Letter to Editor: Incentives needed in education for teachers, students

To The Editor:

Governor Jindal has introduced an ambitious education plan for the upcoming Louisiana Legislative session. Although I do not agree with all of his initiatives, I do applaud his efforts to put effective teachers in every Louisiana public school classroom. Research does show that effective teachers are the single most important factor in improving student performance.

I’ve been teaching in Terrebonne Parish public schools for 25 years, and I have seen our school system go through many changes. In that time, I’ve witnessed the impact my fellow teachers and I have. Like many of my colleagues, nothing inspires me more than seeing students master a concept they thought was out of reach, or seeing them make measureable gains in the classroom.While not every day is as successful as most, I stay motivated by my knowledge that all students are able to learn, and I must do my best to help them. Upon reflection, I’ve seen how I could have done a better job helping a student, and I’ve tried to learn from those experiences.

Continuous learning is vital to any profession, and I often wish that my professional development opportunities were in line with where I feel that I need to improve. This is why I am hopeful about the new teacher and leader evaluation system that my district is piloting.

I agree with the proposal to tie pay increases and tenure to a teacher’s effectiveness. Like professionals everywhere, as I practice and improve my craft as a teacher, I believe my ability to help kids learn, not just my longevity, should matter most.

In my parish, the superintendent has begun rewarding teacher performance by tying it to student achievement. Each staff member employed at a school that meets its growth target receives incentive pay. I commend him for rewarding schools that take a true team approach to educating our youth. These efforts recognize and reward the majority of us who make a positive impact in the lives of the children we teach. More importantly, it creates a school climate in which teachers and principals work constructively with their test results to make positive instructional decisions for their students. I believe that Governor Jindal should consider this approach.

I hope Louisiana legislators make passing these initiatives to reward effective public school teachers a top priority during the upcoming legislative session.

Sincerely,

Tara Soudelier

Louisiana Elementary Teacher of the Year