A cooperative professional evaluation system developed by the Southwest Cook County (Illinois) Cooperative Association for Special Education is described. The development of the system is outlined including writing of generic and specific job descriptions and determination of a philosophy of evaluation which identified the following purposes:…

Based on research conducted at Mississippi State University, Meridian (Mississippi) Public Schools, and Vicksburgh Public Schools, the intent of this study was to determine the general state of due process procedures in the practices of school officials throughout the southern region. All cases involving teacher dismissal in the Fifth Circuit…

A teacher evaluation system used at a special school for the gifted promotes teacher involvement through self study, peer observation, team critique, and administrator observation and critique. Four teacher types as defined by level of commitment and abstraction ability have different supervisory needs. (Author/DB)

This second of two articles on questioning strategies and skills explores for principals evaluating teaching the characteristics of good questions, to dos and don'ts in questioning, and the research on questioning. (CJH)

The incompetence of a few teachers can destroy the efforts of many excellent teachers. Principals need to know how to evaluate teachers effectively and act on their evaluations. The rationalizations typically used to justify failures to dismiss incompetent teachers will not stand up to scrutiny. (PGD)

Peer evaluation has great potential as a method of improving classroom instruction and enhancing the self-esteem and professional growth of teachers. The peer evaluation format would be more formative than summative and might include team teaching, videotaping, and reflective teaching--a carefully structured method of peer teaching. (JHZ)

Utilizing teachers to observe and evaluate other teachers provides an opportunity for peers to exchange ideas and learn the components of competent teaching. A peer assessment program requires delineation of indicators to be evaluated, a procedure for lateral and vertical communication, and a procedure for selecting observers. (MLF)

A self-nomination process is the key to a merit program in a Nebraska school system. An incentive award is distributed equally among teacher candidates who meet defined criteria in the areas of (1) student achievement, (2) candidate cooperation, (3) improving the profession, and (4) commitment to professional growth. (MLF)

Provides two teacher evaluation models for principals. Emphasizes teacher evaluation based on teacher's abilities rather than student achievement. (MD)

Imagine conducting a classroom observation and having a professional-looking observation report completed before you ever leave the room. This CD is the busy school administrator's best friend, bringing the tasks of completing classroom observation reports and performance evaluation reports into the 21st century. This innovative CD-ROM helps make…

This book explains what professional portfolios consist of, who their audiences are, why teachers and administrators should use them, and how they are structured. Using excerpts from actual portfolios, the book illustrates how to select a range of artifacts that will lead portfolio developers to evaluate and improve their work. It also discusses…

This book describes effective ways for principals and teachers to work together for the teachers' growth and the ultimate benefit of students' learning. It provides a solid philosophical foundation for changes in teacher evaluation and staff development, and it analyzes past and current methods and trends in teacher evaluation. The book spells out…

A combination of methods--portfolios, direct observation, assessment centers, and better tests--can compensate for one another's shortcomings and reflect the richness and complexity of teaching. (Author/TE)

Idea man par excellence, Lee Shulman has long set directions for research on teaching. After founding and directing the Institute for Research on Teaching at Michigan State University, Shulman, now at Stanford, continues his far-reaching investigations into the interplay of content and pedagogy and into assessments of teaching that faithfully…

When performance problems arise with a tenured teacher, the principal has the following obligations: (1) determine the extent and cause of the problems; (2) devise a remediation strategy; (3) respect the teacher's due process rights; and (4) maintain written documentation. (MLF)