or consortia
- Membership fees
- Chamber of Commerce Education Committees
- Fundraiser
When planning activities and a budget, don’t forget to take advantage of resources available to you at no change: e.g., using the Trustee’s Board room as a meeting place, the district’s mail courier, etc.
Wrapping Up: Year End Activities
If busy teachers are going to take the time to participate fully in local teacher forum, they will need to see the results of their efforts (as will the administrators and principals). Early in the planning stages, you’ll want to give some thought to what will become of the efforts your teachers devote to their local forum. Even the simplest of things, such as a written yearly report to the Board of Trustees in your district or the administrators in your particular district or schools can be powerful communication tools.
The “wrap up” activities at the year’s end will determine whether recommendations evolve into actions, whether participants feel a sense of accomplishment, and whether the forum will be sustained in its influence and impact. Follow-up and follow-through are essential to an active forum.
The “wrap up” activities at the year’s end will determine whether recommendations evolve into actions, whether participants feel a sense of accomplishment, and whether the forum will be sustained in its influence and impact. Follow-up and follow-through are essential to an active forum.
Keeping Your Forum Alive and Members Engaged
*Believe that the accomplishments are worthy and worth working for.
Gene Maeroff in “Blueprint for Empowering Teachers” states that teachers need to be lifted in three areas: status, knowledge, and access to decision making. The forum affirms teachers as the most credible voice, the most valid authority on the classroom.
*Involve enough strong leaders so that success isn’t tied to one person’s efforts.
All leadership council members need shared responsibilities so that they have ownership. Emphasizing “your local forum” and “our local forum” allows all participants to feel a genuine part of the efforts. Remember that the goal is to develop teacher leaders; allow your council members to develop that capacity.
*Provide for continuity through organizational structure and set this in a constitution and/or by-laws.
Once teachers have participated in exciting Teacher Forum events as a designated representative, they are sure to want to continue this vital professional experience. Consider whether you want your by-laws or constitution to make provisions for enthusiastic members to continue their involvement through a membership plan. This may be particularly pertinent to the members of your leadership council. Involving the teacher participants for more than one year is critical to sustaining their leadership and to perpetuating initiatives as the forum works toward long term goals.
*Continue efforts to ensure commitment of administration and Board.
Superintendents will give time for continued dialogue if you are open and allow them to discuss their agenda with the leadership council. Administrators and school board members realize that a non-partisan gathering of outstanding local teachers can serve the interests of the district as a whole and can have a positive effect on public relations.
*Keep communications going among participants so that the sense of involvement is on-going.
The Leadership Council needs scheduled times to meet throughout the year. A newsletter distributed by building forum representatives to all teachers is one way to promote interest and to expand the influence of the forum.
*Build in some objectives and goals that the forum can readily accomplish on its own.
Everyone wants to be a part of success, and morale depends on the feelings of accomplishment. Establishing realistic short-term and long-term goals allows the forum to be an on-going agent of change for improvement.
Local forums will blossom and grow in their own unique way, influenced by the particular needs and resources of each community. Additionally, if you set goals that are member-driven, the participants will be more engaged and committed.
Gene Maeroff in “Blueprint for Empowering Teachers” states that teachers need to be lifted in three areas: status, knowledge, and access to decision making. The forum affirms teachers as the most credible voice, the most valid authority on the classroom.
*Involve enough strong leaders so that success isn’t tied to one person’s efforts.
All leadership council members need shared responsibilities so that they have ownership. Emphasizing “your local forum” and “our local forum” allows all participants to feel a genuine part of the efforts. Remember that the goal is to develop teacher leaders; allow your council members to develop that capacity.
*Provide for continuity through organizational structure and set this in a constitution and/or by-laws.
Once teachers have participated in exciting Teacher Forum events as a designated representative, they are sure to want to continue this vital professional experience. Consider whether you want your by-laws or constitution to make provisions for enthusiastic members to continue their involvement through a membership plan. This may be particularly pertinent to the members of your leadership council. Involving the teacher participants for more than one year is critical to sustaining their leadership and to perpetuating initiatives as the forum works toward long term goals.
*Continue efforts to ensure commitment of administration and Board.
Superintendents will give time for continued dialogue if you are open and allow them to discuss their agenda with the leadership council. Administrators and school board members realize that a non-partisan gathering of outstanding local teachers can serve the interests of the district as a whole and can have a positive effect on public relations.
*Keep communications going among participants so that the sense of involvement is on-going.
The Leadership Council needs scheduled times to meet throughout the year. A newsletter distributed by building forum representatives to all teachers is one way to promote interest and to expand the influence of the forum.
*Build in some objectives and goals that the forum can readily accomplish on its own.
Everyone wants to be a part of success, and morale depends on the feelings of accomplishment. Establishing realistic short-term and long-term goals allows the forum to be an on-going agent of change for improvement.
Local forums will blossom and grow in their own unique way, influenced by the particular needs and resources of each community. Additionally, if you set goals that are member-driven, the participants will be more engaged and committed.
Final Considerations in Establishing a Local Teacher Forum
- Obtain administrative approval and support
- Programmatic
- Financial
- Seek out exemplary teachers from the eligible membership to form a Leadership Council. Consider finalists for District Teacher of the Year.
- Choose a temporary chairperson. This person is most likely to outgoing District Teacher of the Year.
- Recruit an administrative liaison/technical support.
- Make plans for the first Forum and set the agenda.
- Invite Teachers of the Year into membership.
- Host Forum
- Allow for active participation
- Allow for exchange of ideas
- Follow up
- Invited teachers to become more involved as appropriate
- Leadership Council
- Committees
- Committee Chairs
- Project Manager
- Officers
Active Teacher Forums
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Aiken - @AikenTchrForum
Anderson 1 Anderson 2 Anderson 3 Anderson 4 - Facebook Page Anderson 5 Barnwell 19 Barnwell 29 Beaufort Berkeley - @BCSDTeachForum Calhoun Charleston Cherokee Chester Chesterfield - Facebook Page Clarendon 1 Clarendon 3 |
Colleton
Darlington Dillon 4 Dorchester 2 Dorchester 4 Edgefield Fairfield Florence 1 Florence 4 Georgetown Greenville - @gcsteacherforum Greenwood 50 Greenwood 52 Hampton 1 Hampton 2 Horry Jasper |
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Kershaw
Lancaster Laurens 55 Lee Lexington 1 Lexington 2 Lexington 3 Lexington 4 Lexington 5 Marion Marlboro McCormick Newberry Oconee Orangeburg 3 Orangeburg 4 Orangeburg 5 |
