Let's Refocus our Attention on the Student-Teacher Relationship

By Nadine Aarsheim

When teachers are supported and valued, our kids win. Let's refocus our attention on the student-teacher relationship

Studies show time and again that the factors that are most strongly correlated with student success are not teaching trends and classroom environments, but the student-teacher relationship and parental involvement. Remember, curriculum changes over the years and teaching methodologies come and go, but curriculum doesn't teach kids and teaching methodologies don't teach kids; teachers teach kids. The time-honored hallmarks of excellent teachers include their ability to connect with kids, to set clear goals and to give consistent feedback. This is what we should be supporting in our classrooms. In a District such as ours with amazing kids and a incredibly generous and dedicated parent community, there is no reason why our teaching staff should feel unsupported.

Let's return our focus to our primary mission as a district: supporting our teachers and students and what happens in the classroom.