ALAMO HEIGHTS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT Teacher Appraisal Prcess
ALAMO HEIGHTS INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT General Prvisins TEACHER APPRAISAL PROCESS Beginning with the 2017-2018 schl year, teachers in AHISD shall be evaluated using a lcally develped appraisal system that includes cmpnents f the Texas Teacher Evaluatin and Supprt System (T- TESS). Designed by Texas educatrs, educatin leaders, and plicy experts in 2013-2014 and pilted by 57 Texas districts in 2014-2015, the T-TESS evaluatin system and prcess has been refined s that it reflects the experiences, recmmendatins and nging feedback frm districts and campus practitiners. T-TESS aligns with the Texas Teacher Standards (TAC, Chapter 149, Sectin 149.1001) and is intended t be used fr cntinuus prfessinal grwth thrugh nging feedback and supprt which results in refinement f knwledge, skills, and practices that ultimately impact student perfrmance. The tw cmpnents f T-TESS included in the AHISD appraisal system are: 1. Gal-setting and Prfessinal Develpment Plan- The Gal-Setting and Prfessinal Develpment (GSPD) prcess is an nging, recursive prcess where teachers reflect n current prfessinal practices, identify prfessinal grwth gals, establish a prfessinal develpment plan t attain thse gals, track prgress twards gals ver the curse f the year, and reflect n gal attainment, including hw the gals and prfessinal develpment actually refined practices. Each teacher will be appraised n GSPD criteria as described belw. Teacher Self-Assessment- Each teacher will cnduct a selfassessment by reviewing data and reflecting n prfessinal practices t determine teacher and student needs. 1
GSPD Cnference- The GSPD Cnference ensures that bth the teacher and appraiser are clear abut the gals and subsequent actins t reach the desired utcmes. The appraiser will apprve the gals. GSPD Plan Implementatin and Frmative Reviews- The teacher will engage in targeted prfessinal develpment utlined in the GSPD Plan and peridically will assess hw the prfessinal develpment plan and gals have an enduring impact n perfrmance with the individual teacher and students. Teachers shuld prepare t bring their Dmain 4 evidence/data prir t the End f Year (EOY) meeting, which includes their GSPD Plan. End-f-Year Cnference (Dmain 4 Aspect)- This EOY Cnference prvides an pprtunity fr the appraiser and the teacher t summarize the year, t cllect infrmatin that will prvide evidence t scre Dmain 4 f the T-TESS Rubric, and t discuss next year s gal(s) and prfessinal develpment plan. Teachers wh have been emplyed in Alam Heights fr a minimum f tw years may qualify fr an exceptin t the frmal bservatin. Refer t the waiver sectin fr specific criteria. Teachers wh get an exceptin t the frmal bservatin must still participate in the GSPD prcess utlined abve. 2. The evaluatin cycle - The Texas Teacher Evaluatin and Supprt (T-TESS) System evaluatin cycle includes a pre-cnference, bservatin and pst-cnference, as the recmmended cycle fr supprting teachers. Pre-cnference - The required pre-cnference befre an annunced bservatin prvides teachers an pprtunity t 2
demnstrate their knwledge and skills fr the Planning dmain and its crrelating dimensins: Standards and Alignment, Data and Assessments, Knwledge f Students and Activities. Tgether, the appraiser and teacher will discuss the upcming lessn bservatin with a fcus n the interrelatinships between planning, instructin, the learning envirnment, and student utcmes. Frmal Observatins- Frmal bservatins invlve a certified appraiser cllecting evidence and determining ratings fr the dimensins in the first three dmains f the T-TESS rubric: planning, instructin, and learning envirnment. During the bservatin, appraisers capture detailed, strategicallyscripted evidence and use this evidence in cnjunctin with the T-TESS dimensins and descriptrs f the rubric t determine perfrmance levels. Pst-cnference - The pst-cnference prvides teachers with pprtunities t reflect n the impact f their lessns with guidance and supprt frm the administratrs r teacher leaders wh cnducted the bservatin. Results are used t infrm and guide the teacher s future practices and grwth. Pst-cnferences are required after frmal bservatins, must be cnducted in persn with teachers, and are mst successful when cmpleted shrtly after the bserved lessn (within 10 business days after the frmal bservatin). Appraisers prepare fr the pst-cnference by rganizing and examining the evidence btained during the bserved lessn, pre-cnference, and planning prcess. Ultimately, the T-TESS cmpnents in the lcally develped appraisal system is a prcess that seeks t develp habits f cntinuus imprvement, and the prcess itself best leads t that utcme when appraisers and teachers fcus n evidence-based feedback and prfessinal develpment decisins based n that feedback thrugh nging dialgue and cllabratin. 3
