Two teachers replace curriculum supervisors.
By: Lea Kahn
Two Lawrence Intermediate School teachers were appointed as teachers on special assignment a newly created position by the Lawrence Township Board of Education at its Jan. 12 monthly meeting.
Jessica Heller, who is a sixth-grade classroom teacher, was appointed to be a TOSA for science and Scott Kleinman, who teaches basic skills math, was appointed to be a TOSA for mathematics.
Ms. Heller will earn $80,292 as a TOSA, prorated to $66,910 for the 2004-05 school year. Mr. Kleinman will be paid $78,264 for his work as a TOSA, prorated to $65,220. They begin their new duties Feb. 1.
The TOSAs divide their duties between teaching and curriculum development, Schools Superintendent Max Riley said. The two newly appointed TOSAs will spend half of their time in the classroom and half in their new jobs.
Dr. Riley said the TOSAs will replace Ed Nartowitz, who was the science curriculum supervisor, and Shelley Rowe, who was the mathematics curriculum supervisor. Mr. Nartowitz and Ms. Rowe have left the school district.
A curriculum supervisor spent all of his or her time coaching teachers, developing curriculum and evaluating teachers, Dr. Riley said. A TOSA also coaches the teachers and develops curriculum, but the evaluation duties are handled by the school building principal.
"There is pretty strong evidence that teachers learn best from other teachers not from supervisors," Dr. Riley said. "I like the TOSA because it enhances the professional status of teachers in the United States, who are ‘over-bossed’ and ‘under-led.’ We want more opportunities for our teachers to lead."
"Teachers are knowledge workers," Dr. Riley said. "They should not need close supervision. They need leadership more than bossing. It is important to recognize a teacher’s leadership ability."
Dr. Riley said he wants Ms. Heller and Mr. Kleinman to continue to teach on a part-time basis, because it helps them to keep in touch with the teaching profession. Promoting them to TOSAs is a means of helping them to develop into leaders without leaving the classroom, he said.

