HISD plans innovative new teaching plan for schools

(2/07/06 - KTRK/HOUSTON) (KTRK) -- It's the biggest speech of the year for the superintendent of the state's largest school district. This year Dr. Abe Saavedra focused on rewarding the best teachers with more money. It's not an unusual concept. However, it's how he plans to do it that's considered innovative by some parents and down right damaging to students by other parents.

Just how good can a teacher be if they're not in the same room with you? That's a question raised by parents and critics of Dr. Saavedra's plan. However, the school district is quick to point out students today are eager to learn with new technology.

Paying the best teachers the best salaries is not a new concept. The new pay for performance plan involves a little more. HISD will identify the best teachers, then those teachers would teach classes in different parts of the city at the same time.

HISD Chief Academic Officer Dr. Karen Soehng explained, "There's telecommunication where they can see each other. The teacher can see the students in the other classrooms that are not on site, they can also see the teacher and communicate with the teacher, live."

"I would hate to see the children's time in the classroom be compromised by trying to reach a broader audience," worried parent Jill Satterwhite. "It seems like they should just find more good teachers."

Parent Joe Ramos said, "I think it's a good idea. That way all the other students from all the other school can get the same information and if it's a better teacher, I think everyone can benefit from that."

Gayle Fallon with the Houston Federation of Teachers stressed, 'The single most important thing in a student's learning is the person standing in front of the class. I don't interact as well with a piece of technology as I do with a human and neither do most students."

The program was announced at HISD's state of the school address Tuesday morning. While there are critics to the plan, there are those who see it as a challenge and a way to make more money.

Yolanda Garrido, principal of Barrick Elementary, said, "This way I know the teachers who worked hard throughout the whole year will be rewarded."

The 'distance learning' program would be offered at a limited amount of schools as a pilot program starting in August. HISD will also offer full day pre-kindergarten classes next year, no more half days. It's part of an overall 'college bound culture' HISD wants to create. In other words, not just graduating students but also preparing them for college.
(Copyright © 2006, KTRK-TV)

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