Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/812811
R E M O VI N G T H E S T I G MA Despite accolades for PAR , it is often viewed as a vehicle to eliminate "bad teachers" instead of a pro- gram to help struggling teachers thrive and remain in the profession. The Oakland Education Association (OEA) has worked hard to change teachers' perception of PAR from being negative and punitive to something that is positive and supportive, says President Trish Gorham. OEA and the district spread this message via fliers and multiple email blasts to let teachers know con- fidential coaching is available for veteran and new teachers who self-refer into the program. Another way to communicate that PAR is committed to help- ing teachers is by encouraging those who have been through PAR to discuss their experiences with peers at staff meetings and union gatherings. One of these is OEA member Vu Nguyen. For 16 years he's been a math teacher at Oakland High S cho o l . L ast year h e b egan t eachin g c omput er science and engineering. The new courses, and a d j u st i n g t o th e n e w st a t e st a n d a rd s , c re a t e d difficulties for him in the classroom, and he was referred to PAR. "My consulting teacher, Hope Tollefsrud , gave me honest feedback about the things I needed to improve on . Inst ead of s o much dire ct instr uc - ti o n , I n e e d e d t o h av e stu d e n t s c o l l a b o ra t e a s a group. I cam e to see that I was n er v ous to let students work on their own because I wanted to be in charge of ever ything. I had to learn how to let go so students could solve problems on their own and think for themselves." At first he was reluctant to talk about PAR with colleagues, but it's gotten easier. "I tell them to have an open mind. For me, PAR was a blessing." Oakland created its PAR program in 2001. When hard times hit, it stayed alive, but just barely. "Our program was greatly diminished, but we hung on val- iantly," says Gorham. Over the past three years, PAR has expanded to include new teachers dealing with the pressures of teaching students severely impacted by poverty and often trauma. SJTA's Shannan Brown and SJUSD Assistant Superintendent Rick Messer presented the new evaluation system that includes PAR. MY CONSULTING TEACHER HAS HELPED ME FIND MY TEACHER VOICE. I AM TAKING A MORE DELIBERATE APPROACH TO CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT AND PREPARING LESSONS." — PETER LIMATA, OAKLAND EDUCATION ASSOCIATION 26 cta.org FEATURE