Assessment f Teacher Perfrmance. Each teacher shall be appraised n the fllwing dmains and dimensins f the Texas Teacher Evaluatin and Supprt System (T- TESS) rubric that is aligned t the Texas Teacher Standards in Chapter 149 f Texas Administrative cde (relating t Cmmissiner s Rules Cncerning Educatr Standards). Dmain I. Planning, which includes the fllwing dimensins: (A) standards and alignment; (B) data and assessment; (C) knwledge f students; and (D) activities. Dmain II. Instructin, which includes the fllwing dimensins: (A) achieving expectatins; (B) cntent knwledge and expertise; (C) cmmunicatin; (D) differentiatin; and (E) mnitr and adjust. Dmain III. Learning Envirnment, which includes the fllwing dimensins: (A) classrm envirnment, rutines, and prcedures; (B) managing student behavir; and (C) classrm culture. Dmain IV. Prfessinal Practices and Respnsibilities, which includes the fllwing dimensins: (A) prfessinal demeanr and ethics; (B) gal setting; (C) prfessinal develpment; and (D) schl cmmunity invlvement. 4
The Texas Teacher Evaluatin and Supprt System (T-TESS) rubric instrument, will be used t cllect evidence that supprts the ratings fr each dimensin and dmain. Each dmain and dimensin f the T-TESS shall be scred independently. The evaluatin f each f the dmains shall cnsider all data generated in the appraisal prcess. The data fr the appraisal f each dmain shall be gathered frm bservatins and ther dcumented surces. The data shall describe teacher cntributins in increasing student achievement, making the whle schl safe and rderly, and creating a stimulating envirnment fr students. Each teacher shall be evaluated n the 16 dimensins in Dmains I- IV using the fllwing categries: 1. distinguished; 2. accmplished; 3. prficient; 4. develping; and 5. imprvement needed. Appraisals, Data Surces, and Cnferences. Each teacher must be appraised each schl year, except as prvided by subsectin (l) f this sectin (See belw Qualificatin fr Waiver f the Frmal Observatin). Whenever pssible, an appraisal shall be based n the teacher s perfrmance in fields and teaching assignments fr which he r she is certified. The annual teacher appraisal, r full appraisal, shall include: 1. a cmpleted and appraiser-apprved Gal-Setting and Prfessinal Develpment Plan that shall be: (A) submitted t the teacher s appraiser within the first six weeks frm the day f cmpletin f T-TESS rientatin fr teachers in their first year f appraisal under the T-TESS r fr teachers new t the district; r 5
(B) initially drafted in cnjunctin with the teacher s end-f-year cnference frm the previus year, revised as needed based n changes t the cntext f the teacher s assignment during the current schl year, and submitted t the teacher s appraiser within the first six weeks f instructin; and (C) maintained thrughut the curse f the schl year by the teacher t track prgress in the attainment f gals and participatin in prfessinal develpment activities detailed in the apprved plan; (D) shared with the teacher s appraiser prir t the end-f-year cnference; and (E) used after the end-f-year cnference in the determinatin f ratings fr the gal setting and prfessinal develpment dimensins f the T-TESS rubric; 2. fr teachers new t the district, a Gal-Setting and Prfessinal Develpment Plan cnference prir t the teacher submitting the plan t the teacher s appraiser; 3. after a teacher s first year f appraisal under the T-TESS within the district, an bservatin pre-cnference cnducted prir t annunced bservatins; 4. at least ne classrm bservatin f a minimum f 45 minutes with additinal walk-thrughs and bservatins cnducted at the discretin f the certified appraiser and in accrdance with the Texas Educatin Cde, 21.352(c-1). Additinal bservatins and walk-thrughs d nt require an bservatin pstcnference. Additinal bservatins and walk-thrughs d require a written summary if the data gathered during the additinal bservatin r walk-thrugh will impact the teacher s summative appraisal ratings, in which case the written summary shall be shared within 10 wrking days after the cmpletin f the additinal bservatin r walk-thrugh; 5. an bservatin pst-cnference that: (A) shall be cnducted within 10 wrking days after the cmpletin f an bservatin; (B) is diagnstic and prescriptive in nature; (C) includes a written 6
