In Michigan’s evolving educational landscape, facing staffing pressures, shifting student needs, and the demand for more personalized learning, middle schools are poised for innovation. Through the partnership between the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative (MEWI) and Arizona State University’s Next Education Workforce initiative, Michigan is bringing a team-based staffing model to middle schools that rethinks the conventional one-teacher/one-classroom approach. The concept of teaming is not a new or innovative practice; however, the intentionality around teaming structures and practices being presented are rooted in research and are forward-thinking.
From One Teacher, One Classroom to Collaborative Teams
Instead of isolating teachers in single classrooms, the model assembles educator teams — lead teachers, co-teachers, instructional coaches, intervention specialists — working together to serve a defined group of students. ASU describes this approach as: “team-based strategic school staffing models empower educators to work in teams to deliver better outcomes and experiences.”
Why Middle School is Especially Well-Suited
Grades 6–8 are a critical transition period for students — academically, socially, emotionally. The team-based staffing model offers middle schools:
- Shared accountability for a cohort of students — meaning multiple adults can know the students well, intervene early, and diversify support.
Flexible grouping and instruction — teams can dynamically regroup students by need or interest, moving beyond fixed classes. - Stronger teacher support and retention — teachers collaborate with peers, reducing isolation and burnout.
- Deeper student-adult relationships — more adults per student, more touchpoints for connection and trust.
What Implementation Looks Like
Schools selected for the pilot engage in professional learning, site-coaching, and supplemental funding for redesign. While each school adapts to its own context (facility design, staffing levels, student needs), core features include teaming roles, shared planning time, and collaborative instruction.Looking Ahead
With Portage’s three middle schools on board and MEWI-ASU scaling across the state, Michigan middle-school principals have a timely opportunity to lead change. The team-based staffing model is more than a staffing tweak — it’s a cultural transformation of how educators collaborate, how students learn, and how schools support sustainable careers for teachers. For middle-level leaders, this is a moment to embrace distributed expertise, deepen relationships, and deliver more personalized and connected learning experiences for every student.