This book takes a new approach to teacher evaluation by building on and encouraging new best practices in education - constructivist teaching, emotional intelligence and brain research, improved professional development practices, reflective practice, collaborative teacher-administrator relationships. It develops a new evaluation model established by the author - the Growth-Focused Evaluation system - and provides the requisite forms and reproducibles necessary to adopt or adapt the system. Chapters one through six examine the nature of evaluation as a vehicle not only to provide accountability but also to improve success of schools and students; they examine the complexity of the teacher's job and the role of the principal as motivator and leader; and they look at the many factors that contribute to the need for alternative evaluations, and examine various approaches such as reflective practice, self-assessment, portfolios, peer coaching and evaluation. The book then moves into the Growth-Focused Evaluation system, which promotes teacher reflection and examination of practice. Included are processes for working with experienced, beginning, transferring, and marginal teachers. Samples of how to report teacher growth and evaluation are included, as well as ways for teachers to record their own professional growth and activity. An appendix of forms at the end of the book provides masters that can be reproduced as principals develop their own plan, or implement the plan described.
PART ONE More Questions Than Answers The Significance of Teachers and the Complexity of Their Work Approaches to Evaluation Leadership, Growth and Community Motivation, Learning and Staff Development New Approaches to Evaluation and Staff Development PART TWO The Growth-Focused Evaluation System Identifying Teacher Types The Need for Standards Structures, Processes and Instruments for Teacher Reflection and Examination of Practice Reporting Teacher Evaluation and Professional Growth Developing Your Own Evaluation and Professional Growth Plan Action Steps
"Beerens gives us a workable and virtuous approach to nurturing professional teachers." -- Max De Pree "This book makes an important contribution to a critical aspect of improving the profession." -- Charlotte Danielson "A very helpful tool for districts trying to create a more authentic assessment instrument. This is a "one-stop-shopping" source. Beerens reviews the research and provides practical turnkey evaluative procedures." -- G. Steven Griggs, Principal "Across the nation, teacher evaluation processes are inadequate at best; at worst, they are detrimental to best instructional practices. This book advocates a process that has the potential to energize and motivate teachers to improve." -- Mary Beth Poole, Adjunct Graduate Faculty