reprt f the rating f each dimensin bserved that is presented t the teacher nly after a discussin f the areas fr reinfrcement and areas fr refinement; and (D) can allw fr, at the discretin f the appraiser, a revisin t an area fr reinfrcement r refinement based n the pst-cnference discussin with the teacher; 6. cumulative data, as described in subsectin (f) f this sectin, frm written dcumentatin cllected regarding jb-related teacher perfrmance in additin t frmal classrm bservatins; 7. an end-f-year cnference that: (A) reviews the appraisal data cllected thrughut the current schl year and previus schl years, if available; (B) examines and discusses the evidence related t the teacher s perfrmance n the fur dimensins f Dmain IV f the T-TESS rubric; (D) identifies ptential gals and prfessinal develpment activities fr the teacher fr the next schl year; and 8. a written summative annual appraisal reprt t be prvided t the teacher within 10 wrking days f the cnclusin f the endf-year cnference but n later than 15 wrking days befre the last day f instructin. A teacher may be given advance ntice f the date r time f an bservatin, but advance ntice is nt required. The district shall establish a calendar fr the appraisal f teachers and prvide that calendar t teachers within three weeks frm the first day f instructin. The appraisal perid fr each teacher must include all f the days f a teacher s cntract. Observatins during the appraisal perid must be cnducted during the required days f instructin fr students during ne schl year. Cmmented [FA1]: I added this t reflect that language belw The appraisal calendar shall: 1. exclude bservatins in the tw weeks fllwing the day f cmpletin f the T-TESS rientatin in the schl years when an rientatin is required; and 7
2. indicate a perid fr end-f-year cnferences that ends n later than 15 wrking days befre the last day f instructin fr students. During the appraisal perid, the certified appraiser shall evaluate and dcument teacher perfrmance specifically related t the dmain criteria and the perfrmance f teachers students. The certified appraiser is respnsible fr dcumentatin f the cumulative data. Any third-party infrmatin frm a surce ther than the certified appraiser that the certified appraiser wishes t include as cumulative data shall be verified and dcumented by the certified appraiser. Any dcumentatin that will influence the teacher s summative annual appraisal reprt must be shared in writing with the teacher within 10 wrking days f the certified appraiser s knwledge f the ccurrence. The principal shall als be ntified in writing f the cumulative data when the certified appraiser is nt the teacher s principal. By written, mutual cnsent f the teacher and the certified appraiser, the required minimum f 45 minutes f bservatin may be cnducted in shrter time segments. The time segments must aggregate t at least 45 minutes. A written summative annual appraisal reprt shall be shared with the teacher n later than 15 wrking days befre the last day f instructin fr students. The written summative annual appraisal reprt shall be placed in the teacher s persnnel file by the end f the appraisal perid. An end-f-year cnference shall be held within a time frame specified n the schl district calendar, n later than 15 wrking days befre the last day f instructin fr students. The end-f-year cnference shall fcus n the data and evidence gathered thrughut the appraisal year; the teacher s effrts as they pertain t Dmain IV; the results f the perfrmance f teachers students, when available; and the ptential gals and prfessinal develpment plans fr the fllwing year. The written summative annual appraisal reprt shall be shared with the teacher within 10 wrking days fllwing the cnclusin f the end-f-year cnference 8
but n later than 15 wrking days befre the last day f instructin. In cases where the certified appraiser is nt an administratr n the teacher s campus, either the principal, assistant principal, r anther supervisry staff member designated as an administratr n the campus must participate in the end-f-year cnference. Any dcumentatin cllected after the end-f-year cnference but befre the end f the cntract term during ne schl year may be cnsidered as part f the appraisal f a teacher. If the dcumentatin affects the teacher s evaluatin in any dimensin, anther summative reprt shall be develped t infrm the teacher f the change(s). Qualificatin fr Waiver f the Frmal Observatin Teachers wh are eligible fr less-frequent evaluatins in accrdance with law [see Bard Plicy DNA (LEGAL) and (LOCAL)] and the lcal criteria established in this plicy shall be appraised in accrdance with the prvisins belw. In additin t meeting the eligibility requirements in state rules, t be eligible fr less-than-annual evaluatins under the T-TESS, a teacher shall: Be emplyed n an educatr term r cntinuing cntract; Hld SBEC certificatin; Have been emplyed by the District fr at least tw years; Have received ratings f at least Prficient in mst dimensins, with n mre than ne dimensin rated as Develping in each dmain, fr Dmains I IV n the mst recent full appraisal; and Have nt received a rating f Imprvement Needed n any area in any f the 16 dimensins n the mst recent full appraisal. 9
