Evaluating and Supporting Effective Teaching: Developing a Systemic Approach

This article published in Pensamiento Educativo (Vol 49, No 2, 2012) argues for a comprehensive approach to creating a system for evaluating and supporting teachers. The author suggests such a system should include five key elements: 1) Common statewide standards for teaching that are related to meaningful student learning and are shared across the profession; 2) Performance assessments, based on these standards, guiding state functions such as teacher preparation, licensure, and advanced certification; 3) Local evaluation systems aligned to the same standards, for evaluating on-the-job teaching based on multiple measures of teaching practice and student learning; 4) Support structures to ensure trained evaluators, mentoring for teachers who need additional assistance, and fair decisions about personnel actions; and 5) Aligned professional learning opportunities that support the improvement of teachers and teaching quality. Based on research and evidence of best practices, this article outlines how each of these five elements should operate.