MHTC President Chris Anderson, through his position as former Chairman of the state Board of Education, is working with the major stakeholders in public education - teachers, employers and policymakers - to create a more globally competitive education system for math and science instruction in our state’s public schools. Two of the Council’s Directors, Ray Stata, chairman of Analog Devices, and Henri Termeer, chairman & CEO of Genzyme, are taking the private sector lead in developing and implementing a strategy for invigorating the pipeline of technology employers by focusing on the importance of early math and science education.
A collaborative effort is emerging with the participation of the state’s technology and education leadership in support of an implementation plan to establish:
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School and District Empowerment (Systems Change) – fostering innovation at the school building by bolstering infrastructure, policy and administrative improvements to support a world class education system and the economic/education strategic plan; and
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Educator Quality (Capacity Building) – targeting changes needed to recruit, train and support teachers and educational leaders in a way consistent with the economic/education strategic plan.
In 2006, Board of Education Chairman Chris Anderson assembled a panel of technology, government and education leaders to reinforce the importance of moving from discussion to implementation of actions related to these two objectives.
The following action plan outlines a strategy to help align all of the stakeholders behind this important challenge. We believe it is important to examine teacher recruitment, training, retention, and professional development in the broader context of our public education system as a whole.
Action Plan
We have established a collaborative effort lead by the major stakeholders in public education - teachers, employers and policymakers – to identify changes in the Massachusetts public education system necessary to create a more globally competitive system for math and science instruction in our state’s schools. This effort will also lead the way for the system-wide licensure and professional development initiatives now underway at the Department. With the sense of urgency ascribed to this effort by leaders of the state’s technology economy, we believe Massachusetts will gain ground in developing and implementing a strategy for invigorating the pipeline for the workforce of tomorrow.
The fundamental mission of these efforts is focused around recruiting, training and supporting the best math and science teachers in the world, specifically:
School and District Empowerment (Systems Change):
Commonwealth Pilot Schools – Initial conversion of four chronically underperforming schools to pilot schools. Expand pilot school program statewide offering it to all interested schools
Extended Day Initiative – Expand extended day programs to all schools
Differentiated Compensation – Adopt professional norms for teacher pay
21st Century Skills – Revise academic standards to strengthen global competitiveness
Elementary Math and Science Specialists – Reconfigure delivery of elementary math and science education
Benchmarking – Begin benchmarking process that compares student achievement globally as well as domestically using TIMSS assessment
Educator Quality ( Capacity Building):
Math and Science Teacher Development Centers – Build math and science capacity through recruitment, preparation, development and evaluation. Establish partnerships among higher education institutions and school districts to run and organize this effort. Modeled on North Carolina M-S Networks
Recruitment – Revise teacher licensure and certification standards to attract professionals and ensure excellence in teaching. Set goal of 3,000 new math and science teachers by 2010
Support – Substantially increase support for classroom teachers and enhancing the status of the teaching profession through better induction/mentoring practices, career ladders, leadership roles, and other professional incentives
Improve Educator Quality – Support educator quality bill, induction and other measures. Improve principal and administrator training to provide enhanced ability to work effectively with teachers
There is a wealth of ideas supported by research or past practice in Massachusetts and elsewhere that might be considered. Support for these initiatives in whole or in part would be a significant step toward implementation—the sooner the change, the sooner the beneficial results for our students and teachers
Leadership Team Members:
Ray Stata, Analog Devices (Co-Chair)
Chris Anderson, Mass. High Technology Council (and BOE member)
Sen. Robert Antonioni, Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Education
Karla Baehr, Superintendent, Lowell
John Bertucci, MKS Instruments
Gary DiCamillo, GW Premier America
Chris Gabrieli, Mass 2020
Tom Gosnell, AFT Massachusetts
Paul Grogan, Boston Foundation
Bill Guenther, Mass Insight
Rep. Pat Haddad, House Chair, Joint Committee on Education
Bill Olsen, Superintendent, Westford
Tom Scott, Mass. Association of Superintendents
Doug Sears, Boston University
Anne Wass, Mass. Teachers Association
Jack Wilson, University of Massachusetts
