Teachers as Catalyst

85% of educational success comes directly from teacher skill, talent & energy. This makes teachers the single most valuable asset of any school or district. Yet they seldom get the credit deserved for their adaptability and enthusiasm. Let's break through the barriers of teacher-bashing and give "props" to teachers as they begin new adventures in learning! Rather than waiting for antiquated instructional systems to be replaced, teachers are taking the lead by forming new structures themselves. High school teachers are leading the change, from technology use to innovative systems of peer recruiting, hiring & mentoring. In the toughest schools, teachers are the solution, not the problem. This session is not a talking head presentation, but a full-blown interactive experience that will leave the teachers recharged and energized to put their strongest performance forward throughout the coming year. Teachers will be called back to their original inspiration for teaching and will come to view the upcoming change process as an adventure as a staff together. Dr. Rhodes has led the change process as principal of Ohio's first teacher-led high school (Hughes STEM High School in Cincinnati), as well as transforming several other high schools. She is known as a collaborator and an advocate of teacher-friendly school structures, encouraging the involvement of teachers at every decision-making level.