NIET: National Institute for Excellence in Teaching
Courtney Silmon Smith serves as a Senior Specialist at the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching since November 2022 and has held the position of Principal at Homer Jr. High School since July 2019. Prior experience includes the role of Director of School Support at The Achievement Network from June 2018 to July 2019, Assistant Principal for the Union Parish School Board between July 2016 and July 2018, and 5th Grade Math Teacher Leader at Union Parish Elementary from August 2015 to August 2016. Courtney also worked as an Administrator Intern at Downsville Charter School from July 2014 to July 2015 and was involved with Teach for America as Manager of Teacher Leadership and Development from November 2012 to July 2014, after initially joining in 2012 as a CMA. Academic qualifications include a Master of Education from Concordia University and a Master's in Law from Champlain College.
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NIET: National Institute for Excellence in Teaching
Recognizing that an effective teacher is the most important school-based factor impacting student achievement, the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) is committed to ensuring a highly skilled, strongly motivated and competitively compensated teacher for every classroom in America. NIET supports states, districts and schools in attracting, developing, supporting and retaining high-quality human capital in order to raise achievement levels for all students. Equipped with a diverse staff of educators, researchers and policy experts, NIET seeks to accomplish this mission through the development of comprehensive systems and tools to increase educator effectiveness. We partner with states, districts and schools to implement educator effectiveness best practices, as well as offer a comprehensive reform through the TAP System for Teacher and Student Advancement. NIET's services include strategic planning and assistance in the design, development and implementation of educator effectiveness policies and systems in the areas of educator evaluation, career pathways and teacher leadership, performance-based compensation and school-based professional development. We offer a range of online tools and resources to support individual, school and district work to improve classroom practice and meet instructional goals. NIET also supports districts and schools to implement the comprehensive TAP System, an educator effectiveness model that restructures and revitalizes the teaching profession by providing teachers with powerful opportunities for career advancement, ongoing professional development, a fair evaluation system and performance-based compensation. Working together with teachers, administrators, teacher associations, government, foundations, corporations and other leaders in educator quality and compensation reform, NIET aims to achieve the goals of Educator Excellence…Student Achievement…Opportunities for all.