A continuous improvement mindset starts from a belief that it is important to combine recognizing
strengths with the identifying the next steps for improvement. This provides the best opportunity to
improve and grow. Evaluations are most effective when they are used to reinforce what is done well and
to plan for continued improvement.
To support this important perspective, our evaluation processes for both teachers and administrators
have long been tied to meeting the goals defined by our district’s Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP).
We have continued to refine our process by identifying needs via data taken from CIP audits. Over the
past two years we have read and reflected on how to incorporate research-based practice to improve
student learning and growth in order to improve in those areas, particularly for students with disabilities
and those who are second language learners All building teachers and administrators were provided with
Jan Chappuis’ Seven Strategies of Assessment for Learning and asked to consider how more effective
formative assessment can drive improved instruction and consequently student achievement and growth.
Staff development, collaborative time, and committee work has taken place to support this effort.
Numerous district and State data sets are examined annually and incorporated into our evaluation pre-
planning and results. Annually teachers and administrators develop and adopt their own professional
goals along with professional goals mutually developed with their supervisors relative to our CIP. The
goals have been part of a continuous improvement process centered on our CIP. We have continued to
refine our evaluation system in conjunction with these actions as part of our integrated approach to see
that our mission to educate for excellence is the focus. Each year we target our evaluation goals by using
data and discussion and making sure the results are measureable.
Our current plan to incorporate the new Ohio Teacher Evaluation System (OTES) and Ohio Principal
Evaluation System (OPES) was developed around the same core purpose, our district mission.
Throughout the 2011-12 school year a committee of teachers and administrators met to thoroughly
understand the new evaluation systems and to incorporate them here in Westlake in a manner that best
supports our mission to Educate for Excellence. As a pilot process, principals adopted goals consistent
with the OPES format this past year and worked to document evidence in a manner consistent with the
new requirements. By emphasizing a laser-like focus on our core purpose we have worked to see the
continued refinements taking place that are purposeful as we make sure our process is consistent with
the State formats. We have long used student data to measure achievement and growth as well as to
establish the next steps for improvement. The State testing data required by OPES and OTES
complements our previous work to see that we improve. It also resulted in deeper reflection on the way
we monitor the progress of students. Consequently, additional ways to monitor progress have been
incrementally instituted over the past three years so we can better determine how to make gains in these
areas.
Staff development has taken place at the teacher and administrative level to learn the state rubrics and to
plan to attain the highest levels. We have worked hard to make sure we utilize this as an opportunity for
improved communication on expectations and to point out how the rubrics criteria mesh exceptionally
well with our CIP goals, Response to Intervention (RTI) approach, and mission. The component of
student results data will only be a change in the fact that Ohio requires this to now be 50% of the
evaluation. We have long used student results as part of our evaluation and conferences. We have
centered our professional work on improving results and expect to utilize the evaluation as another tool
to effectively reach our goals.
Community Involvement
As superintendent of schools it has been important to be very active in taking action to respond to cuts to
our budgets by working with our legislators and my professional organizations to ensure targeted
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