5 Teacher Evaluation Time-Savers
Communicator
October 2015, Volume 39, Issue 2
States and districts across the nation are moving to new teacher evaluation systems, and principals are tasked with making all the pieces— from observations and conferences to goal-setting and feedback—fit. The solution? Masterful time management, says Wendy Kelly Jordan, principal of Mineral Springs School in Ellerbe, North Carolina.
“[Principals] are completely in control of how they spend their time each day,” says Jordan. She suggests school leaders take advantage of that fact, and strategically schedule the components of the teacher evaluation process.
Learn how Jordan and other principals are using tools, delegating tasks, and integrating evaluations with professional development to realize the big picture: boosting teaching and learning.
- Making Time Each Day
Doing three or four observations in one day helps me to see a variety of lessons across the grade levels. This dedicated “day” ensures that I am out in the building enjoying learning with students and teachers. I devote time with teachers during their planning block that immediately follows the classroom observation. This approach provides immediate feedback and ensures a timely process.
—Mary Kleekamp, Geggie Elementary, Eureka, Missouri
- Tools of the Trade
I have begun using Evernote on my iPad, which has been an excellent way for me to conduct walkthroughs, document critical findings, and email “walkthrough notes” to the visited teachers.
—Moshe Dear, Yavneh Academy, Los Angeles, California
- Scheduling Over the Course of the Year
I pre-plan for every portion of the evaluation with each staff member. I break each process down into weekly goals for myself to make sure I stay on schedule to complete all required portions of the evaluation within the agreed upon deadline in the contract.
—Cheryl Montag, J.F. Burns Elementary, Kings Mill, Ohio
- Tying Data to Professional Development
Weekly walkthrough summary data is shared with teachers weekly. Our teacher leadership uses the data to schedule professional development.
—Naomi Matsuzaki, Kahalu’u Elementary, Kaneohe, Hawaii
- Tactics to Delegate Tasks
We have a number of teams in our school. Two of our teachers were trained in the new teacher evaluation system. I used this leadership team to train the remainder of the staff.
—Sara Stankus, Union Elementary, Buckhannon, West Virginia
Find more tips from National Distinguished Principals in “Time-Saving Teacher Evaluation Solutions,” from the January/February 2014 edition of Principal magazine.
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