West Valley School District is working on the institution of a new Teacher and Principal Evaluation Process as required by the State of Washington. The new Evaluation Process for Teachers and Principals brings to light new expectations for performance that are aligned with the new state criteria; research-based teaching and leadership practices, student growth measures and professional growth measures, as well as using four tier rubrics. The evaluation tools will support professional growth and promote student achievement. In compliance with legislation, all school districts in Washington State will be required to fully implement the new teacher-principal evaluation by 2015. West Valley will be starting this process in the 2013-2014 school year for principals and selected teachers.

New Principal Evaluation Criteria

  1. Creating a Culture – Influence, establish and sustain a school culture conducive to continuous improvement for students and staff.
  2. Ensuring School Safety – Lead the development and annual update of a comprehensive safe schools plan that includes prevention, intervention, crisis response and recovery.
  3. Planning with Data – Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of the data-driven plan for improvement of student achievement.
  4. Aligning Curriculum – Assist instructional staff in aligning curriculum, instruction, and assessment with state and local learning goals.
  5. Improving Instruction – Monitor, assist and evaluate staff implementation of the school improvement plan, effective instruction and assessment practices.
  6. Managing Resources – Manage human and fiscal resources to accomplish student achievement goals.
  7. Engaging Communities – Communicate and partner with school community members to promote student learning.
  8. Closing the Gap – Demonstrate a commitment to closing the achievement gap.

New Teacher Evaluation Criteria

  1. Centering instruction on high expectations for student achievement.
  2. Demonstrating effective teaching practices.
  3. Recognizing individual student learning needs and developing strategies to address those needs.
  4. Providing clear and intentional focus on subject matter content and curriculum.
  5. Fostering and managing a safe, positive learning environment.
  6. Using multiple student data elements to modify instruction and improve student learning.
  7. Communicating and collaborating with parents and the school community.
  8. Exhibiting collaborative and collegial practices focused on improving instructional practice and student learning.

Instructional Framework - Leadership Framework

The Teacher – Principal Evaluation Project also requires that every school district in Washington State adopt one of three instructional frameworks through which evaluators will observe and evaluate teacher effectiveness as well as a new leadership framework to evaluate principal effectiveness. West Valley School District has adopted the University of Washington’s Center for Educational Leadership’s 5 Dimensions of Teaching and Learning as the Teaching Instructional Framework for evaluating teacher effectiveness, and the Association of Washington School Principal’s Leadership Framework for evaluating principal effectiveness.

CEL 5 DIMENSIONS (and Subdimensions) OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

  • Purpose
    • Standards
    • Learning Target and Teaching Points
  • Student Engagement
    • Intellectual Work
    • Engagement Strategies
    • Talk
  • Curriculum and Pedagogy
    • Curriculum
    • Teaching Approaches and/or Strategies
    • Scaffolds for Learning
  • Assessment of Student Learning
    • Assessment
    • Adjustments
  • Classroom Environment and Culture
    • Use of Physical Environment
    • Classroom Routines and Rituals
    • Classroom Culture


AWSP LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK (and Elements)

  • Creating a Culture
    • Develops and sustains focus on a shared mission and clear vision for improvement of learning and teaching.
    • Engages in essential conversations for ongoing improvement.
    • Facilitates collaborative processes leading toward continuous improvement.
    • Creates opportunities for shared leadership.
  • Ensuring School Safety
    • Provides for physical safety.
    • Provides for social, emotional and intellectual safety.
  • Planning with Data
    • Recognizes and seeks out multiple data sources.
    • Analyzes and interprets multiple data sources to inform school-level improvement efforts.
    • Implements data driven plan for improved teaching and learning.
    • Assists staff to use data to guide, modify and improve classroom teaching and learning.
  • Aligning Curriculum
    • Alignment of curricula to state and local district learning goals.
    • Alignment of best instructional practices to state and district learning goals.
    • Alignment of assessment practices to best instructional practices.
  • Improving Instruction
    • Monitors instruction and assessment practices.
    • Assists staff in developing required student growth plan and indentifying valid, reliable sources of evidence of effectiveness.
    • Assists staff in implementing effective instruction and assessment practices.
    • Reliably and validly evaluates staff in effective instruction and assessment practices.
  • Managing Resources
    • Managing human resources (assignment, hiring).
    • Managing human resources (ongoing professional development).
    • Managing fiscal resources.
    • Fulfilling legal responsibilities.
  • Engaging Communities
    • Communicates with community to promote learning.
    • Partners with families and school community.
  • Closing the Gap
    • Identifies barriers to achievement and knows how to close resulting gaps.
    • Demonstrates a commitment to close the achievement gap.
    • Provides evidence of growth in student learning.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Person

Peter Finch, Superintendent