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CLICK HERE for the PDF Version of the National State Teachers of the Year 2012-2014 Strategic Plan
Introduction:
Since 1952, states and some territories have annually selected state teachers of the year (STOYs), representatives of the profession who exemplify exceptional teaching. In the early 1980s, a group of STOYs came together to discuss how they could more effectively influence policy discussions around the teaching profession. From these efforts, the National State Teachers of the Year (NSTOY), a teacher-led network of some of the nation’s most outstanding educators, was established. The organization, chartered in 1984, serves as a community of learning, bringing exemplary teachers together to share and discuss effective teaching practices and policies.
Over the years, NSTOY has collaborated with national organizations such as the National Teacher Hall of Fame, the Dolly Parton Foundation and Kappa Delta Pi to spotlight excellence in teaching. Additionally, the organization has engaged in service learning projects to promote networking and professional growth, and has awarded scholarships for education majors to help recruit effective teachers. Though the organization has continued to exemplify exceptional teaching through these accomplishments, its direct impact on education policy has been limited.
One year ago, a group of STOYs began meeting regularly to consider how they could amplify and sustain their voice in policy and practice once their year of recognition as a STOY is complete. Many of these STOYs have been participating in state and federal policy conversations. Examples include:
- Invitation to serve as member of the U.S. Delegation and Planning Team for the 2011 and 2012 International Summit on the Teaching Profession
- Participation in a conference call with Secretary Duncan at the request of the U.S. Department of Education (USED) and meetings with USED officials to discuss teaching quality issues (2011)
- Chairing and participating in the National Education Association’s Commission on Effective Teachers and Teaching (2011)
- Invitation to and participation in the 2010 Singapore Education Conference (2010)
- Participation in the National Teacher of the Year virtual community run by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and the Center for Teaching Quality (CTQ) (2009-2011)
- Invitations to and presentations at Kappa Delta Pi International Biennial Convocations (2007, 2009, 2011)
- Participation in the drafting and launching of the Teacher Leader Model Standards developed by the Teacher Leadership Exploratory Consortium (2011)
- Meetings with U.S. senators and representatives, which led to the introduction of the Teachers at the Table Act in the U.S. Congress (2008)
- The drafting of a statement of Ten Principles for the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind (2007)
This active group of STOYs soon realized that a unified organization providing a collective voice for exemplary teachers could accomplish far more than individual STOYs alone. The group reached out to the NSTOY executive board, which agreed to consider a new strategic plan for the organization. Several executive board members and engaged STOYs formed a Steering Committee of 21 teachers of the year (see Appendix for a complete list of Steering Committee members). This Steering Committee, along with a subset of its members, an eight-person Planning Team, raised initial investments from the American Federation of Teachers and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to support strategic planning and organizational capacity-building. The Committee, supported by an education policy consulting firm, has been meeting regularly since May 2011 to determine the organization’s theory of change, including goals, strategies, outputs, outcomes and the ultimate impact that NSTOY hopes to accomplish.[i] The NSTOY executive board passed a resolution agreeing to support the recommendations of the Steering Committee and honor the results of the strategic plan.
The Steering Committee has grounded its work in a new vision for America’s schools, one that rewards collaboration, innovation and effectiveness and is not hindered by traditional school structures. The strategic planning process included an analysis of existing organizations to determine their contributions toward achieving this vision and to the field in general, and to identify unmet needs. It also included an internal assessment of NSTOY’s strengths and weaknesses to determine the organization’s unique value-add in making this vision a reality.
These analyses culminated in the Steering Committee’s adoption of NSTOY’s new theory of change:
By promoting differentiated roles and responsibilities for teachers along a career continuum, talented teachers will be recruited and retained, effective teaching will increase, and students’ learning and development of 21st century skills will improve.
The plan includes NSTOY’s steps toward implementing and fulfilling this theory of change, including goals, strategies and activities, as well as metrics to measure outputs and outcomes for accountability. A new governance structure, staffing plan and estimated three-year budget are also included. Risks that accompany any new organization are addressed with clear mitigation plans. The plan concludes with specific next steps for implementation.
NSTOY is ready for the next chapter, and this strategic plan is a roadmap to reach the desired impact of the organization: to increase student success by attracting and retaining highly effective teachers.
CLICK HERE for the ENTIRE National State Teachers of the Year 2012-2014 Strategic Plan |
