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ESD 112 districts pilot new evaluation system

Regional Implementation Grant allows eight districts to get in early, have a “voice” in implementation.

When the 2013-14 school year comes around, some districts across the state will just be dipping their toes in the water with the state’s new mandatory Teacher Principal Evaluation System (TPEP). But eight districts in the ESD 112 region will already be fully immersed in the new evaluation system, which seeks to improve instructional practices and provide greater clarity and objectivity in assessing educators’ performance.  That’s because these districts received a Regional Implementation Grant (RIG) to get a head start on learning the evaluation components and having a “voice” in the implementation process. The districts that are involved in the grant are: Camas, Castle Rock, Evergreen, Hockinson, Kelso, Ridgefield, Stevenson-Carson and White Salmon.

Using eight new criteria, the system is designed to assure that teacher and principal evaluation instruments align with new state standards and education’s best teaching and leadership practices. Across the state, 65 districts were selected to further explore what the nine initial pilot districts discovered during trial implementation of TPEP last year.

Camas School District Assistant Superintendent Jeff Snell said that while there are not a lot of resources attached to the grant, being an “early adopter” along with other districts has been advantageous. “If we are going to be successful, we believe that a partnership with all stakeholders is an important beginning,” Snell said. “We would rather have the opportunity to talk, collaborate, and give as much input as possible as the new evaluations roll out,” said Snell. “On the flip side, we could have just sat back and waited for others to figure it out – but then it might not be adopted in the way we think is best,” he added.

Each of the districts involved has a group who regularly shares information about TPEP with colleagues. The groups also seek input and ideas that will help guide implementation in their districts.  

TPEP is a component of Senate House Bill 6696, a reform bill passed by the Washington Legislature in the 2010 session. The bill calls for significant changes in the principal and teacher evaluation system in order to better guide instruction and support teacher growth, along with a keen focus on student learning. Under the current system, feedback from evaluators didn’t provide specifics about how a teacher could improve his or her methods, but simply ranked them as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. The new evaluations provide significant feedback within a four-tiered system designed to help teachers grow in their profession.

The specifics of the TPEP bill is still being discussed in this legislative session – including demonstrated proficiency, flexibility, professional development and implementation. “There’s not a lot of extra money to change a system like this – and yet this is such critical legislation and important work,” said Jada Rupley, ESD 112 Associate Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. “That’s why it’s critical for district leaders to have a voice in the new system and to be at the table working together to assure the best possible plan is in place,” she added. 

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