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    From 'Gotcha' to Growth

    How principals promote learning in the context of teacher evaluation

    By Learning Forward
    Categories: Educator evaluation, Learning designs, School leadership
    December 2014
    Implementing teacher evaluation systems across the United States has created both challenges and opportunities to improving teacher quality. Lessons learned at the state level illustrate a wide range of challenges with system implementation, including value-added growth scores, implementation timetables, and human capital demands (McGuinn, 2012), but what are we learning about teacher evaluation at the school level? During a recent professional learning session, a group of K-12 teachers reflected on their interactions and experiences about campus principals and teacher evaluations. This question launched the conversation: “How is the principal promoting your professional growth using teacher evaluation?” From that came this exchange: A: It depends on the principal. Q: What do you mean? A: The principal either talks with teachers like evaluations are a “gotcha” or

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    Authors

    Janice Bradley

    Janice Bradley (jbradley@nmsu.edu) is a research assistant professor at New Mexico State University.

    Principal Strategies For Teacher Growth

    • Create a shared vision of classroom practices before school starts.
    • Protect professional learning community time.
    • Allocate funds for substitutes.
    • Support teachers who get an ineffective rating.

    References

    Easton, L.B. (Ed.). (2008). Powerful designs for professional learning (2nd ed.). Oxford, OH: NSDC.

    City, E., Elmore, R., Fiarman, S., & Teitel, L. (2009). Instructional rounds in education: A network approach to improving teaching and learning. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Education Press.

    Fullan, M. (2014). The principal: Three keys to maximizing impact. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

    Hord, S.H. (2009, Winter). Professional learning communities: Educators work together for a shared purpose. JSD, 30(1), 40-43.

    Learning Forward (2011). Standards for Professional Learning. Oxford, OH: Author.

    McGuinn, P. (2012). The state of teacher evaluation reform: State education agency and the implementation of new teacher-evaluation systems. Washington, DC: Center for American Progress.


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    Learning Forward is the only professional association devoted exclusively to those who work in educator professional development. We help our members plan, implement, and measure high-quality professional learning so they can achieve success with their systems, schools, and students.


    Categories: Educator evaluation, Learning designs, School leadership

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