Waltham Begins Process To Create New Teacher Evaluation Model

The Waltham Public Schools chief is recommending the district adopt the state’s new model for evaluating teachers.

A new state law requires schools districts formulate a new evaluation system according to the state’s new model. Districts must adopt the model in its current form, create an adapted form of it, or tweak it for their own purposes, according to

The process to create the new system started with a Wednesday, June 6 public hearing at , during which nobody spoke. 

Nicholson said she expects to soon begin negotiating with the Waltham Educator’s Association (the city’s teachers union) to include the model in its contract.

The model includes four ratings for teachers and administrators which are based on four standards of practice, according to Nicholson.

• The ratings are: needs improvement, unsatisfactory, proficient and exemplary.
• The four standards of practice for teachers are: professional culture, community partnerships, curriculum planning and assessment and “teaching all students.”
• The four standards of practice for administrators are: instructional leadership, management and operations, community partnerships and professional culture.

CURRENT SYSTEM

• Under current state law, teachers are required to be evaluated under a different model, which has raised concerns of it being ineffective in helping teachers improve their performance, according to the Massachusetts Teacher’s Association, the state’s largest teachers union.