Learning Forward

When we talk about teacher evaluation through the Learning Forward lens, our goal is that standards-based professional learning will provide the context for how school and district leaders respond to the data that evaluation systems generate. As David Steele, chief information and technology officer ofHillsborough County (Fla.) Public Schools, says, “Teacher […]

When individual professional learning is introduced as a component of reformed teacher evaluation systems, it simultaneously becomes a part of a district professional learning plan. As a result, it is important that leaders consider the linkages between teacher evaluation systems and the individual professional learning as well as connections among […]

Hurricane Katrina blew across the St. Bernard Parish Public Schools district in Chalmette, La., on the morning of Aug. 29, 2005, bringing with it a wall of water that flooded everything for miles, putting the school system’s 18 buildings under several feet of water filled with mud, gasoline, oil, dead […]

 As school districts create systems to identify, monitor, and assess teacher effectiveness, they consider a variety of sources, including observations of teaching practices and analysis of student assessments. A new voice — student perceptions — has emerged as a valuable source of information. In many districts, leaders are collecting data […]

Culturally proficient educators continuously assess school policies, systems, and procedures to determine if they favor some groups over others. When educators discover inequities, they transform the policy or practice to be more culturally responsive. This assessment is not limited to instruction, support services, and parent involvement, but also includes other […]

As a nation, we are changing the way we evaluate teachers, moving from a patchwork of weak and haphazard approaches to whole data-driven systems with dramatically high stakes. From Memphis to Chicago to Baltimore, districts and states are working to develop these systems, acknowledging the crucial role played by teachers […]

Phillips: Great teachers are the most important school-based ingredient for student success. So we’re committed to ensuring teachers have the supports and tools they need to continually improve their practice. As we do so, we’re listening closely to what teachers say and co-designing and researching new approaches with them. Through […]

 Every family has its stories, its inside jokes. One of my family’s is that, no matter what question someone asks of me, my answer is frequently, “I don’t know, but I’m delighted you thought I did.” The fact is, I really don’t know. And the older I get, the more […]

Hillsborough County (Fla.) Public Schools had a concern. A review in 2008 of teacher evaluations in the district found that more than 99% of the 12,000 teachers were rated satisfactory or outstanding, and nearly half of high school teachers received perfect scores. While Hillsborough is a high-performing district and has […]