01/04/13On The Road to Better Teacher Evaluations
New Hampshire Public Radio (01/04/13) Evans-Brown, Sam
The New Hampshire Department of Education (DOE) has created a teacher evaluation system that can be used as a model by school districts, which are required by state law to implement an evaluation policy but can craft it themselves. The DOE's model calls for districts to conduct at least three observations of teachers during evaluation years, along with meetings during which teachers set goals for the year and showcase a portfolio of lesson plans, classroom activities, tests, and other things used in the classroom. Districts should base teachers' ratings on a measure of student growth, using standardized tests for reading and math and creating their own measurable methods for other classes. The evaluation should feature five criteria -- teacher content knowledge; instructional practice; professional responsibility; student growth; and "learner and learning," or an understanding of how children learn -- each counting for 20 percent of the rating. Teachers should be rated as highly effective, effective, needs improvement, or ineffective, and districts can use mentoring, workshops, and follow-up to help struggling teachers. According to State Education Commissioner Virginia Barry, "Some people believe good teachers are born, and some people think good teachers are made."
