District outlines Teacher Leadership Innovation Model backed by $525,000 OCDE grant

Educational Services presented a Teacher Leadership Innovation Model on May 7 that aims to elevate classroom instruction through job-embedded professional learning and teacher leadership, supported by a $525,000, three-year innovation grant from the Orange County Department of Education.

Janice Saenz and Dr. Monica Luther described the core element: a Teaching Teacher Specialist (TTS) who combines classroom teaching with structured release time for coaching, co-planning and observation cycles. The initial launch sites are Taft Elementary, Handy Elementary, Portola Middle School and Orange High School. Saenz said the elementary TTS will use a 50/50 model that balances instruction and release time; secondary roles include dedicated release sections.

Dr. Luther described the model as a way to make effective instruction visible and scalable across the district: "When teachers learn together in real classrooms, student outcomes improve," she said, noting an emphasis on language-rich instruction to support English learners. The grant-funded model includes targeted professional learning, recruitment of teacher-leaders and establishment of sustainable coaching cycles.

Trustees praised the initiative and asked about timelines and job descriptions; staff said they were finalizing TTS job descriptions and would begin recruitment soon. The presentation was informational and there was no board vote on funding at this meeting.