Stafford Township School Updates on Principal Evaluation Pilot Program

The Stafford Township School District is one of only 14 districts in the state chosen to participate in the Principal Evaluation Pilot Program this school year, according to a press release.

The purpose of the pilot is for districts to work with an evaluation model and provide feedback to the State Department of Education, according to district spokesperson Karina Monanian. The information provided from Stafford and the other districts will guide the DOE as they implement the system across the state next year.

There are a number of benefits to being a pilot district. Because all districts will be required to evaluate principals next year, Stafford will be part of the conversation and have input into the process, according to district officials.

This is particularly important in areas such as student performance, which will be part of the criteria on which the principal is evaluated. For grades 3-6, the NJASK test results will be the basis. But for the other grades as well as areas that are not tested, there needs to be discussion about how to demonstrate and accurately evaluate student performance, Monanian noted.

Another benefit is that participation in the pilot program includes an award of grant money that will pay for staff training, rather than having to use local funds.

The district has chosen one of the state-approved evaluation systems to be used to evaluate our principals. The evaluation system is divided into two main areas. Half of the evaluation is a measure of professional practice, which includes the supervision and evaluation of teachers and the feedback and support provided to help them improve. The other 50% is tied to student performance and growth.

One of the challenges the district has identified, Monanian said, surrounds administrative capacity.

In most cases, a district has a superintendent, one or more assistant superintendents, directors, principals and assistant principals, with each one evaluating one level below them.

"In our district we do not have many administrators. We do not have an assistant superintendent or assistant principals and our principals and directors are on the same level in the hierarchy. This means that the superintendent is solely responsible for the entire process. Completing an evaluation is a time-consuming, yearlong process that includes observations and site visits, review of data and goals, with regard to the seven performance standards: instructional leadership, school climate, human recourses management, organizational management, communication and community relations, professionalism, and student progress," Monanian said in a release. "We anticipate a similar challenge with regard to the teacher evaluation systems. Although the regulations have not yet been adopted, the changes in the teacher evaluation system will now impact administrative capacity. We do know that teachers will have to have more than one formal observation, pre and post conferences, and their performance will be evaluated on a number of criteria. There is also data and goal review. Our concern is that principals will not be readily accessible to students, staff, and parents/guardians if their time is consumed performing evaluations."

Participation in the pilot includes following certain requirements such as adhering to a strict timeline, forming a district pilot advisory committee, aligning the principal evaluation system to the new teacher evaluation system and creating a communications plan.

"As part of this plan we will continue to update parents/guardians and the community about the pilot and our system for evaluating our principals," Monanian said.