Supporting Growth with T-TESS
Region 17
NEW T-PESS Rubric Training--Required Update
What You Need to Know
Our March 10th session is the first of several updates we will host for T-PESS. This is required training for districts who use T-PESS as their principal evaluation system. It can be informational for those who use another system. To be a T-PESS district in 2021-2022 and beyond, all principal appraisers must complete this training.
The primary changes to T-PESS are revisions to the T-PESS rubric. Stakeholder feedback indicated that the rubric could be improved primarily in three ways:
- Descriptor language could provide more clarity or specificity in the practices described;
- A preponderance of evidence approach to rating would be more effective than the current additive/cumulative approach to rating; and
- A clearer alignment to the Effective Schools Framework would help connect T-PESS to campus-based best practices.
New T-PESS Rubric Training--Update for Appraisers
Wednesday, March 10th, 1-4pm
1111 West Loop 289
Lubbock, TX
THIS SESSION MAY END UP BEING VIRTUAL. I WILL COMMUNICATE THAT TO THE REGISTRANTS AND HERE ON THIS SMORE IF SO.
Register Here: https://txr17.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=774241
Want to know more about the Virtual T-TESS Rubric?
Principals Supporting Teachers and Virtual Instruction
Wednesday, March 3rd, 9am-12pm
This is an online event.
The increase in virtual classrooms has created a need for principals to observe and provide feedback for virtual instruction teachers. In this session, we will discuss the T-TESS Virtual Rubric created by the TEA and how it can be used to observe, coach, and support teachers who are instructing students virtually. We will explore how the Virtual Rubric is organized to highlight best practices in virtual instruction settings.
A Zoom link will be sent to all registered leaders.
Register Here: https://txr17.escworks.net/catalog/session.aspx?session_id=792902
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!
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
Student Growth Measures for You and Your Teachers
Click here to view the T-TESS growth guidance.
Or here to view the T-PESS growth guidance.
As always, we are here to answer questions. Email me at ssexton@esc17.net.
Presentation Archives
Click here to access the handout for the goal-setting session and slides for all sessions.
Find the files from my presentation from TCDSS over T-TESS and ACCOUNTABILITY.
Click here for the T-TESS rubric and other handouts.
Click here to get the "Let T-TESS Coach Your Coaching" presentation, handout, and the skill-dimension crosswalk.
The T-TESS Roll-Out Google Drive has all the files from the Unpacking the T-TESS Rubric TOT. These resources are appropriate for beginning conversations with your staff prior to orientation and full implementation.