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When TEA proposed changes to teacher appraisal rules, TCTA was not the only teacher group to provide input. Our suggestions, however, were the only ones TEA took to heart.
One of the major changes TEA proposed was to make clear that, with limited exceptions, it must be the campus administrator (and not a supervisor) who appraises teachers on the campus.
Because the term “supervisor” had never been defined, and some teachers may have supervisors in addition to their campus administrator, TEA wanted to ensure that teacher appraisals be conducted by the campus administrator, rather than by another supervisor (like a grade-level chair, instructional facilitator or mentor).
The proposed rules also clarified that any third-party documentation, from anyone other than the teacher’s certified appraiser (as opposed to supervisor), shall be verified and documented by the certified appraiser.
TCTA supported these changes. However, the proposed rules also allowed for certain situations in which someone other than the campus administrator could appraise teachers. TCTA noted that the rules didn’t clarify what those circumstances were. They only stated that a classroom teacher who is a certified appraiser cannot appraise another classroom teacher at the same campus unless the certified appraiser teacher is a department or grade-level chair.
We suggested that the rules spell out under what circumstances persons other than the campus administrator can serve as an appraiser, and under what circumstances, classroom teachers can serve as appraisers.
TEA again agreed, and changed the rules to read that an individual other than a campus administrator may act as a certified appraiser if he or she has completed the required training and if the district lacks sufficient certified appraisers to complete appraisals in a timely manner. Classroom teachers can serve as appraisers but they can only appraise teachers at their own campus if they are a department or grade-level chair.
For teachers who perform poorly in an appraisal and are designated a “teacher in need of assistance,” the proposed rules provided that the certified appraiser and the teacher’s supervisor must develop an intervention plan in consultation with the teacher. In doing so, the proposed rules defined “supervisor” as “department chair, instructional facilitator, mentor, or other instructional supervisory staff as designated by the certified appraiser.”
TCTA took issue with this requirement, stating that enumerating various categories of employees that could be defined as "supervisor" could expose these categories of employees to legal liability. TCTA also objected to the requirement that both the certified appraiser and the teacher’s supervisor must be involved in developing the teacher’s intervention plan. Consequently, we suggested that any reference to “supervisor” be deleted from this portion of the rules.
TEA agreed, and deleted all references to “supervisor”, instead substituting the “campus principal or designee” as the additional party that must meet with the teacher to develop the intervention plan.
The new appraisal rules became effective Feb. 17, 2010.
Posted: 02/24/10
