Posted September 7, 2011

The recently approved New York State Education Law 3012-c requires a new performance evaluation system for classroom teachers and building principals. For the 2011—2012 school year, the new evaluation system must include teachers of English Language Arts or mathematics in grades 4—8 and the building principals of the schools in which those teachers are employed. Much of the new evaluation system is subject to collective bargaining.

The North Colonie community seeks to promote ongoing, collegial, reflective dialogue in order to enhance teacher performance and improve student learning. The Evaluation Document will best serve the professionals in this organization and, accordingly, our students if it is crafted collaboratively and viewed not only as a means to ensure quality, but also to promote professional learning. With a primary goal of improving conversation around and understanding of the complex task of teaching, the evaluation document will be a springboard, one piece of a larger plan which integrates seamlessly with professional development opportunities, allowing all educators to become more reflective practitioners.

The district has convened a committee of representative teachers and administrators to begin the process of crafting an Annual Professional Performance Review plan that complies with the state mandates and meets the spirit of professionalism in North Colonie. Throughout the summer, the committee has reviewed materials, discussed options, and decided on a course of action to complete the task. The current template for the plan can be downloaded here. As we work through the collective bargaining process, we will amend the plan to reflect the decisions of the committee.