by Harry & Rosemary Wong Special to the Gazette April 1, 2009
The Tools for Success To improve a classroom, school, or
district, we must train the teachers and develop their
effectiveness. John Goodlad, while at UCLA, reported looking at
40 years of educational innovations and did not find a single
one that increased student achievement. What he did find: The
only factor that increased student achievement was the
effectiveness of a teacher. Effectiveness is not a fleeting
concept. What it takes to be effective and how to achieve it is
known. This month we share with you four successful educators
who have seen the benefits of having successful teachers and
know how to bring about these benefits. You work just as many
hours as the education leader in the neighboring school. Their
test scores are higher, their children have fewer behavioral
problems, and their classrooms buzz with learning—and you’re
left to wonder why this is not happening at your school. What
are your colleagues doing that you’re not doing? Th