Denver Public Schools Teacher Compensation Design Team April 23,

2 Overview of Current Teacher Leader Roles

Teacher leader overview summary There are a number of roles teachers can fill in a school during their careers at DPS This project is particularly focused on teacher leadership roles: teachers with instructional leadership responsibilities who continue to spend at least a portion of their time in the classroom - Other instructional leadership roles and policy/operational positions can be considered in developing potential teacher career pathways Current teacher leadership roles reflect a collection of initiatives that are not highly integrated. Application can vary widely by school.

There are many positions teachers can fill at some point in their career at DPS Admin Assistant Assistant Principals Blended Learning Coaches Collaborative School Committee member CSR Coach CSR Team Lead Curriculum Coordinator Data and Assessment Partner Data coach DCTA Area Representative Dean DTR Lead Teacher Department Head Early Childhood Education Outreach Early Literacy Vertical Team Lead ELA-S Vertical Lead Electives Team Lead Facilitators Grade chairs IB Coordinator Instructional Coach Itinerant Lead Teacher (MSLA, CMS) Math Fellows Supervisor New Teacher Mentor Panel member PDU Leader Peer Observer Principals Professional learning facilitator Site Assessment Leader School Data Culture Lead School Tech Specialist Short Cycle Assessment Lead SCAP Coach School Improvement Partner Site Coordinator (DTR, UCD) SPED Outreach Teacher Ambassador Teacher Effectiveness Coach Teacher Leader Academy Roles TIF Differentiated Roles

DPS Leadership Roles Sorted by Broad Responsibilities Description Teachers with instructional leadership responsibilities who continue to spend at least a portion of their time in the classroom Other instructional leaders who are not currently teaching Additional positions teachers can take on beyond instructional leadership Roles CSR Team Lead Department heads DTR Lead Teacher Early Literacy Vertical Team Lead ELA-S Vertical Team Lead Electives Team Lead Facilitator Grade chairs New teacher mentor PDU Leader Professional learning facilitator School Data Culture Lead Short Cycle Assessment Lead TIF Differentiated Roles Teacher Leader Academy roles Peer Observers Admin Assistant Assistant Principal Coaches: Blended learning, CSR, Data, Instructional, Short cycle assessment Curriculum Coordinator Data and Assessment Partner Dean IB Coordinator Itinerant Lead Teacher (MSLA, CMS) Math Fellows Supervisor Principal School Improvement Partner Site coordinator (DTR, UCR) Teacher Effectiveness Coach Collaborative School Committee Member SLT member DCTA Area Representative Early Childhood Education Outreach Panel member School Tech Specialist Site Assessment Leader SPED outreach Teacher Ambassador TEACHER LEADERSHIP ROLES NON-TEACHING INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERS POLICY AND OPERATIONAL POSITIONS Does this categorization make sense? We expect to focus on Teacher Leadership Roles – does that make sense?

