Frequently Asked Questions
The Distinguished Teacher
How do I find time for reflection and continued learning?

 Distinguished teachers need time and district support to continue their professional growth. In addition to attending conferences, distinguished teachers also may need district support to become leaders in national organizations. This may mean a reduced teaching load or an opportunity to job share with another colleague.

Likewise, distinguished teachers may need encouragement to present at national conferences. The district may provide financial support for these presentations. These costs usually include transportation, lodging, and conference registration.

Distinguished teachers may wish to pursue doctoral degrees in education. This usually requires significant time away from the classroom. While sabbatical leaves are not a typical feature of the public school culture, it could be a workable solution. A sabbatical leave may include a requirement for the teacher to provide professional development workshops or to complete research upon his/her return to the district.

How can I share my professional talents?



Administrators and teacher educators need to involve distinguished teachers in developing and delivering coursework for novice and apprentice teachers. These individuals also have the credibility to work with veteran teachers. Distinguished teachers usually are wonderful mentors and might benefit from a full-time release from the classroom to mentor new teachers.

Distinguished teachers also are excellent resources for local colleges of education. These teachers may be involved in pre-teacher preparation, either as instructors, mentors, or student teaching supervisors. Distinguished teachers possess the knowledge base to provide course work for master’s programs.

Many distinguished teachers have opened their classrooms to school district and university personnel. Their expertise has been captured on videotape to share with pre-service and in-service teachers. These videos are particularly effective when the distinguished teacher has the opportunity to debrief/critique his/her own instruction.

Distinguished teachers should consider sharing their talents by writing for professional journals. Visit educational associations’ Web sites for guidelines for potential authors.

How can distinguished teachers continue to be professionally challenged?

Distinguished teachers need new challenges to fuel their reflection and renewal cycle. This may be accomplished by simply encouraging these teachers to teach at a new grade level. Some distinguished teachers, however, really like new challenges. For example, if a drastic change is needed, teachers who have worked with higher socioeconomic populations may wish to try working with a high-risk population.

Distinguished teachers also may benefit from serving on state and national committees. This could include reviewing state and/or national curriculum or serving as consultants to legislative bodies.
Links/Resources

Opportunities for Reflection