Teacher Evaluation Model Outlined at Board Workshop Meeting

Summit public schools Director of Human Resources Dr. Ken Shulack, outlined the district's new teacher evaluation model at the Board of Education workshop meeting held Thursday.

Shulack explained that as per the TeachNJ Act of 2012 districts are required to change the evaluation rubrics for teachers and administrators. (The administrators' evaluation process will be explained at a later date, Shulack said.)

Prior to the TeachNJ Act, tenured teachers underwent one announced evaluation per year, while non-tenured teachers might be observed three times during the course of a school year. Under the Kim Marshall model, which was the evaluation method chosen by the district, teachers, both tenured and non-tenured, are observed frequently and without advance notice. Principals and administrators enter the room carrying blue cards as a signal that the observation will then begin. 

The Marshall Teacher Evaluation Rubric focuses on six domains: planning and preparation for learning; classroom management; delivery of instruction; monitoring, assessment, and follow-up; family and community outreach; and professional responsibilities. Each of these domains is further divided into 10 criteria and rated across four performance levels for each criterion, according to American Institutes for Research. 

Once a teacher is observed, feedback is given immediately, which in turn enhances student achievement, Shulack said.

Washington School Principal Lauren Banker likened the change to going from using old-fashioned photography methods to now working with a digital camera to take candid shots, with the ability to "zoom in." Because feeback is immmediate, changes can be implemented the same day or the following day. 

Shulack commended the district's teachers for embracing what he called "a paradigm shift" and noted that 78.2 percent of teachers agreed this model will improve their teaching. The district began using the Marshall Model in March 2012, ahead of the curve, Shulack said. Another benefit is that this model is cost effective, he added. While others might charge as much as $39 per teacher for the year or $40 per observation, the Marshall model is free. The T-Eval software system that principals and administrators use to enter all collected data costs approximately $7,000 annually for support. 

Summit High School Technology Education teacher Kevin Schauer said he thinks the new method is "perfect" because it requires that a teacher must "always be on your game." Further, Schauer, in the district for four years, said he appreciates the immediate feedback.