Come See For Yourselves'

Educators ask legislators to visit Milwaukee schools

Milwaukee teachers are reaching out to legislators and other decision-makers, asking them to visit Milwaukee Public Schools and see firsthand the many positive things that go on there every day.

Joe Fisher

“Come to Milwaukee, see all the good things, then go out and tell the truth,” said Bob Lehmann, vice president of the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association.

Milwaukee teachers and educational assistants held a series of meetings with legislators in Madison February 25-26 to discuss Milwaukee schools and invite legislators to visit March 16.

At one of the Madison meetings — with Rep. David Cullen, a representative of Sen. Margaret Farrow and School Board President Joe Fisher — Lehmann and other Milwaukee teachers and educational assistants said there are several ways decision-makers and community leaders can help MPS.

David Cullen

One way, said teacher Bonnie Bastian, is to provide more money for smaller class sizes and improved facilities.

‘Give us your support’

Another, she said, is simply to publicly support, rather than attack, Milwaukee educators.

“We get tired of getting slapped down by everybody and told how bad we are,” Bastian said.

In fact, the group said, Milwaukee teachers achieve many impressive successes in a very difficult environment.

Bonnie Bastian

“When the criticism comes, we need people other than ourselves speaking up,” Lehmann said.

The group reviewed several very successful programs implemented by the school board and the MTEA.

TEAM program

One is the Teacher Evaluation and Mentoring (TEAM) program, which provides assistance to teachers who are having difficulties in the classroom. Teachers can seek assistance from TEAM on their own accord or be referred by administrators or colleagues, Lehmann said.

Bob Lehmann

Once referred, a TEAM mentor visits the teacher, identifies the difficulties and works with the TEAM board to develop strategies for providing assistance.

In the first seven months of the program, 36 teachers have participated. Twelve are no longer teaching in the district, Lehmann said.

“The vast majority have shown significant improvement because they are getting vast assistance,” he said.

Mentoring program

Another successful initiative is the MPS/MTEA Joint Mentor Teacher Program for all new teachers.

Under this program, 18 full-time mentors work with about 150 first-year teachers. The teacher and mentor team teach and work together to strengthen the new teacher’s skills.

The program provides ongoing and immediate feedback and support.

Maria Avila

Maria Avila, now in her second year of teaching at Clement Avenue Elementary School, said the program was a big help to her.

“If it weren’t for the mentoring program, I can honestly say I probably wouldn’t have stayed with MPS,” she said. “I needed someone there to say it’s going to get better.”

Now, she said, she thoroughly enjoys teaching in Milwaukee schools, with the great diversity of students.

“There’s no greater joy than to go into my classroom every day,” she said. “I wouldn’t give it up.”

The teachers and aides repeatedly said that Milwaukee schools are filled with success stories and with many children who are happy and are achieving.

Brenda Brame, of Steuben Middle School, said she could have gotten good jobs at private businesses but chose to work in Milwaukee public schools because they are good schools.

“I love my job, and I love the children,” she said.

The TEAM Program

• The Teacher Evaluation and Mentoring (TEAM) program is a collaborative effort between Milwaukee Public Schools and the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association.
• It provides extensive assistance to teachers who are having difficulties in the classroom.
• Seven months into the program, 36 teachers have been referred or referred themselves to the program. Twelve have since left the system. Most of the others have shown significant improvement.
• The program became a part of the 1995-97 collective bargaining agreement and is the result of several years of in-depth preparation and development on the part of MPS and MTEA.
• The TEAM Board is made up of nine people — five appointed by MTEA and four appointed by MPS.
• Each TEAM consulting teacher has at least nine years of successful MPS teaching experience.
• The TEAM teacher meets regularly with the participant teacher and his or her principal to observe, offer assistance, share resources, and assess progress.

Posted March 6, 1998