The Oak Ridge School system has announced its selections for Teacher Leaders for the 2014-15 school year.
The Teacher Leader initiative was conceived and launched as a result of the Tennessee Department of Education’s push to create a differentiated pay scale for teachers in all counties. The department encouraged systems to either adopt a structure where teachers receive pay bonuses based on student test scores and eliminate increases in pay for advanced degrees or years of service, or adopt programs that ask teachers to take on greater responsibilities in schools.
“When presented with the opportunity to reward teachers for their dedicated and outstanding service, we decided not to get rid of our steps and lanes that reward teachers for their time and dedication to the classroom and earning advanced degrees, but rather recognize teachers that step up and take on greater leadership roles around STEM, analyzing data, and reinforcing professional learning communities,” said Bruce Borchers, Oak Ridge Schools superintendent.
At all Oak Ridge Schools, submissions of applications and interviews took place during February and March. Current Oak Ridge teachers applied for positions, at their individual schools, to get the opportunity to lead their fellow teachers around the integration of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), the continued work of professional learning communities (PLC), and around analyzing and using data to support the STEM and PLC focus in schools.
“The positions of STEM, Data, and PLCs will further our newly created Keys to College and Career Readiness and ensure that all Oak Ridge teachers are on the right track to helping all students be on the pathway to success,” Borchers said.
The Teacher Leaders were interviewed by school and central office personnel, and they are:
- Dee Wright (PLC) and Margaret Johnson (STEM), Oak Ridge PreSchool;
- Kelly McCormick (PLC), Mollie Johnson (Data), and Lauren Blair (STEM), Glenwood Elementary;
- Denise Parten (PLC), Amy Fuqua (Data), and Lisa Buckner (STEM), Linden Elementary;
- Chloe Hughes (PLC), Jim Mansell (Data), and Andrew McDonald (STEM), Willow Brook Elementary;
- Katelynn Olvey (PLC), Bonnie Spangler (Data), Kim Howard (STEM), and Evan Parker (STEM), Woodland Elementary;
- Carmey Sears (PLC), Greta Hensley (PLC), Anita Morgan (Data), and Kathy Strunk (STEM), Jefferson Middle School;
- Michelle Scott (PLC), Mardie Miller (PLC), Catherine Ginel (Data), Melissa Jeter (Data), Todd Livesay (STEM), and Beth McCoy (STEM), Robertsville Middle School;
- Leah Bailey (PLC), Michael Hickman (PLC), Jonathan Oldacre (PLC), Deni Sobek (PLC), Elaine Vaughn (PLC), Heather Lintz (Data), Chantelle Stevens (Data), Keith Jackson (STEM), and Tom Sauer (STEM), Oak Ridge High School; and
- Lars Hondorf (PLC) and Scott Estep (STEM), Oak Ridge Alternative Program.
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