FARGO, N.D. – Fargo Public Schools and Northern Cass School in Hunter are exploring the use of a so-called ‘lead teacher’ program that would move away from a single-teacher-to-classroom model.
North Dakota is the first state that won approval for the apprenticeship program that would have several teachers involved in a single classroom, with one instructor serving as the leader.
15 teachers in the two districts will head to Arizona this month to see the system in action and receive specialized training.
“Right now we’re certainly in exploration mode and trying to learn more about this,” Fargo Public Schools Superintendent Doctor Cory Steiner told The Flag.
Steiner, who was the superintendent of Northern Cass Schools before taking the same job in Fargo, says they’ve already seen how the possible system could operate.
“We learned about a district in Michigan that had about 500 kids and they were doing it just in second grade with two sections,” said Steiner.
Steiner further explained how the program would work and how it would alleviate instruction planning and would become “a shared responsibility.”
“You would see a certain group of kids might be learning about science and there might be a couple people working with them,” said Steiner. “You might have another group that’s doing some ELA [English Language Arts] or another doing health and you have teachers who are really moving to kids, instead of the kids moving to the teachers.”
Steiner says a lead teacher would serve as a coordinator “to make sure there’s a cohesive plan linked with the objectives and where the kids are in their learning and where they need to go.”
Steiner also suggested it could benefit the bonding process between students and teachers.
“Instead of having the one teacher connected to their 25 kids which is always great and strong, now we’re going to have even more adults with strong connections with kids,” said Steiner. “And we know that kids that are connected and feel that they belong are successful in our school systems.”
But Steiner was asked if it could have the opposite effect on a student who might feel less of a connection with multiple teachers in the room.
“When you go to a model like this, you have to be even more purposeful or intentional with your relationships with kids so that doesn’t happen,” said Steiner.
Steiner believes it could also help with teacher retention.
“That’s part of the reason we struggle at times to retain teachers and why people struggle with work life balance,” said Steiner. “So if we can get a team of people and they know that that team is there for them, I think you’re going to see people who want to stay in the occupation.”
Steiner was also asked if it could lead to additional expenses if a lead teacher is paid a higher salary.
“It can actually have a positive impact on your budget while also paying people more to do the lead role,” said Steiner. “In most districts this has been cost-neutral or actually reduced costs, but you do have to see an increase in class size.”
