Take Five for...

Getting the Most Out of the
Teacher Evaluation Process

"Evaluation is one of the most important tasks an administrator does. Evaluation done properly will support the marginal teacher and provide direction for improvement for all teachers." (Phil Shaman)

"I always try to be sensitive to the idea that evaluations are my opportunity to teach my faculty. I never treat evaluations as an opportunity to 'get' teachers or to punish them. Instead, they are an opportunity to work to make them better every chance I get." (Duane Kline)

Getting into classrooms often, and then again, is key in Michael Miller's approach to teacher evaluation. "How can I supervise if I am not there? As a principal of a Title I school, I know just how tight a principal's time can be, but I make getting into classrooms a priority. My goal is that my assistant principal or I will get to every classroom three times a week. That's no small task in a school of 800 students, but most weeks we meet our goal."

"Administrators need to offer feedback, positive and effective, throughout the year. Doing it consistently, and in little ways too, helps to build relationships with teachers. The relationship that a teacher has with the principal may be the difference in helping a teacher develop into an effective leader or abandoning the career altogether." (Heather Nicole Hamtil)

"I recommend that principals use a different administrator for each of the teacher's observations. Each evaluator brings a different perspective to the table. The teacher's final evaluation is less likely to be biased when more administrators are involved in the process. Everyone benefits." (Marie Kostick)

Take Five more to read this entire article from Education World's "Principal Files" series:
"Excellent Evaluations: Practical Tips for Improving Principals' Observation, Teacher Evaluation Skills"
 

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