Teacher Evaluation By: Dave Harwood, Melissa Malcom, and Kari Loll

Traditional Teacher Evaluation The traditional teacher evaluation has been labeled “a drive by”. Teachers find the evaluations meaningless in most cases due to the way they have traditionally been done in the past and some are still being done this way. The traditional evaluation is very much passive from the teachers perspective this type of evaluation doesn’t engage the teacher in the process at all.

What does a traditional teacher evaluation look like? Traditional teacher evaluation

Current news on Michigan teacher evaluation The new state data find that about 97% of the state's 96,000 teachers were rated effective or highly effective during the school year Some of the state's worst-performing schools gave out favorable ratings to teachers: 48 of the state's 146 priority schools -- so named because they are in the bottom 5% academically -- rated all of their teachers in the top two categories.

Focus of this Research: Does the Academy align with what the MCEE will expect for

What the group compared: Academy to the Marzano Teaching evaluation tool.

Marzano Teaching Evaluation A teacher's view of Marzano Teaching Evaluation

What does the State of Michigan plan on doing for the school year? The MCEE is evaluating 14 schools and will decide on one or two default teacher evaluation plans for the state of Michigan for the school year.

5 Dimensions of Teaching and Learning: Clare Public Schools (Clare County) Leslie Public Schools (Ingham County) Marshall Public Schools (Calhoun County) Mt. Morris Consolidated Schools (Genesee County)

Charlotte Danielson’s Framework for Teaching:  Garden City Public Schools (Wayne County)  Montrose Community Schools (Genesee County)  Port Huron Area School District (St. Clair County

Marzano Teacher Evaluation Model:  Big Rapids Public Schools (Mecosta County)  Farmington Public Schools (Oakland County)  North Branch Area Schools (Lapeer County)

The Thoughtful Classroom:  Cassopolis Public Schools (Cass County)  Gibraltar School District (Wayne County)  Harper Creek Community Schools (Calhoun County)  Lincoln Consolidated Schools (Washtenaw County

Interview with Jenny Demonte: consultant to for the Michigan Council for Educator Effectiveness Council will pick one or two of the evaluation tools from the pilot study. Factors to determine the selection of the evaluation tool will be on: cost, validity, fairness, and reliability. If a school district chooses to use a different teacher evaluation tool other than the state’s default evaluation tool, than the school district will have to send a copy of its teacher evaluation tool and apply to the state to be able to use it

How Midland Charter Academy compares to Marzano ComponentsMarzanoAcademy Providing Clear Learning Goals and Scales (Rubrics) Yes Celebrating Success Yes Understanding Students’ Interests and Backgrounds Yes Demonstrating Value and Respect for Typically Underserved Students Yes ComponentsMarzanoAcademy Interacting with New Knowledge Yes Organizing Students to Practice and Deepen Knowledge Yes Organizing Students for Cognitively Complex Tasks Yes Asking Questions of Typically Underserved Students Yes Probing Incorrect Answers with Typically Underserved Students Yes Noticing When Students Are Not Engaged Yes Using and Applying Academic Vocabulary Yes Evaluating Effectiveness of Individual Lessons and Units Yes Criterion 1: Centering instruction on high expectations for student achievement

MarzanoAcademy Yes Organizing Students to Practice and Deepen Knowledge Yes Organizing Students for Cognitively Complex Tasks Yes Asking Questions of Typically Underserved Students Yes Probing Incorrect Answers with Typically Underserved Students Yes Noticing When Students Are Not Engaged Yes Using and Applying Academic Vocabulary Yes Evaluating Effectiveness of Individual Lessons and Units Yes Criterion 2: Demonstrating effective teaching practices.

