Some Great Feedback to Share!

Per the New Jersey Administrative Code, certified school administrators are required to conduct observations and evaluations with all certificated staff members. For tenured teachers the requirement is one observation and one summative evaluation per year. For non-tenured teachers, the requirement is three observations and one summative evaluation per year. In Alexandria Township, our observation and evaluation committee developed the model we use for the observation and evaluation process. This committee which consisted of teachers, administrators, special area teachers and educational specialists completed this document approximately 2 years ago. We are very proud of the process we have created to encourage the continuous growth and development of all of our staff members. If you would like to review this document, it is on our website (on the Staff page).

As the Superintendent of Schools, not only do I conduct these observations, I also review all of those completed by the other members of my administrative team. To determine our future staff development needs as well as our progress towards the district’s expectations for teaching and learning, I analyze the ratings given to our staff on an annual basis. The breakdown for this year is based on all of the observations and evaluations conducted by May 5, 2010. More specifically, 69 classroom teacher observations and evaluations and 16 special area/educational specialists’ observations and evaluations are the basis for the results that follow. The breakdown for the results are:

Teacher Evaluations

Instruction
3% (Improvement Needed) 77% (Proficient) 20% (Distinguished)

Assessment
1% (Improvement Needed) 89% (Proficient) 10% (Distinguished)

Learning
Environment
5% (Improvement Needed) 74% (Proficient) 21% (Distinguished)

Communications
9% (Improvement Needed) 86% (Proficient) 5% (Distinguished)

Professionalism
6% (Improvement Needed) 76% (Proficient) 18% (Distinguished)


Special Area/Ed. Specialists

Program Management
3%(Improvement Needed) 97% (Proficient) 0% (Distinguished)

Direct Services
0% (Improvement Needed) 50% (Proficient) 50% (Distinguished)

Assessment
3% (Improvement Needed) 68% (Proficient) 29% (Distinguished)

Collaboration
6% (Improvement Needed) 39% (Proficient) 55% (Distinguished)

Professionalism
29% (Improvement Needed) 71% (Proficient) 0% (Distinguished)

Total of all ratings
4% (Improvement Needed) 77% (Proficient) 19% (Distinguished)

As you can see, many of our teachers are doing an outstanding job! The fact that we have so few needs improvements and so many distinguished is a testament to the hard work of everyone in our schools. This is just but one more reason I am proud to be the leader of the Alexandria Township Public Schools!