ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, June 18, 1996 TAG: 9606180050
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
Pulaski County school officials are looking at a new teacher evaluation method developed by the staff at Newbern Elementary School.
Principal Ned Olinger told the county School Board Thursday night that the existing plan, under which teachers rate themselves simply as "satisfactory" or "unsatisfactory" is not adequate. It has no way of including leadership activities and professional development, he said.
All teachers think they do at least satisfactory work, said kindergarten teacher Anne Holbrook, so their self-evaluations simply repeat themselves.
"Every year, I change the year in the corner and turn that in," she said. "I'm sure every teacher in Pulaski County does the same thing."
The Newbern Elementary School model would change the checklist to a teacher portfolio system, which teachers want to phase in at the school over the next two years.
During the program's first year, teachers who choose to use the new system would work with consultants at Virginia Tech and Radford University to put together portfolios covering peer coaching, self-evaluation and analysis, lesson components and classroom methods.
The second year would focus on teachers being observed by their peers and exchanging lesson analyses in conferences. Teachers would videotape their own lessons so they could see and evaluate themselves.
Refinements would be made to the portfolio process, which could lead to a portfolio or brochure on the school itself which could be shown to the public and business community.
Teachers at the school would be able to continue with the current evaluation system, if they still prefer that one. New teachers would be required to stay on the old system until they have worked long enough to have tenure, at which point they could choose to move to the new evaluation.
As teachers grow and become more comfortable with the new program, Olinger said, the portfolio will become a better reflection of teacher practices. He said trust, respect and professionalism would be major elements of the new system.
Newbern teachers would have classroom descriptions and portfolio outlines ready by the end of October, under the program's proposed time frame. An initial list of professional readings, attendance at in-service training sessions and leadership roles would be due Nov. 27.
Additions such as writing samples, observations forms, classroom pictures and sample lesson plans would be added in subsequent months, with a final presentation of the portfolio plan to faculty members in April.
"The portfolio has multiple uses," said Holbrook, including charting pupils' progress.
School Board reaction was enthusiastic.
"What does it take to enroll down there?" said board Chairman Lewis Pratt. "It looks like the place to be."
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