Subject: Leadership
from the Classroom
Superintendent Dr. Tiffany Anderson spends her time eating lunch with students, riding buses and teaching in classrooms. Dr. Anderson said, "In order for me to stay connected with students and also understand what the staff experience, it is important that I am willing to work along side staff in whatever way I'm needed." Dr. Anderson was teaching second grade at Harding Avenue Elementary School as part of her initiative called "Teacher for the Day." Once each month for half of the day instead of visiting schools, she stays at one school and teaches in a classroom freeing the teacher up to deal with school items they have been unable to address. Second grade teacher Alicia Spitzer needed assistance while she gave individual reading assessments to students on the PALS assessment. The PALS assessment enables teachers to gain information about a student's reading skills and better target skills needed over the year. While Mrs. Spitzer went to another area of the building to complete individual reading assessments, Dr. Anderson taught for the first half of the day. Dr. Anderson came ready with a rolling teacher's cart that she used in her last school district. She was ready to continue with the concepts Mrs. Spitzer had begun on vowel sound patterns and introducing a new story from their reading books for the week. Some teachers may use this as an opportunity to visit other schools and observe as professional development. It's up to the teacher to plan how they will use this time. Dr. Anderson has shared that while she is superintendent by title, she is a teacher at heart and her job is to teach and learn in as many ways as possible. Part of her "Teacher for the Day" initiative will also entail her working alongside others she considers teachers, such as the custodian and cafeteria workers. Once monthly, spending a half day with the many teachers in the district helps me better understand the needs of the district and it also allows me to interact with students in much more meaningful ways," said Dr. Anderson.