RE: Personnel Development

As one who graduated from San Luis Obispo High School, 30 years ago, nothings changed much it appears!  No wonder you talk of burnout!!

Regarding personnel for Schools, I agree with Brian that there should be sabbaticals for teachers.  Maybe as in the private sector, having more time off the more years you work, as you gain experience they could opt to stay in a district or move elsewhere without a change in benefits.  It seems that maybe for the more challenging areas they could offer more paid time off sooner and bonus monies.   I also think teachers deserve a fair wage and compensation for all their time spent teaching not just in the class room, such as the time spent in grading papers etc.  Teaching should be a desired position, with benefits that out weigh other outside opportunities and to off set the drain from daily pouring in to students.  There should be merit for them encouraging students.  I think the idea of non-tenured or tenure-track seems to be futile, tenured has appeared to refer to a good-ole-boys network many times rather than people trying to find the best of the best.  I've seen teachers who were very good but not politically savvy whose livelihoods were threatened not because they were bad teachers but they weren't in with the in crowd.  I've seen tenured teachers who stop teaching once they reach this status and bide their time because they can't get fired.  Give them an early retirement or something but get them out of the system to make room for the qualified ones, who love kids and genuinely want to see them learn and grow!  Some tenured folks need a sabbatical to get them back on track!  Lets let them teach.  

I also feel that you should have teachers who know how to teach specific subjects, not having a teacher with no experience with History teach History because they didn't hire someone with this knowledge base. Teachers need to be hired based on the level of need and either qualify them to be an expert in an area or higher someone who meets the criteria.