Getting Ed Eval Right (@sguditus Steve Guditus)
We are underway. It's nearly October, we have hit the ground running, and as a community, we need to start thinking about educator/teacher/staff evaluation. In Massachusetts, we have shifted from a model of "I'm on this year" to a model where every educator, myself included as an administrator, are in a constant state of reflection and growth. The trick, as we enter year two of this model, is to focus on a state of reflection and growth - not a state of panic and confusion. What I have found, in working with many staff members, in two different districts in the state, is that folks do a great job. Educators want to do the right thing, be the best they can be, and ultimately, teach students. After thinking back to last's year initial implementation of this model and entering into this year, as our entire staff is "on," and working in the evaluation system, a few key reflections cropped up. Trust is key. In order for this new model to work,...