Growth Not Gotcha

Jose-

I recently received an email from the Center for Teaching Quality with a link to five videos. When I clicked I found an example of how our colleagues in Washington state are actualizing the teacher led teaching profession. The five videos included some great discussion by accomplished teachers about the new evaluation system that Washington has adopted. What they keep saying in the video is that evaluation is not just about getting bad teachers out. It is about helping most teachers develop.

Recently, Washington State teachers, policymakers, and administrators are gathering at Bow Lake Elementary School in SeaTac to watch these teacher made videos about what it means to be evaluated with the intention of development. It is very powerful to hear and see these teachers explain what is important about student test scores for example.

My school system has adopted a 40% student assessment evaluation system. We didn’t have anything like this discussion. I wish we did.

About the author

John Holland

J.M. Holland is pursuing his doctorate at Virginia Commonwealth University where he serves as a National Board coach, mentor, and workshop presenter. His current passions include ethics in educational policy, teacher leadership, and 21st century learning. He is also a relentlessly positive professional artist, education writer and professional developer. John believes the alchemy of creativity, technology, and education is the key to a brighter future.