To PDAS or not to PDAS?

As I pondered the goals of my current course on Human Resources I wanted to reflect on what parts of the evaluation process are meaningful to me.

In regards to evaluating teachers, I think that the most difficult aspect will be maintaining perspective. As administrators we must use data to paint a picture of a teacher’s effectiveness but like our students it is not the only picture. It is the necessary picture to the goal of graduation but we must foster the learning of all through various means and draw out the necessary skills through sometimes unconventional ways; like so with our teachers. We are all gifted in something.

I also believe that it is important to remember to build up our teachers through recognition of their strengths. It is more effective to build an already strength, than to focus on a weakness. Naturally we will overcome or adapt our weaknesses when we have a firm foundation in our strengths. As an administrator I think that I must focus on supporting my staff through open communication and utilizing the “sandwich” comment philosophy as much as possible. It is also important to have personalized and meaningful staff development opportunities.


What criteria should I use, you say?

While data is driving our country, our economy, and our livelihood, it should support the picture that I see when I view with my eyes and listen with my ears. When the two don’t match I need to listen with my heart and feel with my gut and problem solve outside of the box to help a teacher be effective. I read in an article by Talana Vogel a quote from Enid Lee: “Equity does not mean treating everyone the same way. It means doing whatever it takes to get everyone to the same place.” This will become my mantra for my classroom as well as my role as a principal.

While this post does not directly relate to my action research project I thought it important to chronicle my current thought process in relation to my development as an administrator.



Update on action research...I postponed my snapshot date to Monday since I was off at a training today and cannot access my current rosters. I am also behind on getting kids to complete the initial survey. I will be working on that process next week. I have at least identified the kids that have not completed the survey. It is amazing how time flies by and I am not keeping up.