The Lawrence school district could change the way it grades its teachers.
For the past three years, a committee has looked at ways to improve the evaluation process that teachers must go through every year. On Tuesday night, those proposed changes, which are part of ongoing negotiations between the school district and teachers union, were presented to the school board.
If adopted, all teachers would be observed in the classroom and evaluated based on their planning and preparation skills, classroom environment, instruction and professional responsibilities. Those who fail to meet proficient levels in each of those categories would be given suggestions for improvement.
“Reports are very positive that teachers who are put on plans of improvement have had a high success rate of making those changes and having success in the district,” said Lois Orth-Lopes, an elementary school teacher who is co-chairwoman of the committee that has been studying the changes.
The district’s evaluation model hasn’t been updated in 14 years. At the time it was introduced to Lawrence schools, it was state of the art and developed with the help of teachers and Kansas University researchers.
“It moved away from meaningless checklists and had teachers taking responsibility for their personal growth,” said Angelique Kobler, who is the district’s division director of curriculum and instruction.
Currently, new teachers and those on probation are observed several times in the classroom throughout the year. Experienced teachers don’t have to be observed but do meet with an administrator once a year to review an “individual growth plan” and to verify that they meet district expectations. Teachers can also fill out self-evaluations.
Under the proposed change, all teacher evaluations would include classroom observations along with self-evaluations and individual growth plans.
For teachers in their first three years at the district, two evaluations would be done twice a year, and each would involve two 30-minute observations in the classrooms. For the more-experienced teachers, evaluations would occur every three years and include two 30-minute observations in the classroom.
An important part of the process would be the conferences held between the teacher and administrator before and after the classroom observations.
“We find that every teacher, including master teachers, benefits from having someone come in and offer feedback,” Orth-Lopes said.
The new evaluation criteria has been successfully used in five similar districts in Kansas, committee members told the school board. School board members supported the changes.
Board Vice President Vanessa Sanburn noted that a school doesn’t kick out students if they receive poor marks. Instead, teachers develop a plan to help them improve.
“It mirrors how we educate our kids,” she said.
Teacher evaluations are just one of the many pieces in recent negotiations between the school district and teachers union.
Comments
consumer1 11 months, 3 weeks ago
It is about time there is some accountability for highly paid teacher's. We need to get away from the myth that teachers are saints and beyone reproach. Let's stop just dumping money on them every year without accountability!
jhawkinsf 11 months, 3 weeks ago
I must agree with some of your comment, but not it's overall inference. If in fact people believe teachers are saints and beyond reproach, then it should cease. And I'm all for accountability. But highly paid? Surely you jest. I would suggest a doubling of the accountability, a longer school year and a doubling of teacher's pay.
Make them accountable as we would any true professional. And pay them accordingly.
Agnostick 11 months, 3 weeks ago
consumer1 (anonymous) says…
"It is about time there is some accountability for highly paid teacher's."
I certainly would if I were you!
Are you similarly holding accountable your very first teachers?
weeslicket 11 months, 3 weeks ago
from the article: "The district’s evaluation model hasn’t been updated in 14 years. At the time it was introduced to Lawrence schools, it was state of the art and developed with the help of teachers and Kansas University researchers."
and then the article goes on to describe the current model of accountablity, and the new model of accountability.
KansasConscience 11 months, 3 weeks ago
@consumer1 Your "No whining" avatar belies what you write as you just paraphrased the Faux News and ALEC talking points 8 and 6.7 respectively.
Remember, Kansas teacher salaries rank in the bottom 10 to 15 out of all the states.
You don't appear to know any teachers who: annually buy school supplies out of their own pocket because schools are not funded in Kansas pay for and take on their own time professional classes required to maintain their license have to explain to little Sally-Anne why 6500 years +- is not the correct response for the geological age of the Earth have to put up with brats who think that every moment of every day they're on TV in a faux-reality show get called on the carpet because they gave a failing grade to students who earned them, regardless of how it affects the students' ability to participate in sports carry a second job just to make ends meet because they don't get paid well enough. get yelled at by parents because their child didn't get a good grade; forget about the fact that it's the parents' responsibility to ensure their child does its homework. the list goes on
Quit parroting Faux News, ALEC the KPI and AFP. When was the last time you asked your child to show you its homework? When was the last time you asked your child's teacher what you could do at home to help it improve its grades?
consumer1 11 months, 3 weeks ago
Kansas, every profession has it's pit falls and obstacles, not just teaching. For most "professional government employee's" there have not been a pay raise in over seven years. Even cost of living raises have been approved and the cancelled. (not posted in the LJW though). Health care cost go up, the cost of Rx meds go up, the cost of living continue to rise, and wages stay the same. Teacher at least get raises and it seem as though they get them every year. Everyone is struggling finacially now. But seldom have a union that has lobbiest. To say high paid? Maybe a little mispoken, but other people in the same pay range are subject to much higher accountability standards on a regular basis.
consumer1 11 months, 3 weeks ago
To answer your question, the last time I asked my daughter about her home work, she told me they were studying for the state test? I asked her what she meant. She said we take a state test over and over again until we get as close to 100% as poss. I asked her teacher about this and he corroborated her story. Is this what teachers are teaching? How to manipulate the system to achieve success????
Deb Engstrom 11 months, 3 weeks ago
Your daughter is exactly right. There is so much emphasis on the state test results that teachers are forced to teach kids how to take tests (practice) and teach only the material that is on the test. If schools don't make adequate yearly progress based on these tests for consecutive years, they are considered to be "on improvement" and then "failing". If you don't like what your daughter is doing contact your legislators.
KansasConscience 11 months, 3 weeks ago
@consumer1 Your 1200 paints with a broad brush. I know three local school districts whose teachers took a pay cut or at least a freeze just so the schools could stay open. Teachers don't get raises every year, some for several years. I also know teachers who left the profession because they couldn't afford to teach.
I agree, everyone is struggling. It is good that teachers have a union; just be glad Scott Walker (may he be recalled) is not the governor.
You comment about accountability. Teachers are held accountable, principals observe them twice a year and give them an annual evaluation. They put some on a performance improvement program (probation), after which they're either off of probation or their contract is not renewed. Part of the accountability requires teachers to take additional classes every year just in order to remain a teacher. What other professions, except the medical field, require that? "...other people in the same pay range are subject to much higher accountability standards on a regular basis." Be more specific, please.
Teachers must sign a negotiated contract annually unlike "professional government employees."
re: homework. Practicing for the state test is driven by the state and the district administration. School support (read as money) apportionment is driven by student performance on the state tests. This isn't improvement, this is a one-time performance grade. Hence, the administration tells teachers this is what they must do; teachers have little choice in this. So, don't blame the teachers, blame the NCLB requirements. These tests are also not high stakes for the kids and as a result they don't see why they should even try. The kids do poorly on the state assessments and the schools suffer, not the kids. In many instances schools have to bribe the kids to do well on the state assessments.
Finally, explain to us how practicing a test is manipulating the system.
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