Staff Report

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) has been named a “Great District for Great Teachers” by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), a national nonprofit organization committed to ensuring all children have effective teachers and every teacher has the opportunity to become effective.

The Great Districts for Great Teachers initiative recognizes school districts for exceptional success at creating and implementing policies and practices that nurture, value and support great teaching.

To receive the honor, districts underwent a thorough evaluation process, which included analysis of data, policies and programs, as well as teacher surveys, focus groups and district leadership interviews.

BCPS is one of only eight districts nationwide selected for this honor, out of 123 districts that participated.

“Great Districts for Great Teachers is a celebration of great teaching,” said Kate Walsh, President of NCTQ. “We celebrate the hard, often politically challenging efforts by a special group of school districts who have managed to put together policies and practices that make them great places for great teachers to work.”

BCPS Superintendent Robert W. Runcie is grateful for the national recognition of his faculty and staff’s efforts.

“We are honored that the National Council on Teacher Quality selected Broward County Public Schools as one its first Great Districts for Great Teachers,” Runcie said. “This award recognizes the tremendous work, dedication and accomplishments of our school leaders and teachers.”

NCTQ organized the Great Districts for Great Teachers initiative because it believes supporting and aiding great teachers is the best way to shape a better future for all students. Great teachers not only provide an excellent education for their students, they also become inspiring role models and leaders for the entire teaching profession.

“Great teachers transform the lives of their students,” said Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education 2009-2016. “Great districts understand their most important job is to get great teachers into every single one of their classrooms, and support them in the complex, critically important work they do every day.”

This is the inaugural year of the Great Districts for Great Teachers initiative. More details about the program can be found at www.greatdistricts.org.