The Long Beach United School District (LBUSD) sent out a "cadre of teacher coaches" into the field in 1998 to improve academic achievement, reduce teacher turnover, and help implement the district's standards-based reforms. All coaches were expert teachers with many years of experience, chosen for their demonstrated excellence and their success in adapting their teaching to the district's standards-based model. Their overarching responsibility is to help teachers use the district content standards to raise student achievement.

Each coach specializes in a specific subject - math, science, English, history - and works four days a week to mentor new teachers, model instruction methods, and help select and use resources. In addition to these content coaches, the school district provides a variety of first-year teacher coaches who help inexperienced teachers learn classroom management, essential elements of effective instruction and other important skills. The California School Board recognized LBUSD's Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Project (BTSA) as an exemplary and effective program by giving it the 2001 Golden Bell Award for High School Professional Development.

First-year teacher Jason Marshall's enthusiasm suggests the positive impact the coaches have on the school: "I go home smiling every day," Marshall said. "I don't feel frustrated. Just yesterday we spent a few hours just picking (our history coach's) brain and working with her to try to create lesson plans for the next six weeks. We've got clear ideas about how to tackle each lesson we're going to be doing. I don't feel burdened. I feel excited about coming to school."

Marshall said some of his students had discipline problems at the beginning of the year, but he believes his fellow teachers' collaborative efforts made the difference."Hamilton is known as a tough school to work in. For a first-year teacher at this school, it's pretty difficult. But I was able to get help from all four of our coaches. In classroom management, they all have their own style and you can choose what you like. They come in the class and model for you or give you tips. It's been an unbelievably positive year."

Contact:

Pat Kishi
Office of Curriculum, Instruction, & Professional Development
New Teach/BTSA Project Coordinator

Phone: (562) 997-8476

Email: jpistoia@lbusd.k12.ca.us
Web site: http://www.lbusd.k12.ca.us/curriculum/BTSA/btsa.htm