School District Chosen To Pilot Change In Teacher Evaluations

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The Cherokee County School District has been selected by the Georgia Department of Education for a Teacher Keys Effectiveness System modification pilot.

Cherokee County is one of only six school districts selected statewide (and the only metro Atlanta school systems) for the modified implementation pilot program to be conducted this school year; and of the 36 schools participating statewide in the pilot program, 14 are in the school district.

The pilot program is being launched, according to GaDOE, in response to concerns voiced by school leaders – including Superintendent of Schools Dr. Frank R. Petruzielo – and teachers in regard to the system.

The change will reduce the number of required observations, which currently stands at six, to allow for a “more personalized approach to evaluating teachers,” according to GaDOE.

The state notes that while details of the program are still in the approval process, “highly effective teachers are eligible to receive fewer observations, while new or ineffective teachers will receive the standard six,” GaDOE states.

Information gathered from the pilot program will assist the state in “moving forward to expand modified implementation to all districts,” GaDOE adds.

The local schools selected for the pilot program are six elementary schools: Arnold Mill, Clark Creek STEM Academy, Clayton, Oak Grove Fine Arts Academy, R.M. Moore and Woodstock; six middle schools: Creekland, Dean Rusk, Freedom, Mill Creek, Teasley and Woodstock; and two high schools, Etowah and Sequoyah.

The other school districts participating in the pilot program are: Ben Hill County, Clayton County, Griffin-Spalding County, Peach County and White County. The districts were selected to represent high schools, middle schools, elementary schools, and charter schools in urban, suburban and rural areas throughout Georgia, according to GaDOE.

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