The Brookings Institution published an excellent piece on the progress of teacher evaluation reform efforts across the country. In it, they outline 6 steps states can take to support districts as they transition from the pilot/planning phases to full-scale implementation of new teacher evaluation programs.
Here are two suggestions that rang particularly true with us, based on our experience working with thousands of educators across the U.S.:
- “Align evaluation systems.” Teachers, principals, and district administrators must all speak the same language. There is greater accountability, increased cohesion, and deeper trust of the evaluation process if educators are working toward shared, common objectives—that’s one reason Oakland Unified School District uses TeachBoost for teacher evaluation, formative feedback, and leadership supervision.
- “Use evaluation to facilitate coaching.” An evaluation system that is anchored in frequent, meaningful, formative feedback paves the way for informed instructional decision-making, differentiated PD, and educator-led coaching and mentorship.
