The TeacherSolutions Teacher Working Conditions (TWC) Team is a group of 14 accomplished teachers from urban districts around the country. In this new report, Transforming School Conditions, they merge their own experience in high-needs schools with the best current education research, to discuss conditions that are needed for teachers to teach all students effectively. Their recommendations for school policy and practice offer a guide to developing systems of support for meaningful and sustainable school reform.
View TWC Virtual Magazine Report here (With embedded media)
View pdf of the report here
View bios and photos of the TeacherSolutions TWC team on the carousel below. (Click on a team memeber's picture to view their bio.)
Brian K. Freeland, Sr. is an AP US History teacher in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. He has been teaching for 15 years and has earned recognition as the CMS Teacher of the Year. Brian also serves in the capacity of a new teacher mentor. Outside the classroom, he works with the Emerging Leaders Mentorship program, designed to holistically improve at risk communities by increasing collegiate readiness and leadership skills of black males through intense academic high school preparation.
Delores Maxen teaches high school math in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Over the course of her career in Indiana, South Carolina, and North Carolina, she has taught all ages from K-college in Computer Literacy, Mathematics, or Teacher Education. She is a National Board Certified Teacher with 32 years experience and is highly involved with the local education association, currently serving as treasurer of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Association of Educators. Delores has participated as a panelist at Columbia University’s Hechinger Institute and taught in the India Summer Teacher Program in Delhi.
Gamal Sherif has been teaching for 18 years in the Philadelphia area. He has Masters degrees from Temple University and the University of Pennsylvania and has history, biology, chemistry and administrative certification. Gamal has facilitated professional development in public and independent school settings across the U.S. Workshops have focused on curriculum design, teacher induction and project-based learning. In 2008, Gamal received his school's “Outstanding Colleague Award.”
Glenda Blaisdell-Buck is an ESL teacher in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and highly involved as a teacher leader at the district level: writing grants; leading professional development in English as a Second Language; assisting administrators with school improvement; and more. Glenda is a frequent contributor to NCAE publications and panels and currently serving as vice-chair of the NCAE NBCT Caucus.
Kathie Marshall returned to her Los Angeles classroom in the fall of 2008 to teach middle grades language arts, after spending six years as a literacy coach for the district. She writes frequently about instructional practice and the teaching life through the Teacher Leaders Network’s partnership with Teacher Magazine and is active in the Accomplished California Teachers organization.
Kristoffer Kohl is a Title I Data Strategist at an elementary school in the Clark County School District. Kristoffer entered teaching through Teach for America, received his Masters of Education in Elementary Curriculum and Instruction from UNLV, and led each group of his students to more than one year’s growth in literacy and math—earning recognition as New Teacher of the Year at his school. Kristoffer brings experience writing school improvement plans, leading staff development, and contributing to the Wiki-Teacher Project to the team.
Larry Ferlazzo Larry Ferlazzo has taught English Language Learners and mainstream students at Sacramento's largest inner-city high school for six years. Prior to teaching, he was a community organizer for nineteen years, and has worked to adapt many of those organizing strategies for the classroom. He is a recipient of several awards, including The Ford Foundation Leadership For A Changing World Award and The International Reading Association Presidential Award for Reading and Technology. He is the author of "English Language Learners: Teaching Strategies That Work" and the co-author of 'Building Parent Engagement in Schools." Larry writes a popular blog for teachers and a website for students. He also writes a blog for educators and parents particularly interested in parent involvement/engagement issues.
Leona Bost has been teaching for 13 years and currently serves as a fourth grade teacher in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. She is a National Board Certified Teacher and now supports her peers through the certification process as a facilitator/reader. Leona is currently participating in CMS’ New Leaders for Tomorrow Program—a cohort that will help shape strategic planning for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.
Lori Fulton has been teaching for 16 years and serves as a science mentor at an elementary school in the Clark County School District. Lori has authored a book, Science Notebooks: Writing About Inquiry, and acted in leadership roles on three National Science Foundation grants, the Using Data Project, Assessing Science Knowledge (ASK), and Mathematics And Science Enhancement (MASE). Lori has also worked with the LASER Center’s Science Education Literacy Initiative and was an Academy Fellow in WestEd’s National Academy for Science Education Leadership. She is currently involved in the Association of Teacher Educators (ATE) Leadership Academy.
Mona Madan is a 12th year middle school Spanish teacher in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. She is foreign language department chair of the curriculum council and has adapted existing curricula to articulate an IB program in foreign languages for the district. Mona studied Spanish in Mexico, Spain and Costa Rica. She is also a Professional Development Master Teacher in CMS and has led school-based staff development on topics from technology to authentic assessment.
Susan Rambo, a National Board Certified Teacher, has been teaching for 23 years and is currently an elective teacher at a junior high school in the Clark County School District. She is the elective department head at her school; a presenter in her district’s New Teacher Training Cadre; and a fellow of the Southern Nevada Writing Project. Susan has supported her school in roles ranging from sponsoring the school’s chapter of the Mighty Milers running team to serving on the school improvement team and is currently working toward her PhD in education.
Taylor Ross spent the past four years teaching first grade at a rural, high needs elementary school in Jefferson County, Alabama. She is now the Exceptional Education teacher at another Title 1 school in the same district. Taylor successfully completed the TakeOne! NBCT program and is currently a candidate towards full certification. She is actively involved in the Governor's Commission on Quality Teaching and is a strong member of the Teacher Leaders Network.
Mitzi Durham is a National Board Certified Teacher at a high school in the Clark County School District. She is her school’s English department chair, a member of the learning improvement team and the mentorship coordinator at her school. Mitzi is also currently on a task force for course alignment as well as interim testing revision with the district.
