Stamford deserves more from the superintendent
At the recent Golden Globes ceremony, acclaimed actor Paul Giamatti — honored for his recent role as a high school teacher in “The Holdovers” —dedicated his award to educators, emphasizing, “Teachers are good people; you’ve got to respect them. They do a good thing. It’s a tough job.”
Teachers’ jobs were made even more difficult because of COVID and its aftermath, including a sharp decline in students’ mental health, which educators continue to devote their efforts to every day. While school districts across our state are pulling out all stops to recruit and retain talented teachers, however, the actions of Stamford Superintendent Tamu Lucero are turning a tough job into an impossible one.
Amid a teacher shortage reaching crisis proportions, the superintendent has proposed increasing high school teachers’ courseload — by 20 percent — from five classes to six, leaving virtually no time to attend to the myriad critical tasks that serve students and enrich their learning experience. Adding a sixth class would squeeze teachers already limited non-instructional time, and piling onto educators who are already stretched thin cheats everyone.
To be clear, non-instructional time is not downtime. Teachers use these precious moments to prepare quality lessons, meet with students, grade work, provide individualized attention, collaborate with colleagues, engage with parents, write college letters of recommendation, and so much more. Effective teachers don’t just know their subject matter; they know their students. Taking away important time spent connecting with students is a huge disservice to Stamford’s school community. Our students need more, not less.
As Stamford teachers said in a recent rally opposing the superintendent’s misguided plan, six is not the fix. High school teachers have the largest student load — as high as 30 per class and 150 per semester in the current five-class schedule. Going to a sixclass system raises that to an untenable level. And because high school teachers in surrounding towns teach five classes, moving to six will make Stamford significantly less attractive at a time when the city is already struggling to fill positions. For early career educators just learning the ropes, a five-class schedule is daunting enough. A sixth class will push some of our newest talent to other districts — or other careers entirely — and will impact our ability to attract families to our city.
Statewide surveys show most teachers at every point in their careers are planning to leave the profession early. Stamford’s example illustrates why. Adding a sixth class is a way of cutting corners instead of investing in teachers.
Educators have choices. They don’t have to stay in a district or a profession where workplace demands outpace salaries. When public education and policy issues are being decided, especially changes that impact student learning, teachers should always be a key part of the conversation. School districts that bring teachers to the table are more successful than those that dismiss their perspectives and disregard their needs.
As a veteran teacher who works alongside some of the best educators anywhere, I can tell you that our dedicated educators go above and beyond for their students every day. In the hours when we’re not leading a class, we’re creating quality lessons. We’re conferencing with parents and mentoring kids. We’re making sure hungry children have snacks. We’re connecting families with community resources. We’re attending students’ concerts and games. We’re applying for grants to ensure our neediest kids have eyeglasses, shoes, and school supplies. Many of us — despite having advanced degrees — must work second jobs to make ends meet.
I can also tell you that teachers have families and other responsibilities at home — personal obligations they frequently push aside when a student needs a hand, an ear, or a shoulder.
Connecticut native Paul Giamatti knows this well. He hails from a family of educators going back generations. This week, before 9 million viewers around the world, the actor asked us to honor them.
That starts at home, it includes all of us, and it starts at the top. Teachers deserve a superintendent who does everything in her power to ensure they have the support, resources, and time necessary to do what they do best: teach our children.