The Teacher Factor

The teacher is the most important school-related factor for student achievement, especially for minority and low income students. 

The following are factors supported by research to consider when hiring our Esperanza educators:
#1:  Ethnicity of teacher:  What are the advantages of Hispanic teachers?  What are some barriers Hispanic teachers face?  George Monsivais has some great research to consider.  According to Dr. Martin Haberman white teachers can be effective with students of color --its the characteristics, not race, that makes them effective. 
#2:  Authentic caring relationships:  The importance of "confianza" and "respeto"
#3:  High expectations:  Never quitting until all children learn
#4:  "Warm demander"
#5:  Coach students with goal setting:  The book by Joachim Posada
#6:  Culturally responsive:  Teachers learn and use the teaching philosophy and methods that respect, value, and use strengths of culture and language
#7:  Professional development:  Collaboration and training
#8:  Rarely absent or tardy:  Research has shown that students who have teachers who are rarely absent or tardy have higher academic achievement.  Yet, teachers in schools with a high percentage of minority and/or low income students have a higher absent and tardy rate. 

Creating a Safe Environment at Esperanza

An article titled New rules, new administrator help curb Kearns gang problems posted on KSL.com's website yesterday gave me some more food for thought concerning safety at Esperanza.

I feel a safe school is a high priority. Some ways we can build that safe environment at Esperanza are:

• Have a dress code for uniforms that we enforce


• Be the most "inviting" place in town


• Have every staff person (and parent) commit to knowing the name of every student in the school


• Focus on building and nourishing relationships with colleagues, students, parents, and community members


• Do whatever it takes for every student to experience success and build on that success.


• Involve all Esperanza stakeholders in such a way that they feel Esperanza is their school.


• Encourage and teach all staff members how to be "warm demanders."


• Be fair--not equal


• Use suspension as a consequence only as a last resort

The bottom line is that we want to keep on teaching ALL students not only for the students' benefit but our community needs well-disciplined and educated citizens if it is to grow and flourish.