“Let’s also remember that after parents, the biggest impact on a child’s success comes from the man or woman at the front of the classroom.” -President Obama, State of the Union Address, January 25th, 2011
As many of you heard on Tuesday January 25th, the President of the United States and the federal government understand the importance of improving teaching quality. While government plays a huge and important role in education, individuals across the country can make a difference NOW by supporting organizations that are improving teaching quality today and every day.
Our team at the Center for High Impact Philanthropy will be releasing a special report entitled “High Impact Philanthropy to Improve Teaching Quality.” In this report we profile organizations and approaches that evidence shows make a difference in the lives of high-need students, from better teacher training to school environments that enable great teaching and accelerated student learning. Given the importance of the policy environment, the report also addresses the way in which government policies can enhance, impede, or sustain the impact that individual donors seek in improving teaching quality.
Deborah Kenny, founder of Harlem Village Academies, wrote A Teacher Quality Manifesto in the Wall Street Journal, which highlights the effects of creating a positive teaching and learning environment. To that, we responded with Teachers Are People, Too. Today’s Morning Joe on MSNBC featured Deborah Kenny, along with NBC news correspondent Tom Brokaw, as they discussed the President’s State of the Union emphasis on the need to invest in effective teachers.