All teachers will be placed in a 3 year bservatin rtatin grup. The rtatin grups will determine if a teacher will be bserved r if the teacher is eligible fr a frmal bservatin waiver fr the current schl year. Each 3 year cycle rtatin grup will cnsist f 2 years f frmal bservatin waiver eligibility and 1 year f frmal bservatin in n particular rder. A teacher must bth meet the qualificatin abve and be grup eligible t be cnsidered fr a waiver f frmal bservatin. A teacher wh receives a full bservatin less than annually must receive a full bservatin at least nce during each perid f three schl years. Teachers must still participate in the GSPD prcess, a mdified end-f-year cnference that addresses: the appraisal data cllected thrughut the current schl year the prgress n the Gal-Setting and Prfessinal Develpment Plan; the fllwing year s Gal-Setting and Prfessinal Develpment plan. A teacher s supervisr shall have the authrity t return a teacher t the traditinal appraisal cycle as a result f perfrmance deficiencies dcumented in accrdance with state rule. Frmatted: Fnt: +Bdy (Calibri) Texas Educatin Agency (TEA) Cmmissiner Rules 1. TEA Cmmissiner rules state that a district plicy may stipulate: (A) whether the ptin t receive a full appraisal less frequently than annually is t be made available t teachers; (B) whether the ptin t receive a full appraisal less frequently than annually is t be adpted districtwide r is t be campus specific; (C) if the appraisal accmpanying a teacher new t a district r campus meets the ptin as specified in this subsectin, whether the appraisal is t be accepted r whether that teacher is t be appraised by the new campus administratr; 10
and (D) whether a certified appraiser may place a teacher n the traditinal appraisal cycle as a result f perfrmance deficiencies dcumented. 2. A schl district may chse annually t review the written agreement t have less frequent full appraisals with the teacher. Hwever, at the cnclusin f the schl year, the district may mdify appraisal ptins thrugh bard plicy and may make changes t expectatins fr appraisals that apply t all teachers regardless f a teacher s participatin in the appraisal ptin in the previus year(s). 3. In a year in which a teacher des nt receive a full appraisal due t meeting the requirements identified in this subsectin, a teacher shall participate in: (A) the Gal-Setting and Prfessinal Develpment Plan prcess, (B) a mdified end-f-year cnference that addresses: (i) the prgress n the Gal-Setting and Prfessinal Develpment Plan; (ii) the fllwing year s Gal-Setting and Prfessinal Develpment plan. The teacher s supervisr may elect t cnduct frmal bservatins, infrmal bservatins, and walkthrughs f teachers wh qualify fr the three-year waiver. Teacher Respnse and Appeals A teacher may submit a written respnse r rebuttal at the fllwing times: 1. fr Dmains I, II, and III after receiving a written bservatin summary r any ther written dcumentatin related t the ratings f thse three dmains; r 2. fr Dmain IV and fr the perfrmance f teachers students after receiving a written summative annual appraisal reprt. 11
Any written respnse r rebuttal must be submitted within 10 wrking days f receiving a written bservatin summary, a written summative annual appraisal reprt, r any ther written dcumentatin assciated with the teacher s appraisal. A teacher may nt submit a written respnse r rebuttal t a written summative annual appraisal reprt fr the ratings in Dmains I, II, and III, if thse ratings are based entirely n bservatin summaries r written dcumentatin already received by the teacher earlier in the appraisal year fr which the teacher already had the pprtunity t submit a written respnse r rebuttal. A teacher may request a secnd appraisal by anther certified appraiser at the fllwing times: 1. fr Dmains I, II, and III after receiving a written bservatin summary with which the teacher disagrees; r 2. fr Dmain IV and fr the perfrmance f teachers students after receiving a written summative annual appraisal reprt with which the teacher disagrees. The secnd appraisal must be requested within 10 wrking days f receiving a written bservatin summary r a written summative annual appraisal reprt. A teacher may nt request a secnd appraisal by anther certified appraiser in respnse t a written summative annual appraisal reprt fr the ratings f dimensins in Dmains I, II, and III if thse ratings are based entirely n bservatin summaries r written dcumentatin already received by the teacher earlier in the appraisal year fr which the teacher already had the pprtunity t request a secnd appraisal. A teacher may be given advance ntice f the date r time f a secnd appraisal, but advance ntice is nt required. The secnd appraiser shall make bservatins and walk-thrughs as necessary t evaluate the dimensins in Dmains I-III r shall review the Gal-Setting and Prfessinal Develpment Plan fr evidence f gal attainment and prfessinal develpment activities, when applicable. Cumulative data may als be used by the secnd appraiser t evaluate ther dimensins. 12
