Will Seniority Ever End in NY Public Schools?

With fears of teacher layoffs in the Rivertowns still a raw memory, Patch had a conversation with Michelle Rhee on her way to delivering the Mercy College commencement address in White Plains.

Former chancellor of the Washington, D.C. Public Schools and founder of StudentsFirst, an education organization that seeks to raise the bar for teachers nationwide, Rhee is seeking to end seniority laws in public schools. 

Well known for her perseverance in striving to reward good teachers and force lack-luster educators either to improve or get out, Rhee—through StudentsFirst—is attempting to change educational policy such that "last in, first out" will no longer be the norm.

So Far, the organization has helped shape education-reform laws in nine states—including Florida, Georgia and Tennessee—making tenure evaluations more rigorous, ending seniority-based layoffs and rewarding great teachers for their results. New York is one of 13 states StudentsFirst characterizes as "high risk" because teacher layoffs based on seniority are legally mandated. 

"I think New York and California are the two states in which people roll their eyes and shrug their shoulders," Rhee said. "They say there is no chance for change."

But Rhee believes no state is a lost cause.

"I think it will require a strategic, long-term effort in which people are educated about how seniority laws are hurting our students," she said. "Lobbying for change has to happen at the legislative level. We need to be active and vocal."

Students First has been invited in either by the governor or legislators in nine states, helping to craft policy changes Rhee believes will improve the overall quality of public education. "There is a tremendous amount that an be done at the legislative level," she said. 

As more officials, parents, students and even teachers become involved in her movement, Rhee said she "worries less and less" about political backlash. "Most teachers don't want to be in a profession in which they are not recognized for their performance," she said. "And it's not only the younger teachers who are getting involved. Even many veteran teachers know the policies are not good."

Of course, influential teachers unions pose the largest obstacle to enacting the policy Student First advocates. 

"The purpose of a teachers union is to maximize pay, which they are largely successful at," Rhee said. "Our mission is to balance them, advocating on bahalf of the kids."

To learn more about education reform and what you can do to help lobby your lawmakers visit:

• StudentsFirst
• The New Teacher Project
• Educators 4 Excellence
• Coalition for School Reform

Click here to lobby New York officials to further education reform efforts.