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Palm Beach County Teacher Observation and Evaluation System Marzano Teacher Evaluation Framework Frequently Asked Questions (Updated 3/15/12) What is the observation schedule for effective supervision? Category 1 Teachers = 2 Formal, 2 Informal, 6 Walkthroughs Category 2 Teachers = 1 Formal, 1 Informal, 3 Walkthroughs Non-classroom Teachers = 1 Formal, 1 Informal, 1 Walkthrough Struggling Teachers = 2 Formal, 2 Informal, 6 Walkthroughs What is the JTEC? JTEC refers to the “Joint Teacher Evaluation Committee” and is comprised of members of CTA, teachers, and school/district administrators. What are the lines of communication for the Marzano Teacher Evaluation Framework? Administrators are provided with information and updates at each CAO meeting. Administrators also receive information and updates at principal and assistant principal association meetings. Additionally, bi-weekly email updates are sent to all principals, assistant principals, professional development contacts and Marzano Teacher Liaisons. As well, all information is posted on the Department of Professional Development’s website and the CAO website. These websites can be accessed via the employee webpage or by going directly to each department’s webpage. Will professional growth plans replace IPDPs? IPDPs are required by state law. Growth plans within the Marzano Teacher Evaluation Framework will be incorporated into IPDPs. Can the AEA still be used? During the FY12 school year all instructional personnel, including non-classroom instructional personnel, will be evaluated using the Marzano Art and Science of Teaching Annual Evaluation Report. The AEA will not be used during the FY12 school year. How will non-classroom teachers be evaluated? All teachers, including non-classroom teachers, will be evaluated using the Marzano Art and Science of Teaching Annual Evaluation Report. How will interim teachers be evaluated? Interim teachers will be evaluated using the same system. How will new teachers and teachers new to the district be evaluated? New teachers and teachers hired on or after July 1, 2011 will be evaluated using the Art and Science of Teaching Annual Evaluation Report. The “hold harmless” period did not apply to these teachers. What are Category 1 Teachers? Category I Teachers include teachers from 0 to up to 2 years of service and new teachers to the district. Will classroom walkthroughs be used as a part of the evaluations or just as a formative tool to provide feedback? A schedule for walkthroughs and observations has been developed for the FY12 school year. This schedule can be found on the Department of Professional Development’s website and the CAO website.
Formal:
Informal:
What are the actual tools that will be used to conduct walkthroughs, observations and the final evaluation? iObservation and the Marzano Art and Science of Teaching Evaluation Report will be used. Are tools available for teachers to self-assess? Self-assessment forms can be found on the Department of Professional Development’s website. These tools are also available electronically within iObservation.
How does the evaluation system mesh with the collective bargaining agreement? An evaluation system that includes both practice and student achievement is required by law and must be implemented. An evaluation plan was submitted to the state on December 1, 2011. Collective bargaining is still in process. Can protocol forms be copied for teachers? Yes. The protocol sheets are available for downloading on the Department of Professional Development’s website and within iObservation. Teachers are encouraged to download the protocol sheets to assist them in their professional growth and understanding of the protocols. Will teachers get an overview or in-depth training on Domain 1? The district has provided vodcasts and learning materials for all nine design questions in Domain 1 which can be used by schools. Vodcasts and materials can be found on the Department of Professional Development’s website. In addition, school-based professional learning opportunities have been designed and provided at the school level by administrators, professional development teams, teacher liaisons and teacher leaders/experts within the school. Is the administrator required to observe all 41 elements in Domain 1? Administrators have been trained to identify all 41 elements within Domain 1. However, they are not required to witness all 41 elements in order to determine an overall instructional practice score. The elements witnessed during walkthroughs and observations will be based on the lesson segment and design question being addressed at the time the administrator enters the classroom. Is there a process for conducting the pre and post conference for formal observations? All formal observations require a pre/post conference. Pre and post conference forms can be downloaded from the Department of Professional Development’s website of iObservation. The forms can also be used in their electronic format via iObservation. Will this observation “system” replace the former classroom walkthrough process? Yes. The former classroom walkthrough process was Teachscape’s Classroom Walkthrough Process. This system is no longer being used. Walkthroughs will be conducted through the use of the iObservation tool. The iObservation tool is consistent with the former classroom walkthrough process in that the “look-fors” were based on the research of Marzano. What constitutes an announced visit? An announced visit in the new system continues to adhere to contract language in the former system.
What materials have been provided to teachers for professional development? Who will pay for the materials? District and state-developed materials can be viewed and downloaded from the Department of Professional Development’s website. Materials created by individual schools can also be found on the website. Marzano Teacher Liaisons were provided access to the powerpoints used for both the two-day Marzano Teacher Evaluation Framework training and the iObservation training. Some schools have purchased additional resources and materials such as “The Art and Science of Teaching” and “The Handbook for the Art and Science of Teaching”. Is there a district implementation calendar or timeline? Weekly targeted areas? Will there be a “practice” time? An implementation timeline and focus map was provided at the August 4, 2011 CAO meeting. The “hold harmless” or “practice period” ends January 1, 2012. All new teachers and teachers new to the district on or after July 1, 2011 were not allowed a “hold harmless” period. All observations and walkthroughs conducted on new teachers and teachers new to the district on or after July 1, 2011 can be counted towards the final evaluation score. How does the use of the Marzano Teacher Evaluation Framework impact new teachers in the Educator Support Program (ESP)? The ESP program is aligned with the Florida Educator Accomplished Practices (FEAPs). ESP Contacts will continue to use the ESP formatives as well as the Marzano formatives. Administrators must complete two formal observations for each new educator. ESP is a one year program with the option to extend if needed. What assistance is being given on the use and creation of scales? Training vodcasts and materials regarding the creation and use of scales were created by the Department of Safe Schools and are linked to the Department of Professional Development’s website. Additionally, sample scales can be found in the Marzano Proficiency Scales Bank which includes scales created by education professionals throughout the nation. In the “Art and Science of Teaching”, Marzano states that scales can be posted on a wall in the room or within the students’ academic notebooks. The specific expectation/requirements for posting scales are at the discretion of each school’s principal.
Are scales required for every lesson/subject? Scales should be overarching and created for the unit of study. Each lesson does not require a scale.
What is the role of the Marzano Teacher Liaison? Each school was invited to designate one teacher as their Marzano Teacher Liaison. This liaison attended a 2 day training designed to parallel the training received by their administrator. Marzano Teacher Liaisons are also participants in an area support TrainU site where they can engage in Q and A and dialogue with others. Marzano Teacher Liaisons should support their administration and professional development team with building capacity and increasing understanding school-wide for the Marzano Teacher Evaluation Framework. Marzano Teacher Liaisons have access to the power points for both the 2 day training and the iObservation training. |