Each schl district shall adpt written prcedures fr determining the selectin f secnd appraisers. These prcedures shall be disseminated t each teacher at the time f emplyment and updated annually r as needed. Appraiser Qualificatins The teacher appraisal prcess requires at least ne certified appraiser. Under the Texas Teacher Evaluatin and Supprt System (T-TESS), a campus administratr includes a principal, an assistant principal, an administratr wh hlds a cmparable administratr/supervisr certificate established by the State Bard fr Educatr Certificatin, r supervisry staff whse jb descriptin includes the appraisal f teachers and wh is nt a classrm teacher. Only in the event f the circumstances identified in subsectin belw f this sectin may an individual ther than a campus administratr act as a certified appraiser. Cmmented [FA2]: Max: 1. can we delete this? 2. Please lk up ur current T-TESS plicy t see what it says abut 2 nd appraisers. I thught we just said the supt r designee wuld appint it. Cmmented [FM3R2]: This used t be in ur DNA Regulatin plicy. Befre cnducting an appraisal, an appraiser must be certified by having satisfactrily cmpleted the state-apprved T-TESS appraiser training and having passed the T-TESS certificatin examinatin, and must have received Instructinal Leadership Training (ILT), Instructinal Leadership Develpment (ILD), r Advancing Educatinal Leadership (AEL) certificatin. Appraisers withut ILT, ILD, r AEL certificatin befre January 1, 2016, may nt take ILT r ILD t satisfy this requirement. Peridic recertificatin and training shall be required. An individual ther than a campus administratr may act as a certified appraiser if: 1. the individual has been certified by cmpleting the training required under subsectin (c) f this sectin prir t cnducting appraisals; and 2. in the case where the certified appraiser is a classrm teacher, the certified appraiser: (A) cnducts appraisals at the same schl campus at which the 13
certified appraiser teaches if the certified appraiser is the chair f a department r grade level whse jb descriptin includes classrm bservatin respnsibilities; r (B) des nt cnduct appraisals f classrm teachers wh teach at the same campus as the certified appraiser if the certified appraiser is nt a department r grade-level chair. Teacher Orientatins A schl district shall ensure that a teacher is prvided with an rientatin f the Texas Teacher Evaluatin and Supprt System (T- TESS) n later than the final day f the first three weeks f schl and at least tw weeks befre the first bservatin when: 1. the teacher is new t the district; 2. the teacher has never been appraised under the T-TESS; r 3. district plicy regarding teacher appraisal has changed since the last time the teacher was prvided with an rientatin t the T- TESS. The teacher rientatin shall be cnducted in a face-t-face setting during a district s first year f T-TESS implementatin and include all state and lcal appraisal plicies and the lcal appraisal calendar. In additin t the rientatin, campuses may hld ther sessins sufficient in length allwing teachers t actively participate in a discussin f the T-TESS specifics and t have their questins answered. 14
Jb Descriptin fr Teachers The Alam Heights Schl District seeks teachers wh are cncerned bth with teaching curse cntent and with prviding an atmsphere that prmtes learning. These prfessinals need t be cmmitted t the persnal grwth f each student. They als shuld endeavr t challenge each student t reach his full ptential. Each teacher shall: 1. Hld a valid teaching certificate. 2. Cnduct planned instructin fr assigned students. 3. Prvide guidance t students which enhances their scial and persnal develpment. 4. Maintain lng- and shrt-range instructinal plans. 5. Fllw subject matter guidelines established by the Texas Educatin Agency, Bard plicies, and administrative regulatins. 6. Emply a variety f instructinal techniques and media, apprpriate t the needs and capabilities f students. 7. Assist in the selectin f bks, equipment, and ther instructinal materials. 8. Demnstrate knwledge, understanding, and skill in the subject areas taught. 9. Maintain and imprve prfessinal cmpetence. 10. Attend and participate in faculty meetings. 11. Participate in the inservice educatin prgram. 15
12. Develp and maintain an envirnment cnducive t effective learning. 13. Manage classrm rutines and instructinal activities effectively. 14. Maintain discipline in accrdance with Bard plicies and administrative regulatins. 15. Take precautins t prtect student safety and health. 16. Help t enfrce schl rules, administrative regulatins, and Bard plicy. 17. Be respnsible fr textbks, study materials, teaching supplies, equipment and facilities. 18. Submit reprts and maintain recrds as required by law, district plicy, and administrative regulatins. 19. Assess the accmplishments f students and send prgress reprts t parents n a regular basis. 20. Be accessible t students and parents fr schl related purpses. 21. Maintain crdial prfessinal relatinships with clleagues, students, and parents. 22. Cperate with ther members f the staff in planning gals and implementing and evaluating instructinal prgrams. 23. Supprt utside schl events and share respnsibility fr extracurricular activities. 24. Perfrm ther duties which may be assigned by the principal. 16
17