Last year we asked for the community to help their schools by writing letters in support of a federal Teacher Incentive Fund grant through the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching.

The fruits of those efforts are now starting to take shape. In September, the school district found out that it had been one of the 12 Louisiana districts chosen and just recently hired its first batch of TAP (System for Teacher and Student Advancement) master teachers.

TAP, which will be implemented next school year, has a pretty big goal — to improve the teaching profession and, as a result, improve student achievement.

It attacks this goal in several ways, by providing opportunities for career advancement, professional growth, instructionally focused accountability and competitive compensation.

After an extensive interview process that included multiple rounds of interviews, giving feedback on an actual lesson and a review of effectiveness as a teacher, 20 TAP master teachers were named. The qualifications of these teachers varies, with some possessing doctorates and as much as 20 years of teaching experience.

These teachers will be tasked with analyzing schoolwide student data and using it to develop a school plan using the TAP process, observing and providing assistance and coaching for teachers, evaluating teacher performance, team teaching with colleagues, demonstrating model lessons and developing and helping implement successful student strategies.

Most of those selected have long been leaders at their schools.

Dr. Brandy Vaughn and Dr. Shelly Chauvin will work with teachers at Emily C. Watkins Elementary School, Ashely Weber and Jasmine Porter will be at East St. John Elementary, Suk Lowery, James Oubre, Billie Dinvaut and Sharess Every will be at East St. John High School and Robyn Gibson-Bazile, Raquel Pigee and Rebecca Holmes will help teachers at Fifth Ward Elementary.

Charlotte Seymour will be at Garyville-Mt. Airy Math and Science Magnet School, Tina Brouwer will be at John L. Ory Communication Arts Magnet School, Melissa Watson, Lyndell Jackson and Kristen Mamou will be at LaPlace Elementary, Jennifer Brock and Natalie Klibert will be at Lake Pontchartrain Elementary, Taschica Hansley will be at West St. John Elementary and Cedric Veal will be at West St. John High.

As the first group of TAP master teachers, these experienced educators will serve an important role in putting this system in place.

In addition to the duties already named they will each be responsible for overseeing TAP mentor teachers, great teachers with strong knowledge in their subject areas, who in turn mentor eight to 10 classroom teachers.

The process of looking for those mentors has already begun.

The most important resource in any classroom is an effective, caring teacher.

By implementing the TAP system, our district hopes to motivate and keep excellent teachers here in St. John the Baptist Parish and build a team of educators that ultimately helps our students reach their full potential.

Jennifer Boquet is the communications specialist for St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools. Email her at jboquet@stjohn.k12.la.us.