The Missing Link

Why is it that extraordinary efforts to transform our public institutions and address our social problems often lurk in the shadow of negative news headlines? On the very day that the front page of the Los Angeles Times featured a report that blasted teachers and their poor preparation, a revolutionary $8.2-million grant to dramatically alter the preparation and training of California teachers received minimal notice. It appears that shaming our teachers and the quality of their training nationwide is more important than recognizing new, unprecedented philanthropic investments in possibly long-lasting solutions.

The Weingart Foundation grant, submitted by the Los Angeles Educational Alliance for Restructuring Now and the Los Angeles Annenberg Metropolitan Project, is a remarkable result of months of tough negotiations among California leaders from K-12 public and higher education institutions, two groups rarely challenged to cooperate with each other, even in the area of teacher professional development.

Without the strong commitment of the Weingart Foundation, the leaders from the California State University system, LAUSD, the Long Beach Unified School District and United Teachers Los Angeles may never have put their turf battles and fault-finding aside to cocreate this revolutionary plan to revamp K-12 teacher training. The five-year grant is far-reaching, fundamentally changing pre- and in-service training of teachers by the CSU system, which graduates one out of every 10 of the nation’s teachers. The grant, based on buy-in and stakeholder participation, bottom-up planning and tying the training to specific school site needs and goals, is also remarkable for its alignment with schools’ current reform efforts.

The Weingart Foundation grant will join K-12 teachers and CSU faculty to redesign teacher education curriculum and provide training at newly created professional development centers. These professional development centers initially will be established at three school-based sites and will provide CSU students who are earning their teaching credentials with hands-on training, coaching and opportunities for observing demonstration lessons at neighboring classrooms. Teachers-to-be will experience practical training with top-notch teachers and university faculty as coaches by their side.

Ultimately, the success of educational reform depends on what happens in the classroom. Teachers offered state-of-the-art training and the best coaches available are more likely to be enthusiastic themselves and, in turn, motivate their students to new levels of understanding and a desire for further learning.

The media ought to congratulate leaders and organizations for investing in teachers and future teachers who, though they may lack the necessary experience and training, have the dedication to fulfill the educational needs of our children. Public awareness and support for efforts such as this one are crucial to keeping our educational vision alive for all our children.