Bucketing Teacher Leadership Roles Team Leadership Roles Lead a group of teachers around a specific topic Team Leadership Roles Lead a group of teachers around a specific topic Individualized Support Roles Provide individualized guidance to teachers Individualized Support Roles Provide individualized guidance to teachers Denver Teacher Residency Lead Teachers (75) Host one aspiring teacher as a resident for the entire year, gradually reducing time in classroom as resident gains responsibility Compensation=$2000/year Denver Teacher Residency Lead Teachers (75) Host one aspiring teacher as a resident for the entire year, gradually reducing time in classroom as resident gains responsibility Compensation=$2000/year New Teacher Mentors ( ) Mentor 1-4 new teachers by modeling best practices in their own classroom and supporting mentee(s) through reflective, planning and problem-resolving conversations Compensation=$500-$1000/year New Teacher Mentors ( ) Mentor 1-4 new teachers by modeling best practices in their own classroom and supporting mentee(s) through reflective, planning and problem-resolving conversations Compensation=$500-$1000/year Classroom presence Cross-school Vertical Leads (85+) Guide alignment on curriculum and resources for a program across schools Electives Group Leads guide professional learning community for K-12 teachers across schools Compensation= Varies, ~$1000/year Cross-school Vertical Leads (85+) Guide alignment on curriculum and resources for a program across schools Electives Group Leads guide professional learning community for K-12 teachers across schools Compensation= Varies, ~$1000/year 1 1 Differentiated Roles (51) Same core responsibilities as Team Leads, with release time from classroom to allow for additional responsibilities such as coaching, observations, and feedback Compensation= $3000/year for Team Leads, $5000/year for Teacher Team Leads Differentiated Roles (51) Same core responsibilities as Team Leads, with release time from classroom to allow for additional responsibilities such as coaching, observations, and feedback Compensation= $3000/year for Team Leads, $5000/year for Teacher Team Leads 2 2 In classroom full-time Some release time Team Leads (~500) Use data to collaborate with peers in an inquiry cycle of grappling with standards, setting targets and monitoring progress Teams typically grade-aligned for elementary school, content-aligned for high school Compensation=Varies, ~$1000/year Team Leads (~500) Use data to collaborate with peers in an inquiry cycle of grappling with standards, setting targets and monitoring progress Teams typically grade-aligned for elementary school, content-aligned for high school Compensation=Varies, ~$1000/year School defined Leadership Roles Roles such as Grade Level Chair that are defined at school level without central structures and supports Do these groupings and descriptions accurately reflect the current set of teacher leadership roles? Within-school Vertical Leads (~200) Guide alignment on curriculum and resources for a program across grade levels Compensation=Varies, ~$ $1500/year Within-school Vertical Leads (~200) Guide alignment on curriculum and resources for a program across grade levels Compensation=Varies, ~$ $1500/year 2 2

DPS Teacher Leadership Roles: Sorted into Categories Team Leadership Roles Lead a group of teachers around a specific topic Team Leadership Roles Lead a group of teachers around a specific topic Individualized Support Roles Provide individualized guidance to teachers Individualized Support Roles Provide individualized guidance to teachers Denver Teacher Residency Lead Teachers (75) Role is DTR Lead Teacher Focus areas include: Elementary (K-5) in English and/or Spanish Special Education (K-12) Secondary Education (6-12) in Mathematics Secondary Education (6-12) in Science Denver Teacher Residency Lead Teachers (75) Role is DTR Lead Teacher Focus areas include: Elementary (K-5) in English and/or Spanish Special Education (K-12) Secondary Education (6-12) in Mathematics Secondary Education (6-12) in Science New Teacher Mentors New Teacher Mentor New Teacher Mentors New Teacher Mentor Cross-school Vertical Leads Electives Lead, PDU Leader, Professional learning facilitator Cross-school Vertical Leads Electives Lead, PDU Leader, Professional learning facilitator 1 1 Differentiated Roles (51) Team Lead Teacher Team Lead Roles can focus on the same topics as Team Leads Differentiated Roles (51) Team Lead Teacher Team Lead Roles can focus on the same topics as Team Leads Team Leads Role of Team Lead could be focused on the following topics: Blended Learning, Content, Culture, Data, ELA – S, Subgroups Team Leads Role of Team Lead could be focused on the following topics: Blended Learning, Content, Culture, Data, ELA – S, Subgroups School defined roles Grade level chair Department chair Other TBD Within-school Vertical Leads Collaborative Strategic Reading Lead (15) Early Literacy Vertical Lead ELA– S Vertical Lead School Data Culture Lead Short Cycle Assessment Lead Within-school Vertical Leads Collaborative Strategic Reading Lead (15) Early Literacy Vertical Lead ELA– S Vertical Lead School Data Culture Lead Short Cycle Assessment Lead 2 2 Are role titles in the right category? Are there additional roles that should be captured? Classroom presence In classroom full-time Some release time

Design Team – The Work Ahead Is there value in establishing greater structure around teacher leadership roles and building a more common understanding of possible roles within DPS. What information will be useful to the Design Team in undertaking this work?

