Competency 4: Curriculum, Instruction and Supervision

4.3 Related Task: Knowledge of variety of instructional methods and skills

4.3.7 Specific Task: Conduct a clinical evaluation cycle including observation in a typical classroom.

Narrative Description of Task: After reviewing state law, local policy and collective bargaining agreement regarding teacher evaluations, carry out a classroom observation and post-observation conference with a consenting colleague using the districts evaluation instrument and procedures. Prepare a written evaluation based on the classroom observation using the district reporting format. Interview the staff member after the formal conclusion of the post conference concerning his/her perceptions about administrative practices or behaviors that facilitate meaningful evaluations and promote growth by staff members. Reflect on the process and what represents good administrative practice.

One of the greatest responsibilities that an administrator has is ensuring that students are being provided with a high quality education from all teachers. This is accomplished by establishing a sense of community and common culture, collaborating with staff, and through the use of evaluation as a teaching process. The best evaluation processes should not just be separating the good teachers from the bad, but rather should strive to instruct staff to become better in any and all deficient areas. This type of approach can help change ineffective teaching into effective, and effective teaching into outstanding teaching.

Teachers at Holland Public are evaluated using the Charlotte Danielson model with a focus on twelve components.

1.c Setting instructional Outcomes 1.e Designing Coherent Instruction 1.f Designing Student Assessments

2.a Creating an Environment of Respect and Rapport 2.b Establishing a culture for Learning 2.d Managing Student Behavior

3.b Using Questions and Discussion 3.c Engaging Students in Learning Techniques 3.d Using Assessment in Instruction

4.a Reflecting on Teaching 4.c Communicating with Families 4.d Participating in a Professional Community 1 By breaking down the evaluative tool into twelve components, teachers and evaluators are able to more easily understand the model and focus on areas of strength, as well as areas in need of correction. What is most important is that teachers and administrators must work together and see this process as open and collaborative. If they do not, teachers will see the evaluations as personal attacks, and administrators will see it as jumping through hoops. Collaboration between teachers and administrators, working together to set goals and correct shortcomings, will ultimately lead to better teaching and better student outcomes. In this way, Holland Public has been successful in implementing an evaluation process that is capable of living up to ideals of educational evaluation. The use of Danielsons rubrics for these 12 components also helps the district and its evaluators stay within a documented and standardized format for conducting evaluations.

Taken from HPS website, HR Evaluation Tools http://www.hollandpublicschools.org/vimages/shared/vnews/stories/459e4f1e2da1f/Professional%20Staff %20Evaluation%20Program%20and%20Procedures%209.21.12.pdf

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For the purpose of gaining clinical experience in evaluative practices, I observed two different teachers. The first was a fifteen year veteran social studies teacher that is known for being highly effective. He also serves as the social studies department chair. The second is a third year math teacher within the district who is still in his probationary period.

Prior to meeting for a pre-observation, I conducted a fifteen minute walkthrough with each teacher in order to see how they interacted with students. During the pre-observation each teacher asked me to focus on domain 3. The social studies teacher from Holland High asked me to focus on this because he is teaching this economics class in a new style, while the math teacher asked me to focus on domain 3 because he is trying to implement some teacher led classes the next school year. (currently classes are online at VR Tech, and he has been instructing group pullouts) Both teachers were able to engage students adequately, but in different ways. The social studies teacher was seamless in using differentiated instruction and allowing student choice for completing work. He accomplished this by using thinking partners, online brainstorm on their iPads, small group work, and quiet writing time. The math teacher communicated objectives well and kept enough variety in his guided lecture to keep students engaged. He also showed successful use of the I do, We do, You do strategy.

Following these observations I finished filling out the rubric worksheet online and prepared recommendations for each teacher. I met with post-observation conferences with each teacher. During this time they reflected on their teaching and I shared my development plans with them. We discussed what would be most helpful, and I asked for their feedback on my evaluation.

Lessons Learned: By taking part in teacher observations and evaluations I have gained valuable insight into several pieces of the evaluative process. Being a social studies teacher by trade, it was easy to observe the same subject area. Observing mathematics, however, taught me a great deal about focusing on the process and strategies used to teach, rather than the subject matter itself. This will be especially important in classes that I have no experience in, such as visual arts. Secondly, and most importantly, I truly was able to feel what it was like to be part of a collaborative evaluation process on the administrative end. This collaboration was natural and beneficial as I already had trusting relationships with the two teachers I observed. This speaks to the importance and care an administrator must take in cultivating positive relationships with staff. These lessons will not only benefit me, but my future staff and the students that they serve.

Below: A sample of the Danielson rubric used by HPS to evaluate teachers.