Introduction

Are You Ready to Teach Well and Meet Evaluation Goals?

Today's teachers are held to numerous professional goals and expectations. Massachusetts' leadership recently outlined expectations for professional excellence in the new Massachusetts Educator Evaluation Rubric. The Massachusetts' Teachers' Union also outlined the evaluation process in this helpful guide. Teachers whose professional practice embraces the 33 elements outlined on this rubric will serve students well since the rubric provides a description of what it means to be a professional, student-centered, effective educator.

To develop my own understanding and efforts as well as to provide a helpful guide to educators near and far, I have created this website and an additional Summer Reflections TeachFocus website. This website is an in-depth look at each standard while the Summer Reflections Teachfocus site provides an hour-per-standard reflection guide for interested educators. 

This website includes the following study guides and information:

• Process

• Vision

• Process Timelines (generic)

• Walk Through DescriptionA reflection post related to each element.

• Evidence

• Analysis of Each Element

• An educator analysis document which you may copy and complete as you assess your practice related to each goal.

• SMART goal setting process posts.

• Unit and lesson design templates.

• ePortfolio guidelines and rationale.

• One School System's Story: Wayland Public Schools' Pilot

I suggest that educators use the guide in the following ways:

• Make sure this is the rubric that you'll be judged on.  There are other rubrics for leaders and case-load educators. 

• Simply read the 33 elements' list to the left.  

• Choose elements to read more about that interest and/or challenge you.

• Study those elements, and perhaps make your goals related to those elements.

• If the supports are not in place to help you reach a goal in the evaluation, ask for the necessary materials, tools, or support. 

• Don't forget that the evaluation process is meant to be a collaborative process of leaders and educators aimed at teaching children well.

I have written extensively about this process on my blog, Teach Children Well. Take a look at the posts if interested.

• • The First Eval Meeting, August 29, 2013

  • MA Teachers: Are You Asking These Questions, August 24, 2013

  • Streamline Education Evaluation Systems, August 23, 2013

  • Prepare, August 11, 2013

  • Ed Eval Scores: Report or Not, August 11, 2013

  • Navigating MA Initiatives, July 31, 2013

  • Reflections: April 28, 2013

• Writing SMART Goals, November 2012

Also this chart provides a snapshot of each of the 33-elements. Simply click each element and you will find a description of the element as well as reflection questions.

Evidence Chart and Links: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rFpIcsaUUnp_HsG7wDiHG69cYCMeHse7rxWj6aafP4Q/edit?usp=sharing

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About the Author:

Maureen Devlin is a veteran teacher of 30 years.  She has taught several grades at the elementary level in the Wayland Public Schools during that time. Maureen created this document to best understand the new Massachusetts' Educator Evaluation System expectations. The posts were originally posted on Maureen's blog, Teach Children Well. Maureen created this website to support educators' efforts with the new system because she believes that knowledge of the system will empower educators' ability to develop and represent their practice with strength. Primarily, Maureen's work is motivated by her belief that education holds great promise for the life of the individual, community, country, and world. If you have questions or suggestions related to this site, please contact Maureen Devlin at maureenprattdevlin@gmail.com

copyright 2013, Maureen Devlin