Educate Oklahoma: Iowa Teacher Leader

Oklahoma voters will decide this November whether to add a one cent sales tax dedicated to education.

A big chunk of the money would be set aside for teacher raises. But would that be enough to improve Oklahoma schools? If you ask folks in Iowa, the answer is a resounding no. 

At some point in every week in every classroom in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, you'll find two teachers. One for the kids, one for the teacher.

Karen Phillips is what is called an instructional design strategist.

“I coach teachers. I actually carry with me the six steps that we're looking for when we meet with teachers to co-plan,” says Phillips.

She spends time in every classroom in her building once a week, followed by a planning session with the classroom teacher. Together, they review strategy and look to the week ahead.

It’s all part of Iowa's teacher leadership program, enacted by the legislature just three years ago. Ryan Wise is the director of Iowa's Department of Education.

“Iowa for decades was the national leader in education excellence,” says Wise.

But, when those standards began to slip, the legislature looked for the most effective way to improve education and decided simply giving teachers raises, wasn't enough.

“Iowa has made a significant financial investment in this,” says Wise. “You can throw resources at schools and if you do not provide and support and provide leadership for the adults in that school setting, then you've wasted your money."

So Iowa put the spotlight on empowering teachers. Their education reform raised the salaries of starting teachers and tied other bonuses to leadership roles.

In Cedar Rapids, 500 teachers participate in 42 different jobs covering everything from classroom Instruction to building maintenance.

Melissa Hawking went from 19 years in the classroom to overseeing the leadership program in eight buildings.

“This gives them another place to grow professionally and another career path to go on. And another way to make more money,” says Hawking.  

For Hawking, it means $10,000 a year more and is keeping her in the profession for the long run, which is the kind of statement that caught the attention of Oklahoma State School Superintendent Joy Hofmeister.

“We're very encouraged by what's been accomplished in Iowa,” says Hofmeister.

Hofmeister included the framework for a teacher leadership program as one of her top priorities to the legislature this year and while it didn't get a lot of attention, it did pass.

What the legislature didn't approve is money to pay for it. Still, Hofmeister believes the Iowa model is the future of education and she's optimistic the tide is turning.

“I believe this is a new day. People understand that we have a new focus on professional development,” says Hofmeister.

This is the second year for the program, so test results are preliminary. But education leaders are excited. As for the teachers, they say the number one comment they hear, is "thank you".