Adam Urbanski's approach: Have teachers review each other

Peer review

How it works: Mentor teachers review new teachers, as well as tenured teachers who are failing professionally, and then recommend either retention or dismissal.

Biggest benefit: Gives new teachers a chance to learn from someone who knows the ropes, and may improve teacher retention down the road.

Shortcomings: Some say it undermines collegiality. Others point out the added expense of full- and part-time mentors, and the additional time it takes to make decisions about retention and firing.

When teachers union president Adam Urbanski sat down at his kitchen table 17 years ago to write a peer review plan for the Rochester, N.Y., school district, …