NPT, NCTAF and MetLife Foundation Host Town Hall Meeting on Partnerships in Schools that Support Quality Teaching and Learning

May 9th Panel Discusses Strategies to Improve Student Outcomes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - May 9, 2007 - Turning around low-performing schools can seem like a daunting task, but educators say the spirit and power of teamwork makes all the difference in the world.

The National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF), MetLife Foundation, and Nashville Public Television (NPT) today convened a town hall meeting to discuss how state and local partnerships can support collaborative teaching efforts that improve learning for Tennessee’s students.

"Our ability to prepare millions of children for the 21st century knowledge-based economy will heavily depend on the ability of educators developing school environments where great teaching and learning can thrive," said NCTAF’s President Tom Carroll. "Unfortunately, there are too many schools that are lagging behind in this effort."

According to NCTAF, teachers leave the profession in droves because many schools are stuck in an old factory-era model that fails to encourage collaborative, supportive work environments. Almost half of new teachers leave the profession in five years. The problem is particularly acute in low-income communities, where one in five teachers leave each year. Principal turnover is just as alarming, with four years or less in one school as the typical stint for many.

"Schools with teacher and principal churn are never able to develop successful learning cultures because they are constantly rebuilding their staff," said Carroll.

"Supportive relationships are important if we want to retain teachers and better ensure student success," said Sibyl Jacobson, president of MetLife Foundation. "NCTAF is well positioned to promote the importance of collaborative learning teams as a way to strengthen our schools."

Carroll, NPT Director of Education Jo Ann Scalf and NPT President and CEO Beth Curley welcomed town hall attendees, and Tennessee Department of Education’s Urban Education Specialist Gwendolyn Watson moderated the discussion on what it means to create a culture of collaboration and success in schools. Panelists were representatives from state and local leadership, higher education, K-12 schools, and non-profit education organizations, all of which are key partners to help schools improve learning. Included in the panel were Brenda Elliott-Johnson, principal of Stratford High School; Starr Herrman, Director of Smaller Learning Communities for Metro Nashville Public Schools; Steven Moats, director of the Tennessee Exemplary Educators program; Vivian Morris, Professor Education, Assistant Dean for Faculty Development in the College of Education and Director of the New Teacher at the University of Memphis; Connie Smith, Tennessee Department of Education and Janet Wallace, lead teacher for Stratford Information Technology Academy at Stratford High School.

"At NPT, we understand the value of partnerships and collaboration," said Curley. "Partnering today with NCTAF and MetLife and welcoming the education community into our home - to facilitate a discussion on how educators can reap the rewards of collaboration - is a perfect example of different entities coming together for a shared purpose."

In addition to the discussion, Nashville’s Stratford High School was featured in a video produced by Nashville Public Television’s Outreach Coordinator Nancy Nikolai that aired during the town hall to showcase the positive impact of teacher collaboration. In 2006, Stratford was removed from the list of schools at risk for state takeover for the first time in eight years. Principal Brenda Elliott-Johnson attributes this success to building a team of educators, students, parents and community members who believe children can and want to succeed. In the past three years, the school’s graduation rate has increased from 38% to 54%.

NCTAF encourages educators to share best practices, join forces to solve problems and work together to support student achievement and success.

Nashville Public Television is available free and over the air to nearly 2.2 million people throughout the Middle Tennessee and southern Kentucky viewing area, and is watched by more than 600,000 households every week. The mission of NPT is to provide, through the power of traditional television and interactive telecommunications, high quality educational, cultural and civic experiences that address issues and concerns of the people of the Nashville region, and which thereby help improve the lives of those we serve.

The National Commission on Teaching and America's Future (NCTAF) is a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C.  NCTAF is dedicated to providing every child with competent, caring, qualified teaching in schools organized for success.  With a network of 23 partner states and links to professional educational organizations across the nation, NCTAF provides leadership on innovation and improvement in teaching and learning in America’s schools.  For more information, visit NCTAF’s website:  http://www.nctaf.org.

MetLife Foundation supports programs that increase opportunities for young people to succeed, give students and teachers a voice in improving education, create connections between schools and communities and develop leadership. The Foundation works with national nonprofit organizations to develop a variety of programs, many of which address issues raised each year in The MetLife Survey of the American Teacher. For more information about MetLife Foundation, please visit http://www.metlife.org.

NASHVILLE, TN - May 9, 2007 - National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future’s President Tom Carroll introduces a panel discussion and town hall meeting, sponsored by MetLife Foundation, at Nashville Public Television’s offices to discuss how state and local partnerships can support collaborative teaching efforts that improve learning for Tennessee’s students. Pictured, from left to right, are Carroll; Brenda Elliott-Johnson, principal of Stratford High School; Janet Wallace, lead teacher for Stratford Information Technology Academy at Stratford High School; Starr Herrman, Director of Smaller Learning Communities for Metro Nashville Public Schools; Connie Smith, Tennessee Department of Education; Steven Moats, director of the Tennessee Exemplary Educators program and Vivian Morris, Professor Education, Assistant Dean for Faculty Development in the College of Education and Director of the New Teacher at the University of Memphis. Credit: Joe Pagetta/NPT.

NASHVILLE, TN - May 9, 2007 - Nashville Public Television President and CEO Beth Curley (middle) poses with National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future Director of Communications & Public Policy Outreach Karen Abercrombie (left) and NCTAF President
Tom Carroll at a panel discussion and town hall meeting, sponsored by MetLife Foundation, at NPT’s offices to discuss how state and local partnerships can support collaborative teaching efforts that improve learning for Tennessee’s students. Credit: Joe Pagetta/NPT.