By Kate Gottfredson and Megan Gilbertson
Teachers are the single most important in-school factor to raising student achievement. As Arizona’s policymakers wrestle with tough budget decisions, they have expressed concern about how these decisions reflect the ways in which we value our teachers and support teacher pay. As State Rep. Paul Boyer, a teacher himself, recently pointed out, teachers are best supported when their schools recognize the significance of their work and are committed to raising expectations for all learners.
When our lawmakers make the choice to fund what works, high quality schools should continue to have the funding flexibility to make decisions that support great teachers and, in turn, serve the best interests of students.
As a state that has long valued public school choice, Arizona now has some of the most remarkable public charter schools in the country. For the last two years, public charter students have outperformed the state average on AzMERIT. Arizona’s charter students have also surpassed their peers on the Nation’s Report Card. Our teachers deserve tremendous credit, as they are the ones propelling students from all corners of the state to the top. It is worth noting then, that the connection between being able to recruit and retain great teachers and deliver strong results for kids is not accidental; rather, it is embedded into the fabric of high quality schools.
Many of these high performing public charter schools are successful because their local leaders have been given the flexibility to create strong learning environments for students and supportive professional environments for their teachers, all while operating very unique educational programs.
Below are three of their stories. As these schools prove, high quality schools have the greatest impact on students and teachers, and use their resources to fund what works.
Valley Academy
Shawnee Baca, a first grade teacher at Reid Traditional Schools – Valley Academy, recently told the House Education Committee that her school has molded her into the best teacher she can be. “I would have never known the kind of teacher I could be if I had not found myself at Valley Academy surrounded by incredibly supportive administrators and master teachers ready to share their wisdom,” she said. Valley Academy is one of the first public charter schools established in Arizona. As a school created by parents and teachers, Valley Academy respects the role of teachers and values their participation and school leader Heidi Mitchell has has worked hard to engrain this philosophy in the overall school culture. Since 1995, Valley Academy has offered a high quality back-to-basics, traditional education for students in grades K-8 in north Phoenix. In addition to being one of the highest performing schools in the state, this charter school has a very high teacher retention rate, in part because leaders include teachers in every aspect of their decision making.
Espiritu Schools
Espiritu Community Development operates three schools in an underserved area of south Phoenix. Against all odds, through a steadfast determination that all students can achieve at the highest levels, Espiritu has become one of the top performing public charter school networks in Arizona. The Espiritu educational philosophy, consisting of a rigorous dialogue between ability and character, seeks to develop students beyond the classroom and establishes an environment where Servant Leaders are formed. Espiritu recognizes the need to create and foster a positive and respectful culture that extends not only to their students, but also to their teachers. “Espiritu has found its formula to create a positive sense of community and family between staff, students, and the larger community. We value our teacher’s opinions and incorporate them in the decision making process on a daily basis,” said Executive Director Adrian Ruiz. “School leadership communicates often that education on the respective campuses are a collaborative effort, and in doing so, they recognize the diversity of experience and ideas that are represented by their staff.”
Mission Montessori Academy
Educators have the ability to inspire students to think beyond their school walls, and Mission Montessori Academy has made that their mission. The K-8 public charter school and 2015 Charter School of the Year has provided a global education to its Scottsdale students since it was founded in 2000 and is consistently ranked among the state’s highest achieving schools. School leaders at Mission attribute their success to its global focus, combined with the Montessori philosophy of education, which focuses on a child’s social, psychological and physical development. In order to achieve this, Mission Montessori pours a lot of resources into teacher development, sending teachers to a rigorous program that prepares them for providing a Montessori-based education in a charter school. As a result, the school’s teachers are among the most qualified in the state. “We want the best Montessori teachers,” said Superintendent Deborah Summers.
These schools have found a formula that works: a strong culture for teachers that yields academic results for students, and they’ve done so with a funding system that allows them the flexibility to be innovative. In order to continue that success, Arizona must grow schools like Valley Academy, Espiritu and Mission Montessori, and maintain flexibility in any new funding provided to K-12 education.
