What does teacher's evaluation mean? What are the purposes of the teacher's evaluation?

       1. What does teacher's evaluation mean?        

       The root of the word “evaluation” is the “value”. It indicates the process of the evaluation is to examine something that is worthy. Therefore the reason for the teacher evaluation is valuable to discover the teacher’s strength and needs. Sawchuck (2015) states that in general, teacher evaluation refers to the formal process a school uses to review and rate teachers’ performance and effectiveness in the classroom. 

       2. What are the purposes of the teacher's evaluation? 

       Marzano’s article “The Two Purposes of Teacher Evaluation” (2012) makes me realize the two different focuses of the teacher evaluation which are measurement and development. The balance of these two are very important to help teachers to improve. Looking back, I found my administrators focus on the measurement more than development in observing and evaluating my lessons. I was evaluated based on California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTPs) and given the score of each criteria on the evaluation form. As a future administrator, I plan to establish a system that focuses on development with three primary characteristics as Marzano (2012) advocates: 

1. comprehensive and specific, 

2. includes a developmental scale, 

3. acknowledges and rewards growth.               

        Marzano (2012) suggests that teachers should gradually work through the elements over time to improve their skills, instead of being scored yearly with all the 41 elements. My school evaluated teachers with all the six CSTPs and their substandard yearly and it made teachers feel overwhelmed. It is difficult to demonstrate a teacher’s competences in six CSTPs (2009) in one lesson, from engaging students, maintaining effective learnings, organizing subject matter for student learning, designing learning experiences for all students, assessing students for learning, and developing as a professional educator. It can be especially challenging for new teachers to include every aspect in one lesson. Therefore it is better for the administrator and the teacher to jointly discuss and select the standards as the focus of the observation. 

       The purposes of teacher evaluation are to help teachers find their teaching strengths and needs. The ultimate goal is students’ increased learning. A growing body of research confirms that the quality of teaching is what matters most for students’ development and learning in schools. Excellent teaching requires knowledge, skills, artistry, passion, and commitment (CSTP, 2009). The teacher evaluation with the balanced focus of measurement and development provides teachers the opportunities of being evaluated and developing with specific instructional feedback. 

Resources: 
2009. California Standards for the Teaching Profession, (CSTP).https://www.ctc.ca.gov/docs/default-source/educator-prep/standards/cstp-2009.pdf

Marzano, R. 20212. The Two Purposes of Teacher Evaluation, Educational Leadership

Sawchuck, S. 2015. Teacher Evaluation: An Issue Overview. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/teacher-evaluation-an-issue-overview/2015/09