Melissa Tooley
@melissatooley.bsky.social
Director, Educator Quality, at New America's Education Policy program. Committed to improving student outcomes. Sunshine seeker, adventurous eater, mom of 2 spunky gals. She/her.
It's clearly time to rethink our priorities when it comes to allocating taxpayer dollars
I just got a (poorly) targeted recruitment ad that promised a $50k signing bonus for new ICE agents. While ICE terrorizes whole communities and frightens students into staying home from school, just the ICE "signing bonus" is higher than the national average salary for a new teacher.
#priorities
#priorities
Educator Pay Data 2025 | NEA
NEA's 2025 review quantifies teacher salary, education support professional pay, and student spending in every state.
www.nea.org
October 1, 2025 at 7:12 PM
It's clearly time to rethink our priorities when it comes to allocating taxpayer dollars
As #TeacherAppreciationWeek wraps up, I'm sharing a new analysis and recommendations for state policymakers and other education leaders to support & strengthen the #educator workforce by harnessing high-quality micro-credentials. Check out the video below for more info on supporting #teachers!
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May 9, 2025 at 7:23 PM
As #TeacherAppreciationWeek wraps up, I'm sharing a new analysis and recommendations for state policymakers and other education leaders to support & strengthen the #educator workforce by harnessing high-quality micro-credentials. Check out the video below for more info on supporting #teachers!
♥️🍎♥️
♥️🍎♥️
Early career teachers, do you want to make your voice heard?
Fill out @EdProgress’ survey to share your experiences preparing for and working in the classroom and what policies would best support you: forms.gle/ad657ggsE6nJ...
#edusky
Fill out @EdProgress’ survey to share your experiences preparing for and working in the classroom and what policies would best support you: forms.gle/ad657ggsE6nJ...
#edusky
STUDY: Examining the Experiences of Early Career Teachers to Increase Persistence and Retention
forms.gle
March 19, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Early career teachers, do you want to make your voice heard?
Fill out @EdProgress’ survey to share your experiences preparing for and working in the classroom and what policies would best support you: forms.gle/ad657ggsE6nJ...
#edusky
Fill out @EdProgress’ survey to share your experiences preparing for and working in the classroom and what policies would best support you: forms.gle/ad657ggsE6nJ...
#edusky
@adamhsays.com wrote about McMahon hearing and 2 telling moments: when she refused to answer whether she would defy an illegal order from the President, and when she wouldn't guarantee #K12 schools won't lose funding for teaching #Blackhistory. #edusky #education www.newamerica.org/education-po...
The Deflections of Linda McMahon
Adam Harris examines two critical lines of questioning during Linda McMahon's Senate confirmation hearing to be Secretary of Education at the Department of Education.
www.newamerica.org
February 14, 2025 at 6:19 PM
@adamhsays.com wrote about McMahon hearing and 2 telling moments: when she refused to answer whether she would defy an illegal order from the President, and when she wouldn't guarantee #K12 schools won't lose funding for teaching #Blackhistory. #edusky #education www.newamerica.org/education-po...
There's no federal definition of youth #apprenticeship (YA) so basically YA can mean something very different depending on the state you're in (confusing!!).
This new blog post by @nancywithanl.bsky.social helps folks make some sense of all that complexity.
www.newamerica.org/education-po...
This new blog post by @nancywithanl.bsky.social helps folks make some sense of all that complexity.
www.newamerica.org/education-po...
What Does “Youth Apprenticeship” Mean? The Answer, According to Each State
30 states and DC have defined youth apprenticeship — but definitions vary widely, even on basic apprenticeship components.
www.newamerica.org
November 21, 2024 at 5:02 PM
There's no federal definition of youth #apprenticeship (YA) so basically YA can mean something very different depending on the state you're in (confusing!!).
This new blog post by @nancywithanl.bsky.social helps folks make some sense of all that complexity.
www.newamerica.org/education-po...
This new blog post by @nancywithanl.bsky.social helps folks make some sense of all that complexity.
www.newamerica.org/education-po...
You know you're an #edpolicy nerd when you're super excited to learn about a new @IESResearch center! (Talking about a friend, of course 😁)
Congrats @cedr.bsky.social on launching this important new approach to better understanding and addressing #teachershortages!
ies.ed.gov/blogs/resear...
Congrats @cedr.bsky.social on launching this important new approach to better understanding and addressing #teachershortages!
ies.ed.gov/blogs/resear...
