Finding Consulting Teachers 

Here are the basic steps:

1. Post the opportunity for teachers to apply.
2. Ask for references from four teachers and one administrator (about five total will do).
3. Require an impromptu writing sample.
4. Interview (very important).
5. Have unannounced peer observations of teaching. This requirement should be mentioned in the initial posting.

What you will need to find out is:

1. Can the applicant work well with adults?
2. Can the applicant communicate well with adults?
3. Is the applicant respected as a teacher and a leader?
4. Is the applicant committed to a teaching career?
5. And very important, can the person terminate or nonrenew a contract? You would be surprised at the number of people who are good at all phases of the consulting role, but can't say, "No."
6. Is the applicant an aspiring administrator? If so, that's fine, but don't hire him/ her as a consulting teacher. It will kill program credibility with teachers.

Click here for the reference/application form we devised in 1981 and still use today. There are many others equally effective. You can develop your own.