How are teachers in MCPS evaluated? are they

[Anonymous]

I was reading some article about the former Chancellor of DC public school, Michelle Rhee, and just getting curious about teacher's evaluation?
In MCPS, are the teachers' performance measured in any form annually? I've never asked about feedback of my kids' teachers. Just wondering if anybody knows anything about it?

[Anonymous]

I doubt it. There are some awful ones out there. They are union. It is tough to fire one and they know it. Which equals lazy

[Anonymous]

I think once tenured they can be referred into an evaluation program, but otherwise, there is definitely not an annual review.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I doubt it. There are some awful ones out there. They are union. It is tough to fire one and they know it. Which equals lazy

That's bad. If I'm in a job in which it makes no difference to be excellent vs. mediocre, what's the point of working hard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I doubt it. There are some awful ones out there. They are union. It is tough to fire one and they know it. Which equals lazy

That's bad. If I'm in a job in which it makes no difference to be excellent vs. mediocre, what's the point of working hard?

How about self respect?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I doubt it. There are some awful ones out there. They are union. It is tough to fire one and they know it. Which equals lazy

That's bad. If I'm in a job in which it makes no difference to be excellent vs. mediocre, what's the point of working hard?

How about self respect?

ou, good luck! I though teachers are humans too.

[Anonymous]

The teachers are evaluated in MCPS by administration in their school. Here is a link to evaluation results by school for 2011-2012: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/about/strategicplan/evaluationdatabylocation.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The teachers are evaluated in MCPS by administration in their school. Here is a link to evaluation results by school for 2011-2012: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/about/strategicplan/evaluationdatabylocation.pdf

but how the results are obtained? student grades? attendance?

[Anonymous]

It's observation and evaluation according to performance standards outlined in this handbook: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/departments/personnel/pgs/0395%2012_Teacher_PGS%20Handbook_2012-13.pdf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I doubt it. There are some awful ones out there. They are union. It is tough to fire one and they know it. Which equals lazy

Shorter PP: I don't know the answer to this question, but I'm going to post anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers are evaluated in MCPS by administration in their school. Here is a link to evaluation results by school for 2011-2012: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/about/strategicplan/evaluationdatabylocation.pdf

but how the results are obtained? student grades? attendance?

Evaluation does not depend on student grades or attendance.
There are 2 announced (pre-evaluation/evaluation/post evaluation) and many unannounced visits to the classroom years 1,2,3,5 and every 4 years after that.

Some principals ask for an outside evalution (usually a retired MCPS principal). Teachers have to meet 6 categories or else they will be put on PAR (peer assessment review).
Evaluations can be quite subjective.
In my current school there were 2 teachers who were going to be put on PAR, and I believe rightfully so; but then we got another principal and now they are on the new principal's favorite teachers list ...
So if you have teachers you really like and think they are doing a fantastic job, please write letters on their behalf. It's the best gift you can give them, especially if they are being harrassed by administration, which you may not know.

[Anonymous]

If you haven't watched Waiting for Superman I'd highly recommend it. It is not specific to MCPS, but is a fantastic documentary about public schools in our nation as a whole, and does address some of the reforms (and opposition) Michelle Rhee put in place. It's maybe 2 - 3 years old now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The teachers are evaluated in MCPS by administration in their school. Here is a link to evaluation results by school for 2011-2012: http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/uploadedFiles/about/strategicplan/evaluationdatabylocation.pdf

but how the results are obtained? student grades? attendance?

Evaluation does not depend on student grades or attendance.
There are 2 announced (pre-evaluation/evaluation/post evaluation) and many unannounced visits to the classroom years 1,2,3,5 and every 4 years after that.

Some principals ask for an outside evalution (usually a retired MCPS principal). Teachers have to meet 6 categories or else they will be put on PAR (peer assessment review).
Evaluations can be quite subjective.
In my current school there were 2 teachers who were going to be put on PAR, and I believe rightfully so; but then we got another principal and now they are on the new principal's favorite teachers list ...
So if you have teachers you really like and think they are doing a fantastic job, please write letters on their behalf. It's the best gift you can give them, especially if they are being harrassed by administration, which you may not know.

If we keep opting out of RTT (which is BS imo), we'll continue to work on SLOs as a way to include student data in our observations. However, using student achievement is bs, too, as the powers that be assume that all kids are one size fits all widgets.

It will be disastrous. And overworked administrators (or bad ones, for that matter) will not be able to keep up.

Our evaluation system is very good. As an insider trained in the process, it's complex, detailed, and thorough. However, it's only as good as its evaluator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you haven't watched Waiting for Superman I'd highly recommend it. It is not specific to MCPS, but is a fantastic documentary about public schools in our nation as a whole, and does address some of the reforms (and opposition) Michelle Rhee put in place. It's maybe 2 - 3 years old now?

If you think that fly-by-night is anything special, see what she's up to now, and if she's making a difference.

She taught for about 3 years and was even questioned about her test scores that "dramatically" improved.

Stupid posters - do your research.

[Anonymous]

Chancellor Rhee has claimed how she taught through Teach For America for 3 years and got stellar results in some inner city school in Baltimore. But during the years she taught MSA did not exist. So it's very unclear what testing she is talking about.
She also hired these "master teachers" who would pop in a classroom in the middle of a lesson, observe for 15-20 minutes and determine if the teachers is not effective, effective or highly effective.
A good friend of mine, PHD from Catholic University, excellent musician playing several instruments with over 7 years of teaching experience in private schools was deemed "not effective" by DCPS master teachers who would pop in in the middle of the class for 15-20 minutes and see that a group of 30 kids (including several SPED kids with no aids) were not paying attention or not "engaged". So she was written up and at the end of the year was asked to leave. Such a loss of DCPS.
MCPS has open door policy. Just go to the classroom and observe the kids in action, a few times at least, especially if the classroom size is big. You can then make up your mind if the teacher is effective or not. Some teachers are not effective but kids like them because they are super nice and smile a lot. Others might be really good but strict with kids, so they may not be popular with students.