MPS Presentation: The New Teacher Project

As one of our key partners, the Minneapolis Public Schools is pleased to invite you to attend a presentation sharing the results of a recent study conducted by The New Teacher Project (TNTP), “Strengthening School Staffing in Minneapolis Public Schools.”

Monday, May 18, 2009, 6:00 pm-8:00 pm

807 NE Broadway

3^rd floor Assembly Room

Last spring, MPS unveiled its 2007-2012 Strategic Plan, which set as its goal: Every Child College Ready, with specific sub-goals for academic achievement and closing the achievement gap. Two of our core strategies focus on talent:

• Develop a highly effective principal corps with capacity to establish and lead outstanding instructional teams and
• Develop a high performing teacher corps, and provide professional development and supports to get excellent results for all students.

In September 2008, with support from the Robins, Miller, Kaplan and Ciresi Foundation, MPS retained The New Teacher Project to analyze the District’s human capital policies, contracts and practices, including teacher recruitment, hiring and staffing processes; teacher and principal evaluation processes; teacher and principal pipelines and teacher retention.

At this meeting the MPS team leaders from The New Teacher Project will present their findings and recommendations for increasing the concentration of high quality teachers in MPS schools. Pat Pratt-Cook, Chief of Human Resources and Accountability, will discuss next steps to move this critical work forward, and there will be opportunities for Q and A and discussion.

Please RSVP to Chrissie Carver (chrissie.carver@mpls.k12.mn.us or 612.668.0543) if you are able to attend this important session. If you are unable to attend (and we recognize that there are several important community events also occurring on the 18^th), we will be hosting another session, likely the week of June 1^st. Please let us know if you20would like to be contacted with the information about that event. The formal presentation to the Board of Education is being given tonight, May 12^th, and will be available by podcast on our website along with the written presentation.

Thank you for your consideration, and we hope you can attend on the 18^th.

Dr. William J. Green, Superintendent

Bernadeia Johnson, Deputy Superintendent

Pat Pratt-Cook, Chief of Human Resources and Accountability

The New Teacher Project

Founded by teachers, The New Teacher Project was formed in 1997 to address the growing issues of teacher shortages and teacher quality nationally. In its first year, TNTP embarked on projects to create and implement high-quality alternative routes to certification programs to bring new streams of accomplished individuals into hard-to-staff urban schools. Since then, TNTP has worked with more then 200 school districts and has become a nationally –recognized authority on new teacher recruiting and hiring. TNTP partners with educational entities to 1) increase the numbers of outstanding individuals who become public school teachers and 2) create environments for all educators that maximize their impact on student achievement. TNTP four core service areas include: Teacher Fellows Programs, Staffing Initiatives, Training and Certification Programs, and Policy and Research.