The school system in Douglas County, Georgia, has been a High Schools That Work site for most of this decade. Its emphasis is on honoring and using the skills of outstanding teachers. Small schools can have a tough time finding candidates for positions requiring specialized knowledge, especially in science. That's a challenge that requires creativity to meet, says David M. Hill, director of school improvement for the Douglas County school system. Fortunately, today, with the kind of technology that's available, you can get training without the teacher ever having to leave the site.
Outstanding teachers get extra training, which they share with colleagues.
These are conducted by teacher leaders. Teachers identify more easily with another teacher than with a college professor. The teacher leaders' classrooms are always open to drop-in visits by colleagues. The feedback we've gotten is fantastic. Above all, however, what Hill emphasizes is raising expectations.