Evaluation is a mandatory part of
administration and must be designed to be a constructive process. I feel that by using the clinical cycle
format I will be able to stay task-oriented and maintain objectivity. Both pre-conferences and post-conferences
must be well planned so that they do not seem to be forced and contrived. The purpose and methods of the evaluation
must be thoroughly explained, thus allowing both the evaluator and the person
being evaluated feel more at ease and relaxed.
As a principal I will base my evaluation on criteria and goals that both
my teachers and I agree are relevant and fair. The purpose and methods will be explained to the staff as a
group, thus allowing both the teachers and me to understand the criteria on
which everyone is being evaluated. The teachers will be given guidelines in the
beginning of the school year stating clearly how I will collect information,
what information I will collect, and how it will be evaluated. Evaluations will be fair and personal
feelings will not be a part of the evaluation.
Eventually, I would like to
encourage all teachers to develop a portfolio system so that they are able to
present to me in that form what they consider to be their accomplishments
during the year. This will give me a
clearer picture of each teacher as a professional as well as how they perceive
themselves as professionals. A list of
things to be included in this portfolio will be developed and given to the
teachers in advance. It will be
imperative that the portfolio includes the teacher’s statement of his or her
teaching philosophy. Additionally, the
teacher should give examples of lessons as well as examples of special projects
the students were assigned, some as a group activity and others as individual
activities. All portfolios would be
required to have information on how strengths and needs of students were
determined and the methods used to meet them.
I would probably expect them to document with examples other professional
development they have completed. Some
of these would include courses completed, workshops attended, involvement in
study groups and workshops led by the teachers as well as any awards received.
The evaluations will be scheduled at
a mutually convenient time for both the teacher and me. The teacher will be allowed to select the
lessons to be observed. It is
important that I know that the teachers know before-hand the standards that are
set by the state and that I will be observing their skills in meeting these
standards. I will have a standard
evaluation for all teachers. I will
clearly define the rating system in terms that are not vague. This will all be covered in the initial
pre-conference. Hopefully, if done in
this way we will develop rapport and thus set the stage for a tension free
conference.
Shortly after the pre-conference the observation will
be conducted. I will only be looking at
those pre-selected things. To maintain
trust, I will always adhere to those things previously agreed upon.
I will have a feedback conference during which I will
reflect with the teacher on instructional practices observed and will gently
guide the teacher to the areas that instructional improvement is
necessary. I will always attempt to create
a supportive environment that presents the teacher with information that will
help that person do a good job. It is
just as important to highlight the strengths or good-qualities observed, as it
is to critique the needs for improvement.