The teacher evaluation process is a major part of many school administrators’ job. Having a firm grasp on this process is essential. The following seven steps will lead you to being a successful teacher evaluator. Each step focuses on a different aspect of the teacher evaluation process.
Know Your State’s Teacher Evaluation Guidelines
Every state has different guidelines and procedures for administrators to follow when evaluating. Most states require administrators to attend teacher evaluation professional development before they can begin evaluating teachers. It is important to study your specific states laws and procedures on evaluating teachers. It is also important that you know the dates that all teachers are supposed to be evaluated by and that those are done before the deadlines.
Know Your District’s Policies on Teacher Evaluations
In addition to state policies, it is important to understand you districts policies and procedures when it comes to teacher evaluation. Some districts may require you to use a specific instrument, while others allow you to create your own. Districts may have specific things that they want evaluated that the state may not require.Be Sure Your Teachers Understand All Expectations and Procedures
You never want a teacher to be able to say that they were not aware of the teacher evaluation procedures in your district. It is important to not only give your teachers this information, but to document it as well. Should you ever need to dismiss a teacher, you want to cover yourself in making sure that all the district’s expectation were made known to them. There should not be any hidden elements to the teachers. They should be given access to what you are looking for, the instrument used, and any other pertinent information dealing with the evaluation process.Schedule Pre and Post Conferences
A pre-evaluation conference allows you to sit down with the teacher you are observing before hand to lay out your expectations and procedures. It is recommended that before the pre-observation conference you give the teacher an evaluation questionnaire which will give you more information about their classroom and what you can expect to see when you evaluate them. A post evaluation conference allows you to go over the evaluation with the teacher, giving them any feedback and suggestions, and answering any questions they might have.
Have a Current Meaningful Teacher Evaluation Tool
In some cases this is not necessarily possible. Some districts have evaluation tools that they require you to use while others allow flexibility with the administrator using it. If you have the opportunity to design your own instrument, then make sure you always have it board approved before using it. Just like any good tool, reevaluate it from time to time. Don’t be afraid to update it. Make sure it always meets state and district expectations, but add your own twist to it. If you are in a district where they have a specific instrument you have to use and you feel like there is a change that could improve it, then approach your superintendent and see if it may be possible to make some changes.
