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EWA Seminar

Evaluating Teachers: Beyond the Rhetoric

University of Chicago

Nov. 12, 2011


7:30 a.m.  Breakfast

8 a.m.  Special Session

Release of “Rethinking Teacher Evaluation: Findings from the First Two Years of the Excellence in Teaching Pilot in Chicago Public Schools”

Presenters: Lauren Sartain, research analyst, and Sara Stoelinga, senior director, University of Chicago Consortium on School Research

This report, which is under a publication embargo until 12:01 a.m. Central time, Tuesday, Nov. 15, summarizes findings from a study of a teacher-evaluation system that began as a pilot program in Chicago’s public schools in 2008. Findings may be of particular interest to Chicago-area journalists but also hold relevance beyond Illinois.

Background:

Rethinking Teacher Evaluation, findings from the first year of the Excellence in Teaching Project in Chicago Public Schools. It is the precursor to the new report.

9 a.m.  Framing Remarks

Presenter: Tim Knowles, John Dewey Director of the University of Chicago Urban Education Institute

9:30 a.m.  National Perspective: Common Themes, Different Contexts

What lessons can be learned from initiatives around the country to revamp the way teacher performance is assessed? What role is federal policy playing in driving change? How are partnerships among districts, unions, and reformers playing out?

Moderator: Stephanie Banchero, National Education Reporter, Wall Street Journal

Panelists:

  • Peter Cunningham, assistant secretary for communications and outreach, U.S. Department of Education
  • Tim Daly, president, New Teacher Project
  • Sandi Jacobs, vice president, National Council on Teacher Quality 
  • Scott Thompson, director of teacher effectiveness strategy, District of Columbia Public Schools
  • Rob Weil, director of field programs, American Federation of Teachers

Background:

The Widget Effect by The New Teacher Project

Early Findings on Teaching Evaluation and Effectiveness Policies by National Council on Teacher Quality

Evaluation of D.C. Teachers Is a Delicate Conversation, a Washington Post article that profiles teachers receiving IMPACT evaluations

A Continuous Improvement Model for Teacher Evaluation, a proposal from the AFT

11 a.m.  In the Trenches: How Teachers See the Issues 

What is the evaluation process typically like for a classroom teacher? How do teachers think the process could best be changed so that the results would actually help them improve? Do teachers think emerging approaches to evaluation are useful and fair?

Moderator: Sara Stoelinga, senior director, Urban Education Institute, University of Chicago

Panelists:

  • Stephanie Black, former classroom teacher in Washington, D.C.
  • Alice Johnson Cain, national policy director, Teach Plus
  • Jean Clements, president, Hillsborough (Fla.) Classroom Teachers Association
  • Jeanette Marrone, charter school teacher with Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, Los Angeles
  • Sydney Morris, co-founder, Educators 4 Excellence

Background:

How Evaluation Spoiled Teaching for Her, a conversation between teacher Stephanie Black and Washington Post columnist Jay Mathews

When School Reformers and Union Leaders Unite, a profile of Jean Clements by Pat Wingert in the Daily Beast

Yes, Judge Teachers Using Tests, an op-ed by Sydney Morris and Evan Stone

Teacher Evaluation White Paper, by Educators 4 Excellence

 

12:30 p.m.  Luncheon

Keynote speakers:

  • Steve Cantrell, senior program officer, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
  • Don Shalvey, deputy director, U.S. Program, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

These presentations will focus on the Measures of Effective Teaching (MET) study and the Intensive Partnership for Effective Teaching initiative.

Background:

Measures of Effective Teaching Framing Paper and Initial Findings of MET Project by the foundation

2:00 p.m.  States of Change: Political Realities and Policy Reforms 

What are the thorniest issues states are facing in developing and putting in place new approaches? How are they striking the balance between state leadership and local flexibility? How much are state policies being influenced by federal carrots and sticks?

Moderator: John Luczak, the Joyce Foundation

Panelists:

  • Emily Barton, acting director of educator evaluation, Tennessee Department of Education
  • Lisa Foehr, director of educator quality and certification, Rhode Island Department of Education 
  • Rayne Martin, director, Office of Innovation, Louisiana Department of Education
  • Audrey Soglin, executive director, Illinois Education Association

Background:

Teachers and Principals Finding Tennessee Evaluation System Cumbersome, an article by Julie Hubbard of the Tennessean on the response to Tennessee’s new evaluation system

Value-Added Assessment of Teacher Preparation Programs in Louisiana, a report looking at data from Louisiana’s program to judge teacher preparation programs.

Illinois: The New Leader in Education Reform?, a brief by EducationCounsel on the new Illinois SB 7 law

3:30 p.m.  Reporters’ Role: How Are News Outlets Covering the Story?

Is the Fourth Estate influencing the debate over teacher evaluations? Should media publish data, by name, on the estimated value that teachers add to student test scores? What questions should reporters ask about value-added measures and other issues in reforming teacher evaluation?

Moderator: Emily Richmond, public editor, Education Writers Association

Panelists:                                                       

  • Diana Epstein, senior education policy analyst, Center for American Progress
  • Jaime Sarrio, education reporter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  • Doug Smith, database editor, Los Angeles Times

Background:

Tested: Covering Schools in the Age of Micro-Measurement, an article by LynNell Hancock chronicling the challenges facing reporters covering value-added measures

Grading the Teachers: Value-Added Analysis, the Los Angeles Times series looking at individual teachers’ value-added ratings

4:30 p.m.  Reception