5.

3 Program Evaluation
Candidates design and implement program evaluations to determine the overall effectiveness of
professional learning on deepening teacher content knowledge, improving teacher pedagogical skills
and/or increasing student learning.
Reflection

I designed and implemented the GAPSS Review at LaBelle Elementary to determine the overall
effectiveness of professional learning on deepening teacher content knowledge, improving teacher
pedagogical skills, and increasing student learning. I utilized the GAPSS template to evaluate the
effectiveness of 17 areas of professional learning and its implications for the classroom. Using a rubric, I
rated each area as Not Addressed, Emergent, Operational, or Fully Operational, and I provided evidence
and recommendations for further improvement for each area. I completed this as part of an independent
project for ITEC 7460.
Standard 5.3 Program Evaluation establishes the expectations for designing and implementing program
evaluations to determine the overall effectiveness of professional learning on deepening teacher content
knowledge, improving teacher pedagogical skills and/or increasing student learning. This artifact
demonstrates my ability to design and implement program evaluations in that prior to the GAPSS
evaluation, I had to design a plan for effectively evaluating the school. I arranged an interview with my
principal and also collected school information in the forms of the School Improvement Plan and
anecdotal notes to support my assessment of each standard. This artifact demonstrates my ability to
determine the overall effectiveness of professional learning on deepening teacher content knowledge by
indicating that I assessed LaBelle Elementarys professional learning in the related areas of Deep
Understanding of Subject Matter and Instructional Strategies and Sustained Development of Deep
Understanding of Content and Strategies. I identified evidence from the School Improvement Plan,
school clubs, special events, and data collection to inform my rating of each of these areas, and then
provided recommendations as to how the school could further improve in these areas through technology
integration and additional performance based activities. This artifact demonstrates my ability to
determine the overall effectiveness of professional learning on improving teacher pedagogical skills by
showcasing how I evaluated the Professional Learning Standard, Content Practices Reflect an
Emotionally and Physically Safe Learning Environment. Using the School Improvement Plan and
Response to Intervention meeting schedule as evidence, I rated LaBelle Elemetary to be Operational. I
then recommended next steps for professional development improvement, which included the creation of
school wide behavior expectations to be shared with all stakeholders to better set high expectations for all
students. Finally, this artifact demonstrates my ability to determine the overall effectiveness of
professional learning on increasing student learning by illustrating my ability to evaluate the current
Partnerships to Support Student Learning. Using the evidence of parent workshops, parent English
classes, communication via newsletters and call outs, and additional professional learning focused on
increasing parent involvement, I rated LaBelle Elementary as Fully Operational in this area. I then
recommended parents and community members to be invited to work with students on a regular basis.
The GAPSS Review was a great learning experience for me. It challenged me to look closely at a variety
of areas surrounding the professional learning in my school building and find evidence to support my
rating of each area. Locating this evidence as part of determining the schools overall effectiveness was
very eye opening. I realized that we have a great deal of wonderful efforts and initiatives occurring
throughout the school year that should be celebrated.
In my future program evaluations, I would like to include a team of people in the process. While I
interviewed the principal and analyzed the School Improvement Plan to gain insight about each standard
that I was evaluating, I feel I could have identified even more evidence and deeper understanding of each
standard if I had been working with a team of teachers, administrators, parents, and community members.
While assembling a team of this nature would require additional effort, it would be worth the deep
program insight it would promote.
The GAPSS Review benefitted school improvement. I was able to look closely at our schools strengths
and weakness, and use this knowledge as talking points during my Building Leadership Team meetings.
Through my close examination of my school, I was better prepared to offer my team suggestions of goals
and strategies to consider for school improvement.