Faculty Collaboration Improves Schools and Student Achievement

An experienced teacher, administrator, and educational consultant, J. Daniel Hollinger works as the head of schools for Amity Education Group in Dubai. On his website, www.hollinger-international.com, J. Daniel Hollinger explores the various components, such as faculty collaboration, that help schools succeed.

Research in recent years shows that continued collaboration among faculty members can benefit teachers, students, and the overall health of a school. Several studies, including those conducted by the Consortium on Chicago School Research and the National Center for Education Achievement, strongly indicate that schools are most effective when teachers work together and share responsibility for the school’s improvement and the success of their students.

In addition to linking teacher collaboration to improved student achievements in reading and mathematics, other studies make connections between collaboration and improved teacher retention and satisfaction. Furthermore, a collaborative environment is cited as a common factor among a number of low-performing schools that have achieved substantial turnarounds in student success.

Despite this evidence, effective teacher collaboration is still largely absent from many American schools. School leaders can play a role in changing this situation by adjusting school schedules to create common planning time and by giving teachers greater access to professional development and other forms of pedagogic and structural support.