Teachers’ voices make a difference
Terry Holliday A guiding principle for our work in Kentucky is that we do the hard work of reform WITH teachers and not TO teachers. What does this principle look like in practice? In 2011, Kentucky implemented the TELL Kentucky Survey to allow teacher voice on key working conditions such as facilities, resources, leadership, professional development, time, etc. In 2011, more than 80 percent of teachers in Kentucky responded to the survey and in 2013 administration, more than 86 percent of teachers responded. In the first three weeks of the 2015 survey more than 60 percent of teachers and other [...]
Four big myths about top-performing school systems
Terry Holliday I came across an interesting article recently on results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The PISA evaluates education systems worldwide by testing 15-year-olds in key subjects. The man in charge of the PISA tests, Andreas Schleicher, the Director of education and skills with the Organisation for Economic Co‑operation and Development (OECD), says the evidence from around the world reveals some big myths about what makes for a successful education system. Due to space, I have provided only four of the seven myths. While you may or may not agree with the author’s interpretation [...]
Feedback, engagement critical to schools, students continued progress
Terry Holliday No matter how busy my schedule gets as Kentucky’s education commissioner, I am always interested in receiving feedback. That’s one of the many reasons I meet regularly with staff, connect through social media and visit schools around the state. The comments, questions and ideas I receive from all of these and many other activities are invaluable, and I believe help Kentucky continue making gains toward its goal of every child graduating from high school college and career ready. Public engagement is critical for our education initiatives and efforts to succeed. That’s why I want to encourage [...]
SB 97 implementation: one educator’s thoughts
Kentucky Department of Education Chief of Staff Tommy Floyd is Commissioner Terry Holliday’s guest writer this week. He shares some of his experiences and thoughts on the implementation of the higher compulsory school attendance age and how it is really focused on helping each and every child in Kentucky become successful. Tommy Floyd I vividly remember the first high school dropout I encountered. He and I started kindergarten together. One day during our sophomore year, he told me that he was on his way to the office to meet his mom to sign out of school, not just for the [...]
A delicate balancing act
Terry Holliday As a parent, it is always difficult balancing between supporting your children and monitoring their behaviors and actions, which in some cases may require a disciplinary follow through. Teachers face a similar balancing act – supporting and nourishing students while also monitoring student behavior and academic performance. Principals confront the challenge of supporting teachers, but also monitoring instruction and academic results of classroom teachers. Superintendents and school boards experience the same balancing act with principals and school leadership. And the Kentucky Department of Education also must address this same type of balancing act. We often question [...]
Fixing a broken law
This blog is the third in a series about the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act. My two previous blogs, Let the games begin and Grappling with testing questions provide additional background information. Terry Holliday This week, it was my honor to represent Kentucky and my fellow chief state school officers at a U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension (HELP) committee meeting. I was one of five individuals to testify. The committee heard from a researcher, local superintendent, high school principal, a teacher and me. Each individual had five minutes to give prepared remarks. Readers may [...]
Reauthorizing NCLB: Let the games begin
Terry Holliday For the first time in years, it appears there may be serious talk of trying to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. Its most recent iteration, the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001, was due for reauthorization in 2007, but as with its predecessor, political acrimony has held up progress. However, recent activity in Congress signals the best chance for reauthorization in the last eight years. Of course, if we are to see reauthorization, both the Senate and House must agree, which will take some Democrats in the Senate crossing the aisle, and [...]
Education and the State of the Commonwealth
Terry Holliday It was my honor to attend the State of the Commonwealth speech last week when Gov. Steve Beshear made his eighth and final such address. A written copy of the full speech is available online, as is a video and audio recording courtesy of KET. It was very exciting to have the governor list the amazing accomplishments in Kentucky that have taken place over the last seven years. He emphasized health care, workforce development and business climate accomplishments in the speech. And when citing progress, he often mentioned education, which has been realized with the vision [...]
Employers part of team on career readiness
Terry Holliday More than ever before, preparing students to become college- and career-ready (CCR) involves a close partnership among K-12 schools, higher education and the business world. Two events from December illustrate that point. The first involved the “career” aspect. The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) released a report urging that states take several steps to make career readiness a more important goal. I chaired the task force, made up of education leaders from around the nation, that produced the report. A survey taken in June 2013 found that 54 percent of American companies reported they [...]
A model for superintendent evaluation
Terry Holliday At the December Kentucky Board of Education (KBE) meeting, the board finalized my evaluation and agreed upon the goals that will be used for my 2014-15 evaluation. Viewers may read my evaluation summary and see the goals that KBE set for me for 2014-15. The Kentucky Board of Education has used this process during my tenure and on numerous occasions the board has strongly recommended that local superintendents and school boards use a similar process. Over the past three years, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has worked with stakeholders to develop a superintendent professional growth [...]