Westfield Schools Implement New Teacher Evaluation, Digital Tools

As part of the Westfield Public School District’s strategic plan, the board addressed its goals for the 2013-14 school year at Tuesday evening’s meeting.

The four aspects of the district strategic plan for 2010-15 include the following:

Student Achievment
Student Personal Development
Finance and Facilities
and Communication and Community Engagement

The first goal for the current year focuses on improving the Marshall Teacher Evaluation method, which was chosen by the Board after the state insisted districts choose from a few new options for teacher evaluations. This is the first year Westfield will be using this method.

“We want to make sure the level of teaching in our classroom remains high,” Superintendent Dr. Margaret Dolan said.

Throughout the year, the district will go over requirements of the evaluation method with administrators and teachers to ensure they understand what is expected f them. Currently, the district is in the process of developing a district manual and web site to detail the requirements, according to Dolan. The district also continues to attend out of district meetings on the method.

The Board will make staff appointments based on the evaluation date come Spring 2014.

The second goal the board outline on Tuesday was to develop and use benchmark assessments to measure growth of student performance.

“We’ve already done quite a bit of work to provide resources for administrators,” Dolan explained.

In order to achieve this goal the district will provide resources for administrators for the development of long-term student goals, as well as establish growth targets, track progress and adjust teaching accordingly.

The final goal of the district focuses on communication and specifically digital tools. Westfield’s Public School District is focused on improving communication through a new web provider and expand uses of social media.

A broader explanation of the goals will be posted to the district website.