The Reasoning and Resources
TEA is going to provide an opportunity for districts to apply for an appraisal waiver. This allows you to apply for:
- A waiver for the student growth component of teacher appraisal, or
- A waiver for all aspects of teacher appraisal, and/or
- A waiver for the student growth requirement in T-PESS.
Growth measures hinge on things like knowing where students started, where they end up, and then having a "bar" set for where they should end up to compare to. This will be very challenging in a year like this. While districts and teachers pivoted to online expectations and observation, there could still be gaps making data from observations less valid. Districts have to include attestation language that they will still provide obs/feedback to teachers and support teachers in how they respond to student learning data.
Guidance on Educator Evaluation and Non-Renewal
Then, as you continue with observations and feedback on the work, you may want to use these "look fors" in the virtual setting.
Virtual T-TESS Rubric Now Available
Given the increase in virtual classrooms and requests from districts statewide, the TEA has developed an aligned T-TESS rubric which isolates relevant, high-leverage practices in virtual instruction settings. This streamlined rubric will address the Planning, Instruction, and Learning Environment domains, including all current T-TESS dimensions within these domains. The rubric communicates best practices for virtual instruction and allows for focused observations and feedback with virtual instruction teachers. Here's the link to the rubric:
Flip-chart Update--Now With Connections to GBF and SLOs
We have many schools using Get Better Faster from Paul Bambrick-Santoyo as a feedback structure for instruction. With that in mind, the TEA appraisal team worked with Cliff Kinder from Region 3 to correlate components of GBF to the T-TESS rubric. Additionally, I included the rubric from the SLO training for schools using that growth measure. It's always been about having the tools you need in one place, so hopefully, the revisions work to further that goal. You'll also find information about Impact Coaching and Action Coaching that can be scheduled with ESC 17 (or your own regional service center if you are outside Region 17).
You can download the flip-chart at this link! If you have trouble, feel free to contact Syd Sexton at ssexton@esc17.net.
Always consult your T-TESS Appraiser Training Handbook for full guidance on the T-TESS process.
AND . . . the Look Fors for on the go!
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Texas Education Agency Click here for TEA's T-TESS page where both TEC and TAC links can be found as well as information on the upcoming SLO process. | Teach for Texas Click here for the materials and resources housed at the Teach for Texas site including the appraiser training guide. | Advancing Ed. Leadership Click here to read more about AEL, the new ILD. Is it time to advance your educational leadership of your team? |
Texas Education Agency
Teach for Texas