September 25, 2024 at 2:39 PM
You know you're an #edpolicy nerd when you're super excited to learn about a new @IESResearch center! (Talking about a friend, of course 😁)
Congrats @cedr.bsky.social on launching this important new approach to better understanding and addressing #teachershortages!
ies.ed.gov/blogs/resear...
Congrats @cedr.bsky.social on launching this important new approach to better understanding and addressing #teachershortages!
ies.ed.gov/blogs/resear...
Great new piece by @chadaldeman.bsky.social on why we have issues getting and keeping well-prepared special education teachers in our schools, and some ideas for how to change that. An easy read, but with lots of data and figures for my fellow data geeks. 😀 www.educationnext.org/where-are-al...
Where are All the Special Educators?
Schools employ more special education teachers than ever. So why is there a shortage?
www.educationnext.org
August 1, 2024 at 6:21 PM
Great new piece by @chadaldeman.bsky.social on why we have issues getting and keeping well-prepared special education teachers in our schools, and some ideas for how to change that. An easy read, but with lots of data and figures for my fellow data geeks. 😀 www.educationnext.org/where-are-al...
Grow Your Own (GYO) teacher programs are designed to meet the needs of teacher candidates and the school systems where they will work. New America produced an updated 2024 scan of state GYO policies with a new survey of GYO program directors and leaders.
www.newamerica.org/education-po...
www.newamerica.org/education-po...
Grow Your Own Teachers
This brief presents the findings of a 50-state scan designed to identify programs and to investigate state policies that support GYO program
www.newamerica.org
July 17, 2024 at 2:38 PM
Grow Your Own (GYO) teacher programs are designed to meet the needs of teacher candidates and the school systems where they will work. New America produced an updated 2024 scan of state GYO policies with a new survey of GYO program directors and leaders.
www.newamerica.org/education-po...
www.newamerica.org/education-po...
Thrilled to be joining an esteemed panel tomorrow, 5/7 at 1pm EST to share insights with #education journalists reporting on efforts to grow and diversify the U.S. workforce of #K12 #teachers. Thanks to Education Writers Association for the invitation!
Register here: ewa.org/events/upcom...
Register here: ewa.org/events/upcom...
How States Are Addressing Teacher Workforce Issues
Understand how states are addressing teacher workforce issues, such as teacher shortages and a lack of diversity.
ewa.org
May 6, 2024 at 8:32 PM
Thrilled to be joining an esteemed panel tomorrow, 5/7 at 1pm EST to share insights with #education journalists reporting on efforts to grow and diversify the U.S. workforce of #K12 #teachers. Thanks to Education Writers Association for the invitation!
Register here: ewa.org/events/upcom...
Register here: ewa.org/events/upcom...
New data show schools had less difficulty hiring teachers in 2023 than in 2022.
Doesn't seem due to state policy changes easing entry to teaching as other school hires were easier too. But important to point out that challenges continue in some subjects, including special ed, life sciences, + CTE.
Doesn't seem due to state policy changes easing entry to teaching as other school hires were easier too. But important to point out that challenges continue in some subjects, including special ed, life sciences, + CTE.
Schools Had An Easier Time Finding Staff This Year
More staff, fewer shortages
www.chadaldeman.com
October 20, 2023 at 3:42 PM
New data show schools had less difficulty hiring teachers in 2023 than in 2022.
Doesn't seem due to state policy changes easing entry to teaching as other school hires were easier too. But important to point out that challenges continue in some subjects, including special ed, life sciences, + CTE.
Doesn't seem due to state policy changes easing entry to teaching as other school hires were easier too. But important to point out that challenges continue in some subjects, including special ed, life sciences, + CTE.
Mandating that all HS students take specific, high-level courses hasn’t improved student outcomes—so what might? With JHU's Everyone Graduates Center, New America's ed policy team reviews the history of state graduation requirements and what the future should hold www.newamerica.org/education-po...
What Should Our High School Students Study?
This brief provides background on landmark movements in education that have led to the requirements that students face today and highlights key questions to explore with new data.
www.newamerica.org
October 5, 2023 at 7:42 PM
Mandating that all HS students take specific, high-level courses hasn’t improved student outcomes—so what might? With JHU's Everyone Graduates Center, New America's ed policy team reviews the history of state graduation requirements and what the future should hold www.newamerica.org/education-po...