Be Accountable
Measurement, evaluation, feedback, and all other methods of accountability can create anxiety in the minds of teachers, but we live in a technological age where data is at the fingertips of everyone. Rather than allowing this to put stress on districts, evaluation techniques should be seen as opportunities to get better. States, school districts, and schools must be accountable for ensuring that all students, including disadvantaged students, meet high academic standards. Regardless of the time it takes to accomplish this, it is imperative that the school board recognize that student achievement is most important, and the evaluation of the district should reflect this.
School board members should review school-level progress on goals and consider revisions for annual performance targets based on evidence of progress. This district-wide systemic approach to strategic planning must involve specific feedback so that they can engage in professional development to make improvements.
Being accountable to NCLB, our legislature, the department of education and our school board is mandated to collect evidence of learning. Successful school boards know that data is going to shape decisions as to how to grow professionally and serve children. They know that it is accountability that provides schools the capacity to organize themselves into professional learning communities where teachers are planning, creating solid environments for learning, engaging students in the instruction, and creating the means for further professional improvement. With data, school boards will know that teachers and principals are engaged in discussions about ways to assure all students are successful.
This starts with a school board that holds the superintendent accountable to gathering data that reflects the impact the school district is having on achievement. It should also be the expectation of the school board that the superintendent holds everyone else in the district fully accountable to collecting data and analyzing it for improved instruction that leads to expanded learning opportunities. School boards should lead the accountability movement by example.