9 Appendix: Additional Teacher Leadership Information

Use data to collaborate with peers within a grade level in an inquiry cycle of grappling with standards, setting targets, and monitoring progress Facilitate frequent (approximately weekly) collaborative planning time with colleagues Work with team towards Student Level Objectives (SLOs) readiness and implementation Teams typically grade-aligned for elementary school, content-aligned for secondary In addition to common required responsibilities, leads choose one focus area 1 1 Teacher Leader Academy has been primary means of support - TLA concept being revised for next year to focus on developing skills needed for specific position through shorter intensive courses District Teacher Effectiveness Coaches provide coaching to groups of teacher leaders - Typically about 15 leaders grouped together across two schools Source: DPS leadership interviews Role description: Team leads DESCRIPTIONSUPPORT/DEVELOPMENT FORUMS Focus areasNumberCompensation Blended Learning Content Culture Data ELA – S Subgroups ~500 ~$1000 annually

Guide alignment on curriculum and resources for a program across grade-levels Ensure fluidity across years Teacher Leader Academy has been primary means of support - Concept being revised for next year to focus on developing skills needed for specific position through shorter intensive courses District Teacher Effectiveness Coaches provide coaching to groups of teacher leaders - Typically about 15 leaders grouped together across two schools Source: DPS leadership interviews Included role titlesNumberCompensation Collaborative Strategic Reading Lead (15) Early Literacy Vertical Lead ELA– S Vertical Lead School Data Culture Lead Short Cycle Assessment Lead ~200 $1000 annually $1500 for short cycle assessment DESCRIPTIONSUPPORT/DEVELOPMENT FORUMS 2 2 Role description: Within-school Vertical Leads

Lead professional learning community for teachers across schools Typically appointed to role by District, as opposed to school leader for within school vertical leads TBD Source: DPS leadership interviews Included role titlesNumberCompensation Electives Lead PDU Leader Professional learning facilitator 85 Electives leads Electives lead: $1000 DESCRIPTIONSUPPORT/DEVELOPMENT FORUMS 3 3 Role description: Cross-school Vertical Leads

DESCRIPTIONSUPPORT/DEVELOPMENT FORUMS Two types of leaders within Differentiated Roles pilot - Team leads receive release time from classroom to focus on coaching, observation, feedback, and evaluations to support other teachers - Teacher team leads share the same responsibilities as team leads, and are additionally responsible for supervising 4-8 teachers Pilot currently includes 14 schools, expanding to 41 next year TIF specific summer training as team leads - Training in observation, coaching, time management, etc. Monthly Professional Learning Community meetings during the year One optional PD night per month Two full time staff members working with team leads on a 1:25 basis Source: DPS leadership interviews Included role titlesFocus areasNumberCompensation Team lead Teacher team lead Blended Learning Content Culture Data ELA – S Subgroups 51 this year, increasing to ~150 next year Team leads: $3000 annually Teacher team leads: $5000 annually 4 4 Role description: Differentiated Roles

Support and advance the professional learning of 1- 4 DPS teachers each year - Primary focus on novice teachers, with some mentoring for experienced teachers working towards a professional license Model best practices in their own classroom and support mentees through reflective, planning, and problem-resolving conversations - Guides mentees towards mastering elements of effective teaching Mentor PDU training taking place where ~30 mentors are meeting in a monthly series, including a feedback component Toolkit, online course, and optional face-to-face sessions available to all mentors In school year, mentors will receive professional training on effective mentoring and coaching skills through face-to-face monthly cohort sessions Source: DPS leadership interviews; New Teacher Mentor role description NumberCompensation mentee=$ per semester 2 mentees=$ per semester 3+ mentees=$ per semester DESCRIPTIONSUPPORT/DEVELOPMENT FORUMS 5 5 Role description: New Teacher Mentors

DTR Lead Teachers each host an aspiring teacher as a resident in his or her classroom for the entire year Mentor residents and use a gradual release model to provide residents with increasing responsibility 19 DPS schools are DTR host sites for the school year Mentees come from varying backgrounds, with no formal teaching experience necessary New Mentor orientation in late spring providing rudimentary information and PD around coaching capacity to new entrants in the program 2 day training in August including coaching models and expectations Half day training once a month from September forward Source: DPS leadership interviews DESCRIPTIONSUPPORT/DEVELOPMENT FORUMS Focus areasNumberCompensation Elementary (K-5) in English and/or Spanish Special Education (K-12) Secondary Education (6-12) in Mathematics Secondary Education (6-12) in Science 75 $2000 annually 6 6 Role description: DTR Lead Teachers