I don't think a policy change to add test scores to the list of 34 possible reasons to be fired is the best way to make me believe your overall goal is to help me as a teacher. What about you?
The levels of hypocrisy rose to new "heights" yesterday at the board meeting as members of the board attempted to disguise this move to fire teachers based on test scores behind offers of professional support to help them. Funny, we've had a contract for two years to work with the District on providing on-going , research-based professional development based on trends identified through the ASPIRE program. The training has been extremely successful according to responses from teachers and principals as the major focus has been on managing anti-social behavior and delivering foundational research on teacher effectiveness. The one part that has been missing is the shared discussion on needs or trends identified by the ASPIRE program. We can't accomplish that part of the contractual mandate without the district stepping up to be part of the conversation.
Yesterday the superintendent vowed to work with "Teacher Organizations" on this very issue. I plan to put that to the test next week by contacting the superintendent to discuss this very issue and ask how we can work to ensure that our teachers better understand the EVAAS data as it relates to their classroom, how we design training that reflects the needs identified through the data, and how we do a better job of asking our teachers what they feel their priority needs are in this area.
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