Creating Defensible Improvement Plans Alan N Johnson Origins

Creating Defensible Improvement Plans Alan N. Johnson

Origins o o School Code of 1949 first required annual evaluation for satisfactory or unsatisfactory performance. The code did not however describe what constituted satisfactory performance.

The DEBE 5501 o o PDE for 5501 aka ‘DEBE 5501’ was eventually evolved Described 4 areas of rating n n Personality Preparation Technique Pupil Reaction

The new forms o o In 2002, PDE developed four new rating forms based on work of Charlotte Danielson and actually written by ETS PDE-430, PDE-428, PDE-427 and PDE -426 n The PDE 427 is the only mandatory form

Domains of the PDE-426 o o Planning and Preparation Instructional Delivery Classroom Environment Professionalism

Reasons for Dismissal o o o o o Immorality Intemperance Incompetency Physical or Mental Disability Willful Neglect Cruelty Felony Conviction Persistent Negligence Failure to follow school law or Board policy Unsatisfactory performance

Creating an Effective Plan of Assistance o Objective statement of the deficiency. n n Must be concrete Ex” Teacher fails to submit lesson plans aligned to standards.

Plan of Assistance o A statement for the Plan of Assistance n Must contain positive description of what teacher will do to demonstrate satisfactory performance. o o Bad example: “Teacher will stop yelling at students. ” Better example: ” Teacher will demonstrate use of the principles of resiliency in dealing with student behaviours”

Plan of Assistance o Corrective steps to be taken by the teacher stated in very concrete terms. n n Bad example: “teacher will submit weekly lesson plans” Better example: ”Teacher will submit lesson plans containing statement of objectives, start-up activity, small group and independent activities and a closing activity”

Plan of Assistance o Statement of Assistance offered. n Must include supports that school will provide and how the teacher will use them. o o o Ex’s “teacher will meet with math coach weekly” “teacher will read the book, ‘Discipline with Dignity’ and report on same” “teacher will attend in-service on curriculum alignment at IU”

Plan of Assistance o Statement of how the Plan will be monitored. n Be specific with timelines o o n Bad ex: “Teacher will be observed 3 times during the semester” Better ex: ” Teacher will be observed by March 1 st, April 30 th and May 25 th” Should also state who will conduct observations

Plan of Assistance o Statement of how and when the Plan will be evaluated. n n o Should state when the Plan will be assessed. Who will do the assessing. (Include multiple administrators if possible. ) Do not include issues not originally stated in the plan.