Teaching quality: Washington Co. invests

Washington County's board of education has approved a new job category: school administration manager. The high school will soon have the district's first SAM, a role I first heard about as a Jefferson County initiative. As reported in the Springfield Sun:

Among the possible responsibilities listed on the school board agenda for the position are supervision during hall changes and during class time, help with discipline referrals, truancy, supervising evening events, and assisting with lunchroom supervision. The person hired for the position will also offer immediate relief for principals to have time to spend instructional leadership, assessment, and support for teachers. Other administrative duties can be assigned depending on the strengths of the person hired.

In the world's top school systems, teaching quality makes the difference, and strong instructional leadership is part of what makes teaching quality happen. The SAM role can be a way to help that leadership succeed, which makes this quick story worth a bit of quick recognition. (Hat tip: KSBA)