October - Tennessee Education Association

Evaluating Teacher Evaluation:
It’s Not What We Wanted; It Must Be Changed
Tennessee’s teachers, TEA leaders push for change in evaluation model
Opinion/Commentary
“I am a Teacher. It’s Not What I ‘Do.’ It’s Who I Am”
Dreams of school become school nightmares
When the state education commissioner starts to rethink the
new teacher evaluation system he rushed into existence a
few months earlier, expect others to take notice.
It wasn’t difficult to see that Tennessee Education
Commissioner Kevin Huffman stretched the truth when
By Laura Key
I don’t play tennis or golf. I don’t knit or run marathons or collect
memorabilia. I teach.
I am both the noun form and verb form of the word.
Teaching is not what I “do”, it is who I am.
If I’m not at work between 7:30 a.m. until I am run out of the building
the skill that was taught and explained thoroughly in my lesson plan
(which was taught through modeling, questioning, included a hands-on
activity in six small groups in my room, as well as a writing assignment
expecting students to demonstrate their knowledge of the skill), and
also included the scores of both of my non-reading students and the
class still obtained a 93.3% — and when I score a “2” (on a five-point
he circulated a statement in September implying that the controversial
at 5:00 p.m., then I am at home — grading papers, creating online scale) on student work — I am crushed.
evaluation system had the support of Tennessee’s teachers and their
assessments and practice, emailing a parent, and deciding which four I am told that I should have asked “so-and-so” for help in making my
Association. Huffman did not mention in his communiqué that TEA repeatedly
warned his department and other stakeholders that the evaluation system, as
implemented by the Tennessee Department of Education, was too burdensome
students left names off their papers as I prepare supper for my family.
At the table, I tell humorous, frustrating and poignant stories from
my day at school.
While cleaning up after supper, my hands may be rinsing the dishes,
lesson plan and that I should ask them next time in order to “do better.”
I’m going to get some help, I’m told.
I have taught for 15 years and spent four years becoming a teacher in
college. Before that, I simply longed to be a teacher.
and too raw for a statewide rollout this school year.
but my mind is trying to decide whether or not Hannah’s mom received It’s not what I “do”. It’s who I am.
As a result, calls to re-evaluate and modify the new teacher evaluation
the note I sent home with her. How can I help Alex’s mom agree to the I went back to school recently to improve my teaching skills by
system have been heard from teachers, principals and even school board
members across Tennessee. Parents are catching the wind of frustration and
despair in schools as they are told that principals and teachers don’t have time
Share your story — TEA Executive Director Al Mance listens to members’ evaluation
concerns during the “Let’s Talk” forum in Kingsport. Opposite page: members share
evaluation concerns at a forum in Nashville.
testing and help which I know her son needs with his speech? And what
pair of shoes can I wear tomorrow because tomorrow is Friday, and every
Friday my feet are burdened by
blisters from standing on my feet
obtaining a master’s degree. I expect to be making payments on my
student loan when I am eligible for retirement in five years.
for face-to-face meetings. Everyone is consumed with evaluation and lesson
plans.
received reports from several school districts which use the new laws and the
all day long, all week long? At least
I get to sit down when I use the
“I am questioning who I am,
In an unlikely example of solidarity with teachers, the Rutherford County
Board of Education voted unanimously at the beginning of September to
formally submit a letter to Huffman, asking for an evaluation makeover.
“No one’s against the idea of the evaluation. It’s just not an effective use
of time,” Rutherford board member Tim Tackett told The Daily News Journal
in Murfreesboro. “Principals are telling me that they’re so caught up in the
process that they don’t have time to do the things they feel makes their school
a good place.”
Teachers speak out
When TEA held 12 regional “Let’s Talk” forums across the state at the
new evaluation to discriminate against and instill fear amongst teachers, in
violation of existing collective bargaining agreements and laws currently on
the books.
“Conscientious teachers are anxious and apprehensive, because they want
to be successful,” says TEA President Gera Summerford. “They want to improve
their instruction and will accept needed assistance. They don’t object to being
held accountable for their work. And they deserve a fair, valid and reliable
evaluation system that truly measures what they do to help children every
day.”
TEA pushes for change
restroom, but on most days I don’t wondering whether I had
even get do that until 3:30 p.m. or
later. It may sound comical, but it’s wasted the majority of my life to
true.
end up being ‘average’ and just
I am a teacher. It’s not what I
“do”, it’s who I am.
meeting expectations after
When I finally collapse into bed years of hard work.”
after getting my clothes ready for
school, I can’t fall asleep for two
hours because my mind insists on
processing more school thoughts—even when I desperately want to
I am a teacher. It’s not what I “do”. It’s who I am.
sleep. Finally, I fall asleep. Ah, yes, sweet sleep. But wait, here come the And now, after experiencing the new evaluation model that is
beginning of the school year, members’ concerns ranged from bewilderment Advocating for Tennessee’s teachers, TEA leaders meet regularly with
school dreams.
designed to make me reflect on my teaching, I am doing more than that.
and frustration to calls for an all-out repeal of the new evaluation model.
