Clarke County School District To Grade Teachers' Performance With New Assessment

school administrators will begin to apply a new evaluation tool developed this year to better identify and build on good teaching practices in the classroom. The was presented to officials at Thursday's Board of Education meeting.

The new evaluation system replaces an out-dated statewide evaluation tool, known as the Georgia Teacher Evaluation Program, that had remained unchanged since 1982, according to school administrators.

Under the old system, all teachers – regardless of their skills or years of experience – were evaluated the same way, and received little direction for how they could improve their craft, according to Bud Bierly, assistant superintendent for human resources for the Clarke County School District. The old evaluation tool also did not take into account new state curriculum standards or the school district's individual plans for improvement, he said.

“The (Georgia Teacher Evaluation Program) was woefully inadequate,” Bierly said. “It did not capture at all what we valued as a district either instructionally or professionally.”

Under the new evaluation system, administrators would use “multiple data sources” to form judgments on teacher quality. When possible, they would include student performance data, such as work portfolios, standardized tests or grades, that could be easily measured from year-to-year.

Teachers would be labeled unsatisfactory, emerging, proficient or exemplary, overall, and in their ability to teach individual curriculum standards. Throughout the process, teachers would receive feedback from administrators and be given opportunities to strengthen their skills.

“We're going to get to that point where teachers with experience are really going to recognize those types of things where they want to grow, and we're going to help with that professional development,” Bierly said.

The new evaluation tool differentiates between three different groups, or tiers, of teachers . The groups include those who are in their first few years of teaching, those who have several years of experience and those who are considered “master teachers.” The goal for every teacher would be to reach the third tier.

“Ultimately, what we want our veteran teachers to be those teachers that are leading in the building,” Bierly said. “They are master teachers and they have an expertise that we really need to tap into, and we think this process will enhance that and help those folks grow.”

Both principals and select groups of teachers were given opportunities to review the new evaluation tool over the summer and support it, Bierly said. University of Georgia Professor Sally Zepeda, who has given presentations on professional development and studied different teacher evaluation models, said the new system would attract attention from other school districts wanting to make similar improvements.

“It's system-based, and I think we're going to see a lot of people looking to the Clarke County School system for advice and council on how to achieve this,” Zepeda said.

School Board member David Nunally was pleased with the new plan, saying it would help the district retain only the best and brightest teachers.

“If this is done, it definitely will put the teachers on the spot,” Nunnally said. “Either they will ship out or they will stay in the classroom. They will have to do one or the other.”

In other business, school officials approved:

• The purchase of eight parcels of property along Wanassed Street across from for $456,000. School officials are planning to use the space for additional parking, increased space for tennis courts. It will serve as an additional route for bus and vehicle traffic.

• An updated contract with Ombudsman Education Services, a private alternative school serving Clarke County students. The new contract includes additional special education support for students.