It is difficult to achieve, especially in schools with many children living in poverty and few qualified or experienced teachers, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Crowded classes, lack of time, poor scheduling of planning periods, the solitary nature of the work and high teacher turnover are among the obstacles. The report said a professional community was important to a school's effectiveness, along with strong leadership, constant student assessment and other factors. As the professional community works together to establish common goals and accomplish meaningful change toward those goals, the whole school is enriched. Today at Mann, teachers work together during class, at meals, after school and during the summer, when many attend writing, science and other seminars around the world.
Teachers routinely coordinate curriculum.
In February, for example, students learned topics related to Black History Month in social studies, music and art. There they presented group-designed lesson plans on ecosystems. Earlier that day, over a breakfast of bagels and strawberries, teachers discussed a Holocaust study project and how to help poor students in South Africa. Teaching jobs have become hard to come by at Mann. Nobody wants to leave the environment Ford has molded despite turmoil in the D.C. school system.