Teachers at this stage are some of the district’s top performers, with a record of exemplary student achievement. These teachers have consistently demonstrated a deep understanding of instructional best practices and may serve as models to colleagues who are still developing their skills.
IMPACT Observations
Teachers at the Distinguished Teacher stage will receive at least two formal observations. These observations will take place by December 18: one by an administrator and one by a master educator.
If the average score from these two observations is 3.0 or higher (on the 1.0 to 4.0 scale), the teacher will have the opportunity to waive her or his second administrator observation and second master educator observation. (Note: Eligible Distinguished Teachers may choose to waive both their administrator and master educator observations, or just their master educator observation.)
For more information about IMPACT for teachers at this stage, please refer to your IMPACT guidebook.
Compensation
At the Distinguished Teacher stage, teachers in high-poverty schools (i.e., schools in which at least 60% of the student population qualifies for free or reduced-price meals) will be eligible for an increase in their base salaries. The base salary increase will take two forms. First, teachers will move to the master’s degree salary band if they are not already there. Second, they will be granted a five-year service credit, meaning that they will be paid as if they had five additional years in the system.
For example, let’s imagine that it is the end of the 2014–2015 school year, and your IMPACT rating qualifies you to move to the Distinguished Teacher stage. Let’s also imagine that you justb finished your fifth ear of teaching in a high-poverty school, and you do not have a master’s degree. For the 2015–2016 school year — your sixth year of teaching — we would actually pay you as if you had a master’s degree and were in your eleventh year (6 years + 5 year service credit). In this case, your salary would increase from $56,655 to $81,335 — a base salary increase of nearly $25,000.
Leadership Opportunities
Teachers at this stage are eligible for all DCPS leadership opportunities. For descriptions of these opportunities, please refer to the Leadership Opportunities Catalog section of this guidebook, beginning on page 30.
In the coming years, DCPS will continue to develop additional opportunities for teachers at the Distinguished Teacher stage.
Advancing to the Next Stage
A teacher will advance from the Distinguished Teacher stage to the Expert Teacher stage once she or he has earned two consecutive Highly Effective ratings as a Distinguished Teacher.
Spotlight: Frank Medley
Frank came to Whittier Education Campus in 2010, where he is the middle school teacher lead and data lead. Frank served as a Teacher Selection Ambassador, where he recommended the most highly qualified teachers for students in DCPS. Frank also finished his first year as a Lead Educator's Fellow, which afforded him the opportunity to observe other high-performing school districts, and bring a wealth of knowledge back to his school. Through his fellowship, he is working no an IMPACT Initiative Project, with a focus on student achievement.
Teacher leadership is so important, because it directly affects student achievement and pushes others to their optimal abilities. As a teacher leader, I constantly search for opportunities to extend my influence and serve my students beyond the four corners of my classroom.