“The stories we’ve heard confirm our worst fears about the implementation
of the system and the unreasonable expectations our members are facing,”
says TEA Executive Director Al Mance. “We will continue to speak out on behalf
Huffman to review the most recent feedback they receive from schools and
TEA members.
As part of the ongoing conversation, state leaders are reminded that
when TEA worked with Governor Phil Bredesen and his staff on The Race to the
The scenarios vary. It may be one of those “a tornado is coming and
I am trying to save my students” dreams. Or it may be a dream where I
forgot to take my kids to music and I no longer have the 35 minutes of
planning time. Hopefully, it’s just one of the “normal” dreams in which
my students just appear because they have been on my mind for various
I am questioning my aptitude and doubting my ability to teach
effectively.
I am questioning who I am, wondering whether I had wasted
the majority of my life to end up being ‘average’ and just meeting
expectations after years of hard work.
of our members and work for an evaluation system that is fair, effective, and Top application, no specifics of the evaluation system had been developed.
reasons.
I was told to expect suggestions that will help me do better. Really?
workable.”
The outcry from teachers has reached some of the politicians responsible
for pushing through anti-teacher legislation during the 107th General
Assembly. State Rep. Rick Womick (R-Rockvale) said in an appeal to his
constituents that he heard their concerns. “It has come to my attention
A committee was formed to make recommendations for creating a new
evaluation system. In the end, the State Board of Education exercised its right
to design the final system, without the involvement of TEA.
Throughout the process, TEA has consistently opposed major components
of the evaluation system, including the rush to use the results in employment
I am a teacher. It’s not what I “do”. It’s who I am.
It’s the bags of bubble gum I grab on my way to the checkout lane
because “my kids” covet chewing gum more than anything else in their
already full treat box. Or it’s the basketball I buy because “my kids” want
something fun to play with at recess. It’s the little league football game
I watch on an early Saturday morning because three of “my boys” play
I am already giving every ounce of my being to be the best I can be
and I find it hard to even muster the extra energy I will need to work
harder and put more into what I already do.
I am hurt.
I am embarrassed.
I’m not against being evaluated. I know my administrators are doing
through your numerous emails and phone calls that the new teacher
evaluation system is an apparent ‘disaster’,” he wrote.
As state legislators and Huffman appear willing to consider an overhaul of
the evaluation model, it offers little consolation to teachers across the state
who feel inadequate, oppressed and depressed as new regulations were rolled
decisions and the use of school-wide data for teachers in non-tested areas,
among others. TEA leaders also cautioned that too many questions were
unanswered at the time of the evaluation’s rollout.
In the meantime, the only way to change the current evaluation system is
to share stories with its creators.
football this year.
I am a teacher. It’s not what I “do”. It’s who I am.
So when you evaluate me and I am considered to be “average—at
expectations”…
I am angry.
No, I am hurt.
what they are required to do. But teachers and administrators across the
state are frustrated with this evaluation system.
I am a well-educated professional with a master’s degree, but I’m
told that I’m “average” and I should be pleased with that rating.
I am not.
Because I am a teacher. It’s not what I “do”. It’s who I am.
out in their schools.
“I have not smiled since the beginning of school. I am depressed,” said one
teacher who asked not to be identified.
“This evaluation makes teaching impossible,” she said. “I don’t mind being
evaluated, but this goes too far.”
“Throughout this school year, we must all continue to call and write our
elected officials on school boards and in the legislature to let them know this
system of evaluating teachers and administrators is not working and must
be changed,” says Mance, encouraging Tennessee’s teachers to stay alert for
TEA communications. “Share your evaluation story with us. We’ll take it to
No, most honestly, I am devastated.
I am a teacher. It’s not what I “do”. It’s who I am.
So when I have spent more than four and a half hours on creating,
writing and producing my lesson plan for an evaluation, and 93.3
percent is the average score on my students’ independent work assessing
Laura Key,
August 26, 2011, 2:54 a.m.
P.S. Guess I’m off to my school dreams now.
Laura Key teaches at Sweetwater Elementary School and is a member of
Sweetwater EA.
It’s no surprise that some teachers worry about speaking openly about Commissioner Huffman and Governor Haslam.”
8 their October view 2011 of the evaluation system. Their career hangs in the balance. TEA has Make a difference; email your evaluation story to amance@tea.nea.org.
www.teateachers.org
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