Designing a new evaluation system for teachers
Ok...so we are over a year into this work and I'm finally getting around to writing this blog. Here's the story...
We have been kvetching about our state teacher evaluation system almost since the minute the ink dried on the first manual...it's too cumbersome...it doesn't mean anything to teachers...too many rubrics...etc... I'm sure that the same holds true for many others across the state and nation. So, as a district we decided to take advantage of the state regulation that says 'If you don't like our system, go ahead and design your own!' (Actually, it doesn't read that way, but you get the gist.) So, we said 'why not' and formed a workgroup to tackle this challenge. We decided that we wanted a system focused on the following:
We have been kvetching about our state teacher evaluation system almost since the minute the ink dried on the first manual...it's too cumbersome...it doesn't mean anything to teachers...too many rubrics...etc... I'm sure that the same holds true for many others across the state and nation. So, as a district we decided to take advantage of the state regulation that says 'If you don't like our system, go ahead and design your own!' (Actually, it doesn't read that way, but you get the gist.) So, we said 'why not' and formed a workgroup to tackle this challenge. We decided that we wanted a system focused on the following:
Continuing to grow as professionals and educators
Improving the quality of feedback to educators
Increasing the frequency of feedback to educators
Improving the quality of feedback to educators
Increasing the frequency of feedback to educators
Isn't that what everyone would like to see in an evaluation system? I think we may have really come close to nailing this model or as we revise it and make it better, then we will get there soon. We had an incredible work group design the system with the guidance from Insight Education who did an incredible job of facilitating the process and opening our eyes to the possibility of an eval system that kept our beliefs at the forefront of the work.
When you look at the model below, you will wonder how could we create a system that INCREASED the amount of feedback to teachers and still IMPROVE the quality of feedback? In a nutshell, we paired down the amount of 'rated' items from 18 to 5, expanded the 'who' can provide feedback, and created rubrics that were aligned to best practices and what was most important to teaching and learning in our district.
When you look at the model below, you will wonder how could we create a system that INCREASED the amount of feedback to teachers and still IMPROVE the quality of feedback? In a nutshell, we paired down the amount of 'rated' items from 18 to 5, expanded the 'who' can provide feedback, and created rubrics that were aligned to best practices and what was most important to teaching and learning in our district.
TLF Performance Standards
What's actually really cool is that we have reached an interesting point as we presented our new evaluation system to various educators over the past couple months. It's kind of crazy b/c we knew we were doing something different and unique but when you're really putting yourself out there and people get interested it changes your perspective. It's kind of like wearing a clown suit down Main St. on a random spring day. Everybody looks at you funny (maybe a little scared) and doesn't really know what to say to you. But, in this case...a couple other folks said 'Hey, where'd you get that clown suit? I want to put one on!'
Anyway, this blog has the potential of being super long....so I think I'll end it here and then set up a page dedicated to the topic. Stay tuned!
I started the page...CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COLONIAL TLF!
As always, thanks so much for taking your valuable time to read this blog!
List of amazing educators on the Teaching and Learning Framework Workgroup! Thanks to all of you and everyone else who made this happen for our students and teachers in Colonial!
Kevin Wright-Teacher William Penn High School
Pam Ward-Teacher George Read Middle School
JT Callaway-Instructional Coach Wilbur Elementary School
Elaine Autry-Teacher Wilmington Manor Elementary School
Cindi Price-Teacher Southern Elementary School
Cecilia Hann-Music Teacher Eisenberg/Castle Hills Elementary Schools
Melissa Johnson-Teacher Wallin School
Carla Hood-Teacher New Castle Elementary School
Emily Klein-Psychologist Pleasantville and Wilmington Manor Elementary Schools
Rebecca Krieg-Teacher Eisenberg Elementary School
Victoria Ward-Teacher Wilbur Elementary School
Donna Fesmire-Teacher William Penn High School
Stephanie Ingram-Teacher New Castle Elementary School
Ann Fisher-Teacher Leach/Colwyck School
Renee Griffith-Student Advisor-Pleasantville Elementary School
Amina Baaith-Student Advisor-McCullough Middle School
Nikki Jones-Principal New Castle Elementary School
Holly Sage-Principal George Read Middle School
Dan Bartnik-Asst. Principal William Penn High School
Janissa Nuneville-Principal Castle Hills
Jeff Menzer-Director of Secondary Schools
Pete Leida-Director of Elementary Schools
Anyway, this blog has the potential of being super long....so I think I'll end it here and then set up a page dedicated to the topic. Stay tuned!
I started the page...CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COLONIAL TLF!
As always, thanks so much for taking your valuable time to read this blog!
List of amazing educators on the Teaching and Learning Framework Workgroup! Thanks to all of you and everyone else who made this happen for our students and teachers in Colonial!
Kevin Wright-Teacher William Penn High School
Pam Ward-Teacher George Read Middle School
JT Callaway-Instructional Coach Wilbur Elementary School
Elaine Autry-Teacher Wilmington Manor Elementary School
Cindi Price-Teacher Southern Elementary School
Cecilia Hann-Music Teacher Eisenberg/Castle Hills Elementary Schools
Melissa Johnson-Teacher Wallin School
Carla Hood-Teacher New Castle Elementary School
Emily Klein-Psychologist Pleasantville and Wilmington Manor Elementary Schools
Rebecca Krieg-Teacher Eisenberg Elementary School
Victoria Ward-Teacher Wilbur Elementary School
Donna Fesmire-Teacher William Penn High School
Stephanie Ingram-Teacher New Castle Elementary School
Ann Fisher-Teacher Leach/Colwyck School
Renee Griffith-Student Advisor-Pleasantville Elementary School
Amina Baaith-Student Advisor-McCullough Middle School
Nikki Jones-Principal New Castle Elementary School
Holly Sage-Principal George Read Middle School
Dan Bartnik-Asst. Principal William Penn High School
Janissa Nuneville-Principal Castle Hills
Jeff Menzer-Director of Secondary Schools
Pete Leida-Director of Elementary Schools