Chicago Welcomes New Class of Master Teachers

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jan 7, 2009 7:30PM

Perhaps thanks to - or in spite of - a copious amount of cappuccino, 328 Chicago Public School teachers were recognized today for achieving "master" status, meaning they have been awarded National Board Certification. The new class is well ahead of other cities like Los Angeles (129) and New York City (10). The total of master teachers in Chicago now stands at five percent of the CPS' 23,727 public school teachers. The certifications are awarded after a rigorous year-long assessment that include "student work samples, classroom videotapes and analysis of classroom teaching and student learning." And, pray tell, what does such certification earn you?

The payoff for teachers includes a 10-year, $3,000-a-year state stipend, a $1,750-a-year annual bonus and a one-time $3,000 payment from the Chicago Public Education Fund.

Yahtzee! But perhaps more impressive is the effect having excellent, certified teachers in classrooms has on students.

The reward for students is even greater. Chicago high schools with teams of master teachers have twice as many students who meet or exceed national standards. At the elementary level, schools with master teachers have 12 percent more students meet or beat standards

Of course, always one to inspire confidence, our beloved Mayor Daley had this to say about Chicago's class of master teachers and how they stack up against the rest of the nation: "If we're leading the way, God help the rest of the country. I feel sorry for them. You wonder what has happened to public education in the rest of those cities." Wait. What?


Let's read that again: "If we're leading the way, God help the rest of the country."


Are you fucking kidding me? Yes, Mayor, you're correct. God help the rest of the country if Chicago is leading the way. And we get you were trying to show a little bit of your Daley wit. But coming from the guy who is one of the most responsible leaders for fixing up our schools, it just makes us angry and nauseous. So long as we get the Olympics, we guess everything will be alright.

Image of actually successful CPS students from the CPS website