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Well now when the city goes through with turnaround and I need to look for a new job at least I have a better idea about which Principals are not completely in the DOE’s pocket…

If you look at the amount of work involved with each observation and all the effort going to impose the Danielson garbage (which is what it is of course; an experienced Principal or AP does not need it), the fact that now two observations will be required per year at the minimum even for tenured teachers of which at least one will be unannounced, their work has increased extremely signficantly.  No wonder so many are coming to the realization of what is going on.

Because this evaluation system is likely aimed at getting rid of older, more expensive teachers, I think there’s a good chance the courts will come to the defense of teachers rated “ineffective” based in part on standardized tests that may or may not be valid. Therefore I hope principals and teachers will work together to document the authentic progress of each child. It’s not that difficult to do and will yield data that is much more reliable than anything you would get from a ten-dollar group test. Here’s is what I would suggest for a first-grade teacher:

With the help of the principal or another teacher, test each child individually in the fall. Videotape the child identifying letters, sounds, words etc. Ask him to read a first grade story. If he can’t, ask him to tell you about the pictures in the story and to suggest what the story might be about. Ask the child to write a paragraph on what he likes to do. Give him a diagnostic math test.

Throughout the year, again with the assistance of the principal and another teacher, the classroom teacher should give the same test, while collecting samples of student writing as well as the results of benchmark tests. It is imperative for the principal or another administrator to be familiar with the progress of the children. The teacher should request this help in writing.

At the end of the year, the child should be asked to read the same story he attempted at the beginning of the year. Hopefully, he will now be able to read it. In the same way his math and writing skills should show a year of growth. Now the teacher has a portfolio showing the progress of each child in her class. Again, it helps to have the testing on videotape.

Of course, it’s very important to ascertain his child’s level of achievement in the fall. If he doesn’t speak English or does not recognize any letters of the alphabet, this needs to be documented.

This fight is far from over and I am betting on the schoolteachers and the citizens who support them.

It’s quite astounding that one of the most powerful unions in the country has remained silent on this very subject. The UFT has not lifted a finger to try and at
educate the public on the absurdities of having so many inexperienced principals with two years teaching experience leading schools and ultimately hurting children.

Does anyone know why the UFT ignores this major Ed issue?

Governor Cuomo the above signed petition are from experienced educators who know when a reform will not work.  They see that the APPR is not about education but about the data driven decision based on faulty testing.  Everyone in the teaching profession will be victims of this evaluation that is unreliable and a career destroyer.  Shame on Governor Cuomo for not listening to the people who put him in office.