Statement of Support from Stefanie Stanford

Senior Policy Officer, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

 

In our work in high schools across the country, we have advocated the new
3 R's: a rigorous curriculum for all students; relevant content and experiences that tie curriculum to the real worlds of college, work and citizenship; and relationships schools where students are known and each student has an adult advocate.

Our experience has vividly illustrated to us that teachers are not interchangeable and that meaningful whole school reform and the creation of great new schools - depend on the ability to build a high-quality team committed to a common mission. Educators need the ability to build a team, choose an environment and be appreciated and rewarded for quality work. This work by The New Teacher Project is an important contribution to the critical conversation of building a world-class teaching profession for the 21st century and assuring that top talent is drawn to the neediest schools.