Comments on: How I’d like to be evaluated – one teacher’s ideas for the new teacher eval system

By: Darcy

Darcy — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 19:47:48 +0000

So well said. I left traditional school after 9 years due to the “garbage” that administration and the district put me through. Now I’m at a nonprofit educational program and absolutely love it. Now I am able to write grants, have a normal professional conversation with my supervisors and what’s that thing called that I used to love to do? ……Oh yeah. . TEACH.

By: heavyheart

heavyheart — Thu, 08 Jan 2015 04:07:59 +0000

I wholeheartedly agree! I am a principal and this is exactly the type of supervision I try to employ. Ideally, I would be in classrooms every week – but that is physically impossible due to the size of my building. However, I go in every two to three weeks and follow up with detailed, written feedback within a day or two. I HATE the dog and pony shows. I never put them on when I was a teacher, and I don’t want to see them now!

By: Marg

Marg — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 20:51:25 +0000

The evaluation system you just described is very similar to what the state of Florida just threw out. As both a veteran teacher (21 years) and now a retired administrator (9 years), I am completely fed up with the change. In years past, we would meet with teachers, especially rookies, to be sure they understood the system. The first observation was informal and intended to lead to coaching. Teachers could easily see their strong points as well as areas that could be improved. It could be repeated as necessary to help the teacher make the necessary improvents PRIOR to a formal evaluation. Both processes, formal and informal, were based on solid research that supported strong classroom management, a positive learning environment, methods that enhanced student engagement and consequently improved student learning.

But now we spend hours and hours preparing for the dog and pony show so the teacher is sure to display exactly what Dr. Marzano says they must. this is a waste of everyone’s time and effort.

I completley agree, real evaluations take place over the course of time and are generally impromptu. If you are a good or great teacher, it show every day, not just when you expect an evaluation!