NCTAF and Pearson Achievement Solutions Recognize Exemplary Learning Teams from Georgia, New Jersey, and North Carolina

Recipients to Discuss the Benefits of Collaborative Learning Teams for Students and Teachers

Washington - July 15 - The National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF), and Pearson Achievement Solutions, today announced their selection of the 2008 Exemplary Learning Teams Award winners.  This is the second year that NCTAF and Pearson have partnered to shine a spotlight on learning teams from across the nation and recognize their outstanding work in moving toward a collaborative teaching model focused on improving student achievement.

The schools and/or districts being recognized this year are: Newark Public Schools (Newark, New Jersey), the Wake County Public School System (Raleigh, North Carolina), and Woodland Middle School (East Point, Georgia). Honorees were recognized at an Awards Luncheon on July 11 at the 2008 NCTAF Symposium in Washington, DC.  Educators from each school spoke about the impact learning teams are having on teaching and learning in their schools and districts, as well as how they built collaborative teams, the obstacles they faced, and points of leverage they used to push the process forward.

Newark Public Schools – Newark Public Schools began to implement learning teams three years ago in twelve schools (elementary and middle) located in a low-income region of the district.  The staff is organized into grade-level and instructional leadership teams with the principal and cross-district teams that meet once a month. The teams use common assessments and teaching interventions to respond to student needs and improve learning.  Eleven of the twelve Newark schools with learning teams have now achieved AYP.

Wake County Public School System – Wake County began using learning teams four years ago with the help of a local education foundation. Noting that learning teams are “the way we do business from the Board room to the classroom.” each school determines the structure of its teams and establishes meeting schedules and goals.  Schools use common objectives and assessments to determine where students are doing well and where they may be struggling.   According to the 2008 yearly survey of teachers, 98% of Wake County Public Schools teachers agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “My students are learning more because of my [Professional Learning Community].”

Woodland Middle School – Woodland’s restructuring into learning teams happened in partnership with Georgia State University and its Cross Career Learning Community (CCLC) model. Teachers participate in content-level teams, grade-level teams, CCLC’s, and a whole-school team.  The school has recently begun building vertical teams with the elementary feeder schools and the high school. Teachers say that the resulting success in student achievement has afforded teachers the time and energy to focus on character education as well as academic preparation.

“We are excited by the great examples of teamwork demonstrated by these educators.  We hope that more schools will follow their lead,” said NCTAF President Tom Carroll.  “We must stop thinking of teaching as an individual accomplishment and, instead, build a clear understanding that 21st century teaching and learning requires collaborative teamwork.”

Pearson Achievement Solutions brings a strong track record of researching and advocating for learning teams.

“Learning Teams breaks the mold in the world of teacher training by bringing teachers together with a trained facilitator so they can learn from each other.  We are committed to this important partnership with NCTAF and to highlighting the importance of collaboration in improving performance, increasing teaching effectiveness, and closing the achievement gap,” said Beth Wray, CEO of Pearson Achievement Solutions. “When teachers are empowered to work as a team, it becomes a win-win for everyone.”  

Building on the belief that being a learning team is a process, not a destination, and should be recognized in all stages of development, the Pearson Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Pearson, has provided a supplementary grant to seed the development of more schools and districts that embrace a collaborative model. The Pearson Foundation has sponsored 18 Fellows to attend the 2008 NCTAF Symposium and learn from the awardees how to begin the process of implementing successful learning teams in their schools.  Throughout the next year, these Learning Teams Fellows will be engaged in a collaborative dialogue with NCTAF, experienced Pearson Achievement Solutions staff, and other districts recognized for their learning teams achievements.  The Fellows will use these conversations to guide them as they develop learning teams in their own schools. The 2008 Fellows come from Fairfax County Public Schools (Virginia), Prince George’s County Public Schools (Maryland), and the District of Columbia Public Schools.

An Advisory Board of education policy experts, researchers, and practitioners set the criteria for this year’s Learning Teams award. The three teams were selected from a group of fifty-two schools/districts who were nominated.

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About the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future

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 coalition of 25 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: www.nctaf.org.

About Pearson Achievement Solutions, Inc.

Pearson Achievement Solutions develops and delivers sustainable district-wide professional learning programs that transform the culture of teaching and result in schools organized for success with increased student achievement and teacher retention. Pearson Learning Teams services are built upon 15 years of research and have been validated through a six-year quasi-experimental scale-up study funded by the Spencer Foundation.

Pearson Achievement Solutions is committed to improving teaching and ensuring that every child has equal access to an exceptional education. The company is part of Pearson Education, the world's leading integrated education company, which in turn is part of Pearson (NYSE: PSO) the international media company. For more information on learning teams and how Pearson Achievement Solutions can help your district meet and exceed federal and state mandates, go to http://www.PearsonLT.com.

About the Pearson Foundation

The Pearson Foundation extends Pearson’s commitment to education by partnering with leading nonprofit, civic, and business organizations to provide financial, organizational, and publishing assistance across the globe. The foundation aims to make a difference by sponsoring innovative educational programs and extending its educational expertise to help in classrooms and in local communities. More information on the Pearson Foundation can be found at www.pearsonfoundation.org.

Contact:
Karen Abercrombie
Director of Communications &
Public Policy Outreach, NCTAF
(202) 464-1945
kabercrombie@nctaf.org