Post by title1parent on Sept 3, 2008 4:56:56 GMT -5
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=232123&src=76
Dist. 203 taking steps to better principal ratings
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 9/3/2008 12:05 AM
Naperville Unit District 203 principals are going to have to be more action-oriented in order to meet district standards this year.
The district is modifying its principal performance evaluations to look at the steps principals are taking to improve their schools, rather than putting so much emphasis on the person's characteristics.
"It's focusing on leadership behaviors that create critical links to student achievement," said Melanie Raczkiewicz, associate superintendent for operations.
The old system, she said, lacked structure and timelines, and principals felt it was too vague. Using research from the DuPage Regional Office of Education and school leaders in Iowa who already revamped their performance reviews, District 203 administrators put together a new list of six performance standards including
• Facilitating a vision of learning;
• School culture and instructional program;
• Management;
• Collaboration with families and communities;
• Acting with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner;
• Political, social, economic, legal and cultural context.
Each of those standards is broken down into more specific actions the principal should be taking to achieve them. Raczkiewicz said the new criteria have been met with positive responses so far from the principals.
Under the new system, principals will play a large role in evaluating their own performance and must provide proof that they are meeting the standards. Administrators hope these "artifacts" will spark in-depth discussions with the principals.
"If you can get inside their head on how they think about leadership then you can start to help them enhance and enrich their craft," Raczkiewicz said.
District administrators will meet with principals four times during the year instead of two and also work with them on improving their assessment of teacher performance.
Board member Dean Reschke said he is very impressed by the new evaluation process but would also like to see more opportunity for outside feedback about how the principals are performing.
Superintendent Alan Leis said the district is surveying parents regularly but is still looking for a way to get this feedback more systemically.
Dist. 203 taking steps to better principal ratings
By Melissa Jenco | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 9/3/2008 12:05 AM
Naperville Unit District 203 principals are going to have to be more action-oriented in order to meet district standards this year.
The district is modifying its principal performance evaluations to look at the steps principals are taking to improve their schools, rather than putting so much emphasis on the person's characteristics.
"It's focusing on leadership behaviors that create critical links to student achievement," said Melanie Raczkiewicz, associate superintendent for operations.
The old system, she said, lacked structure and timelines, and principals felt it was too vague. Using research from the DuPage Regional Office of Education and school leaders in Iowa who already revamped their performance reviews, District 203 administrators put together a new list of six performance standards including
• Facilitating a vision of learning;
• School culture and instructional program;
• Management;
• Collaboration with families and communities;
• Acting with integrity, fairness and in an ethical manner;
• Political, social, economic, legal and cultural context.
Each of those standards is broken down into more specific actions the principal should be taking to achieve them. Raczkiewicz said the new criteria have been met with positive responses so far from the principals.
Under the new system, principals will play a large role in evaluating their own performance and must provide proof that they are meeting the standards. Administrators hope these "artifacts" will spark in-depth discussions with the principals.
"If you can get inside their head on how they think about leadership then you can start to help them enhance and enrich their craft," Raczkiewicz said.
District administrators will meet with principals four times during the year instead of two and also work with them on improving their assessment of teacher performance.
Board member Dean Reschke said he is very impressed by the new evaluation process but would also like to see more opportunity for outside feedback about how the principals are performing.
Superintendent Alan Leis said the district is surveying parents regularly but is still looking for a way to get this feedback more systemically.