Dear Contract Corner,
I often find myself unsure about how to approach the evaluation process. Can you give me any guidance?
Signed,
Bea Dewing-Moore
Dear Bea,
The BEU just did a 6-hour training for a group of Reps and Grievance Team members. They will be available to help. We thought we’d give some highlights in this and the next issue of Brookline Educator. We’ll start with what’s coming up next:
OBSERVATIONS
Unannounced observations should generally be at least 10 minutes long. For a visit to your classroom to qualify as an observation, you must have written feedback and an in-person conference with your evaluator within 5 days of the observation (or, if rescheduled, “within 24 hours whenever possible”). To qualify as a record of the conference, a final write-up must summarize this conversation and be sent to you within 10 days of the post-observation conference. If as a result of observations the evaluator finds grounds for a needs improvement or unsatisfactory rating on any Standard(s), the evaluator must attend a full class, or a complete lesson in elementary, within 30 days. They should let the teacher know what supports the teacher can expect and what they are expected to improve.
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS
These happen in the middle of the cycle. You should be given a minimum of two weeks notice to submit evidence. One piece for each of the 4 Standards should suffice. No ratings should be assigned. You are entitled to a face-to-face meeting upon request. As always, if you disagree with the contents, submit a statement and any evidence you wish.
FEBRUARY LETTERS
Pre-Professional Status teachers and the BEU should receive one of these before February break if at that point, the administration sees grounds for non-appointment. The dates of all previous supervisory conferences must be listed along with “clear and specific” areas in need of improvement.
SUMMATIVE RATINGS
This rating must balance your performance on the 4 Standards and your 2 goals (20% each). However, you cannot be rated Proficient overall unless you receive that rating on Teaching & Curriculum and Teaches All Students. The Exemplary rating has not been collectively bargained so it cannot be used. You and the BEU must receive a letter by the end of March if you are at risk of not being rated Proficient overall. PTS teachers may request review with BEU representation of a Summative Rating.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to email beu-mta@hotmail.com or call 617-277- 0251. One of the following grievance committee members will get back in touch with you.
Deb Allen (Devotion)
Dominique Gonyer (BHS)
Sarah Blalock (Lincoln)
Jody Curran (Devotion)
Hillary Golden (Lincoln)
Mark Goldner (Heath)
Rich Gorman (BHS)
Anna MacIver (Runkle)
Shelley Mains (BHS)
Susan Moreno (BHS)
Jill Sifantus (BHS)
Susan Stark (BHS)
David Weinstein (Pierce)
Jessica Wender-Shubow (BHS)
