Teachers will evaluate their own performance by taping and viewing classroom lessons under a new evaluation model being piloted by the East Brunswick Public School District.
“Our goal is to help teachers reflect on their own practice to become better teachers,” said Debra Gulick, director of staff development of evaluation and support for East Brunswick Public Schools, said in a presentation on the new evaluation model at the July 9 Board of Education meeting. The board voted to approve Innovation through Evaluation, the new teacher evaluation pilot.
Fifty teachers drawn from all 12 district schools will be chosen to participate.
Instead of participating in traditional observations during the school year, teachers selected for the pilot will videotape their lessons in order to learn by watching their classroom performance. Under the current model, teachers at East Brunswick schools undergo two observations a year. The pilot would replace one of those observations.
Teachers will be asked to submit a report after watching the video, outlining how they can improve their technique.
At the end of the year, teachers who participate in the program will still meet with an evaluator.
During the observation time period, teachers will be taped once or twice a week.
Board members said they are in favor of the proposal, which provides a way to continue to innovate how teachers can improve.
“I think that it adds a whole new dimension of motivation to maintain and improve teaching skills,” said board member Meredith Shaw.
According to Gulick, who is the director of the program, teachers who are selected will have the opportunity to change their minds and opt for a traditional observation.
“I think we’re going to see some risktaking and some real innovation as to what teachers try,” said Gulick about the pilot.
She is hoping that the self-reflection would help teachers grow professionally in a way they cannot through traditional observation and feedback.
According to Gulick, 125 district teachers have been scored as ‘highly effective teachers’ in a survey and invited to take part in the pilot.
Of those, 50 will participate in the pilot, with spots filled on a first come first serve basis.
Gulick is hoping to have at least one teacher participate in the program at each district school.
“I think it’s exciting because our teachers are willing to be videoed and reflect on that video. Nothing is more telling than looking at something after the fact,” said Superintendent Victor Valeski.
Having been approved at the July 9 board meeting, the pilot is planned for the next school year pending approval from the state Department of Education.
Board members voted unanimously to approve the pilot, with board member Laurie Lachs absent.