TEACHERS HAVE BEST ANSWERS TO EDUCATION

Most teachers are good. But some are STARRs.

The Select Teachers as Regional Resources program prepares teachers to teach others teachers. Each spring, the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education selects 36 master teachers for a year-long study. That year is followed by a second year in which these teachers share their expertise with colleagues.

The program is a good one, because teachers know best how to make improvements in the classroom. They know what works and what doesn't due to practical experience. The biggest asset they have is the fact they are classroom teachers. Who better to train other teachers than teachers with considerable experience and zeal for the profession?

The state should take a hint from the success of this program and turn to the teachers for advice on Missouri's public school education. This is one of the few programs that government leaves to the real experts.

Three area teachers are among the three chosen by the state for the STARR program. Martha Short teaches at Jackson's North Elementary School. Judith Gau teaches at Cape Girardeau's Franklin Elementary. And Susan Watkins teaches in the Farmington public schools. All three are concluding their year on the road as STARR teachers.

During the first year, STARR teacher work from their classrooms. But in the second year they hit the road, taking a sabbatical from their school. The state pays for a replacement teacher to work in the STARR teacher's classroom during the year they are out training others.

During their sabbatical year, the teachers lead training sessions for school staff members and students studying to be teachers. These sessions are free to school districts, which makes it even more palatable on tight budgets. These programs are very flexible and tailored to each district's needs and schedules. That's a considerable value to the districts.

The local teachers involved not only enjoy interacting with other teachers, but they have learned too -- from national experts and research during their year of training.

Short and Gau will return to the classroom in the fall. But they hope to return even stronger teachers than when they left. That's a plus. Thanks to this successful state program, local students and teachers will be receiving some STARR treatment.