The era of the “lone wolf” teacher might be coming to an end. In a move that could fundamentally shift how American kids experience a school day, the U.S. Department of Education just issued a major nudge to states and local districts: it’s time to get creative with how we staff our schools.
By tapping into existing Title II funds—a massive pot of federal money designed to improve teacher quality—officials are encouraging schools to ditch the traditional “one teacher, one classroom” setup in favor of team-based “strategic staffing.”
For decades, the standard image of education has been a single adult standing in front of thirty desks, responsible for everything from lesson planning to grading to managing behavior. But as burnout rates climb and teacher shortages persist, the Department of Education is pitching a different vision…