Criterion 3: Recognizing individual student learning needs and developing strategies to address those needs. ComponentsMarzanoAcademy Effective Scaffolding of Information Within a Lesson YesNo Planning and Preparing for the Needs of All Students Yes ComponentsMarzanoAcademy Establish Student Growth Goal(s) Yes Achievement of Student Growth Goal(s) Yes

Criterion 4: Providing clear and intentional focus on subject matter content and curriculum. ComponentsMarzanoAcademy Attention to Established Content Standards Yes Use of Available Resources and Technology YesNo

Criterion 5: Fostering and managing a safe, positive learning environment. ComponentsMarzanoAcademy Organizing the Physical Layout of the Classroom Yes Reviewing Expectations to Rules and Procedures Yes Demonstrating “Withiness” Yes Applying Consequences for Lack of Adherence to Rules and Procedures Yes Acknowledging Adherence to Rules and Procedures Yes Displaying Objectivity and Control Yes

Criterion 6: Using multiple student data elements to modify instruction and improve student learning. ComponentsMarzanoAcademy Designing Instruction Aligned to Assessment Yes Using Multiple Data Elements YesNo Tracking Student Progress Yes ComponentsMarzanoAcademy Establish Student Growth Goal (s) YesNo Achievement of Student Growth Goal(s) YesNo

Criterion 7: Communicating and collaborating with parents and the school community. ComponentsMarzanoAcademy Promoting Positive Interactions about Students and Parents – Courses, Programs and School Events Yes Promoting Positive Interactions about Students and Parents – Timeliness and Professionalism Yes

Criterion 8: Exhibiting collaborative and collegial practices focused on improving instructional practice and student learning. ComponentsMarzanoAcademy Seeking Mentorship for Areas of Need or Interest Yes Promoting Positive Interactions with Colleagues Yes Participating in District and School Initiatives Yes Monitoring Progress Relative to the Professional Growth and Development Plan Yes ComponentsMarzanoAcademy Establish Student Growth Goals, Implement, and Monitor Growth Yes

Interview with Elizabeth Haigh: Dean of the Academy How many times a year do you do a formal evaluation? The intent is do conduct at least one formal observation which is scheduled in advance and is coordinated with a lesson plan provided by the teacher – this satisfies one of the statutory requirements. This has happened for all teachers so far this year. How many informal visits do you do yearly? The intent is conduct at least two informal or walk-through visits per school year for a teacher. A walk-though is not coordinated in advance or with a lesson plan and may only be 10 minutes in length. This is in-progress.

Interview with Elizabeth Haigh Who determines for the school how many evaluations will be done? At this point the Governor’s Council has not yet specified, so it is up to each individual school district. In our case I have recommended to the President of Midland Charter Initiative (our employer) that we have at least 2 walk-throughs and 1 formal observation. Who created the teacher evaluation forms for the school? There are 10 pages The first 41 components of the evaluation form are directly from Robert Marzano, the remaining portions were developed by MCI and are specific components of the unique aspects for MCI.

Interview with Elizabeth Haigh Do you like the GoObserve application you are using for teacher evaluation? Could you address the advantages and disadvantages from your perspective? Yes, I do like GoObserve overall. The advantages are that I can modify the components to match the criteria for which I am looking, as in Marzano’s strategies. GoObserve comes pre-loaded with Charlotte Danielson model. Additionally, it is very convenient to conduct the formal and walk-through for scheduling and preparing a report. It is then easier to provide more valuable feedback for a formal observation as well as the informal walk-through observations. In regards to disadvantages, there was a time when it continuously crashed and I lost information. So, I had to start over a few times. They seem to have worked out the bugs. Also, I can schedule an observation in GoObserve and it connects to my calendar on my iPad, but not to a 3 rd party calendar like Outlook, this would be a nice feature.

Deborah Ball discusses teacher evaluation Deborah Ball

Technology used during Teacher Evaluation: Go Observe GoKnow’s observation software, GoObserve™, is currently used by principals and administrators to perform the compulsory observations and walkthroughs required by state and federal guidelines. GoObserve™ has been cited as the preferred software in its category by leading educational purchasing groups and state agencies.

GoObserve Video GoObserve Demo

Example of GoObserve used at the Academy

Conclusion Academy’s teacher evaluation plan is very much aligned with the Marzano model. We concluded that The Academy will be within the guidelines for the new teacher evaluations that will go into effect for the school year to be in compliance with the state requirements.