Graduate School of Education Leading, Learning, Life Changing

Teacher Evaluation

Patrick Burk, Ph.D.

Graduate School of Education

Educational Leadership and Policy

January 27, 2011

Graduate School of Education Leading, Learning, Life Changing

Basic Question• How do we provide the best prepared

and most effective teachers possible in all of our classrooms?

Graduate School of Education Leading, Learning, Life Changing

Drivers of Teacher Quality• Recruitment of candidates• Undergraduate preparation/content

knowledge• Entry criteria into the Graduate School of

Education• Quality of teacher preparation program• Internship/student teaching• Initial assignment and mentoring support• Ongoing professional development• Regular evaluation

Graduate School of Education Leading, Learning, Life Changing

EvaluationPurpose

• Improve Instruction: Provide feedback to the teacher on quality of instruction

• Identify areas needing improvement• Document areas of strength and

weakness• Take steps toward requiring evidence

of improvement or removing the teacher

Graduate School of Education Leading, Learning, Life Changing

Frequency• Annually during probationary period of two

years• Every two years thereafter• As needed

Type• Formal: Contractual, official personnel

record• Informal: Unscheduled classroom

visitations, observations

Graduate School of Education Leading, Learning, Life Changing

Procedure• Goal setting conference• Schedule one or more formal observation visits• Post observation conference

• What was observed: Strengths and weaknesses• Identification of areas for improvement

• Written summary of the observation and goal attainment• Exemplary, satisfactory or needs improvement• Signed by both teacher and principal• Placed in the permanent employee record• In many states, this evaluation can be challenged if

the teacher disagrees with the report

Graduate School of Education Leading, Learning, Life Changing

Criteria for EvaluationInput

• Preparation• Rigor of content• Method of delivery

appropriate to material and students

• Classroom/lesson management plans

• Assessment of learning• Attention to range of student

needs• Pacing and balance of

activities• Classroom environment

Graduate School of Education Leading, Learning, Life Changing

• Student performance and demonstration

• Level of engagement of students

• Behavior appropriate to the lesson

• Level of demonstrated mastery of content

• Evidence of higher order thinking and application

Output

Criteria for Evaluation

Graduate School of Education Leading, Learning, Life Changing

Post-Observation• Conference with teacher to review

the lesson and discuss observations

• Document the strengths of the teacher

• Identify areas needing improvement

• Identify next steps and areas for growth

• Professional development plans

• Areas the teacher identifies for new growth

• Sign a written report of the evaluation

Graduate School of Education Leading, Learning, Life Changing

Improvement Is NeededPlan of Correction• A specific plan that identifies

areas that are in need of improvement

• Identify specific steps the teacher must take to improve

• Identifies types of support and assistance that will be available

• Timeline for reevaluation• On notice that dismissal is

possible

Graduate School of Education Leading, Learning, Life Changing

What if the Teacher Disagrees?

Grievance Procedure• An important part of the teachers’ employment contract• Teacher notifies the supervisor that there is a disagreement• A follow-up conference is held

• Teacher presents evidence• Was the contract followed appropriately?• May have representation from union

• Principal decides to change or sustain the evaluation or conduct additional observations

• Can be challenged beyond the principal in a grievance hearing

Graduate School of Education Leading, Learning, Life Changing

Emerging Issues in Evaluation• What are the criteria for judging teacher

effectiveness?• Student performance on assessments?

• Who is best suited to evaluate?• Instructional improvement is continuous

• Professional Learning Communities• Peer coaching and observation• “Walk Through” “Teaching Rounds” • Periodic documentation

• Professional teaching standards and scoring criteria for teacher evaluation

Graduate School of Education Leading, Learning, Life Changing

Thank You

Questions?