Ed Sec: Tennessee Needs Plan for Low Performing Teachers

Tennessee needs a plan to deal with low performing teachers if it wants to win additional stimulus money for education innovation. U.S. assistant Secretary of Education Jim Shelton told school officials and advocates as much at a summit over the weekend.

$5 billion of stimulus money will soon be sprinkled on states in a competitive process as part of a program called Race to the Top. To win funding, the assistant Secretary Shelton says states need to get creative with teachers that aren’t making the grade.

“The toughest question is, what do you do about your bottom performers? Because it’s almost impossible to innovate up when you’re dragged down by your worst performers.”

And Shelton says knowing students are sent where they can’t succeed should be a drag on the conscience of officials.

Governor Phil Bredesen says the state has some teachers that are better than others, like employees at any organization.

“This is not Lake Wobegon where everyone’s above average, and I think a good solid system of giving teachers who may be falling short maybe some of the help they need to put it together is very much part of the plan.”

Bredesen says he’s willing to put some money behind supporting ineffective teachers, possibly offering them incentive pay as part of the state’s Race to the Top proposal.