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South districts focus on tenure reform mandates

   Over 150 teachers, administrators and support staff from the Lambertville, Stockton, and West Amwell schools met on Sept. 4 and again on Oct. 5 at South Hunterdon Regional High School and Lambertville Elementary School to learn about the Danielson Teacher Evaluation Framework, one of the state’s approved models.
   Although the Tenure Reform act signed into law by Gov. Chris Christie in August has an extensive “to do” list, including the implementation of a new teacher evaluation system by September 2013, many districts have a head start.
   ”After our administrative training this summer,” said Stockton Superintendent Suzanne Ivans, “we realized this work was too important to wait.”
   As part of a 14-district consortium sponsored by Hunterdon Central Regional High School, South Hunterdon administrators attended five days of training. After their training, the administrators completed an additional 22 online hours and took a seven-hour certification test to ensure they would be using uniform standards to evaluate teachers.
   Learning the uniform standards for teacher evaluation is not just for administrators. Teacher training also is required by the state. “Teachers collaborating on a common language of effective teaching speaks to the core of what we are about,” said Mike Kozak, superintendent of Lambertville and West Amwell districts, “that is, to continually improve the delivery of instruction.”
   Groundwork for adopting the new evaluation system was started last year by a teacher evaluation committee, which met during the school year and over the summer. Initially, there was some anxiety from some members on the committee.
   ”Working on the teacher evaluation committee helped put my own fears of the unknown at ease,” said West Amwell fifth-grade teacher, Przemyslaw Kowalewski.
   Donna Blum, sixth-grade teacher from West Amwell, who also served on the committee, was glad to take the training with peers from the four districts. “It is comforting to have the support of teachers from different districts with varying experiences when going through the new teacher evaluation process,” she said.
   Lambertville Principal Geoff Hewitt felt the initial training was a success. “Staff members walked away with common language as well as a want to continue creating student-centered classrooms that improve student achievement” he said.
   South Hunterdon Principal Mark Collins agreed. “Our faculties were immersed in actual classroom demonstrations as well as vibrant conversations on what constitutes best practices in education,” he said.
   When asked if she felt using the new system would help her become a better teacher, Stockton kindergarten teacher Jennifer French was unequivocal. “Absolutely,” she said.
   Additional training will take place in February and April next year and administrators feel positive about continuing to work together.
   ”I am looking forward to working with teachers to refine and reflect on the best practices in education,” said South Hunterdon Assistant Principal Mary Robinson-Cohen.
   Shared staff development is common among the four districts, which would become one Prek-12 regional district if voters approve a future regionalization referendum.