Union dismisses 'super teacher' plan

A radical plan to employ a new breed of "super teachers" to boost results in
underperforming schools has been dismissed by the NSW Teachers Federation.

Federal Education Minister Julia Gillard unveiled the policy on Friday as part of
modernisation plans hailed by state ministers as an "education revolution".
But the decision to employ the new "Highly Accomplished Teachers" across NSW schools
has been criticised as a token effort by the teachers union.
"We think it will have very little impact," NSW Teachers Federation president Bob
Lipscombe told AAP.
"We see it as a token response to pressure on the federal government around this
issue."
Mr Lipscombe said he would have preferred greater funding and expansion of the
teacher mentoring program.
Ms Gillard told a Sydney media conference the new teachers would help most at
schools in poorer areas.
"There are disadvantaged schools out there and this will put the best teachers where
they are most needed.
"It's great for teachers and it's great for the students," she said.
Those selected for the elite jobs will have already been recognised as outstanding
teachers by the NSW Institute of Teachers.
They will be paid higher salaries, teach less and enjoy greater control over their
careers, Ms Gillard said.
Recruitment for the NSW jobs will begin in October.
NSW Education Minister Verity Firth said the roles would deliver an "education
revolution".
"The new positions will be additional to the school's existing teaching team," Ms
Firth said.
"They will take classes themselves but also be on a reduced teaching load to enable
them to mentor other teachers and take a role in the school's leadership."
The scheme was unveiled as part of the Smarter Schools National Partnerships Scheme,
with $720 million funding from the commonwealth over five years.
The program, which also received $250 million in NSW government funding, will see
data on each school's performance made more publicly available.
Ms Gillard and Ms Firth denied the publication of performance data would lead to
parents shunning badly-performing schools.
"Transparency will allow us to support schools in ways such as providing them with
highly-accomplished teachers.
"It is not about naming and shaming schools.
"Parent choice should be a right and we aim to give parents the right information,"
she said.