Williamston School Board implements new classroom evaluation program

Williamston Superintendent Adam Spina, introduced the Board of Education’s top goal — a growth-oriented evaluation program — during the board’s monthly meeting on Oct. 4.

“Strategy one is that an appropriate, evidence-based evaluation system will be developed and implemented for all staff,” Spina said. “The second part … is that district administrators will demonstrate instructional leadership by prioritizing time spent in the classrooms, meeting with staff and providing actual meaningful feedback and accurate documentation respective to teaching and learning.”

Instead of a one-hour observation once a year, Spina said the goal is get principals to conduct more frequent visits – planned or spontaneous – with teachers throughout the year to provide them with feedback on their teaching and classroom.

“One thing I would encourage principals to do,” Spina said. “If you’re walking down a hallway and you see something that piques your curiosity, you can pop into the classroom, because this is about feedback and conversations. … It’s not about evaluations.”

After the observation period, Spina said principals will be asked to set up an informal, timely meeting with the teacher to debrief.

The shorter drop-in sessions will eventually lead to an evaluation at the end of the year, but the goal is to take the focus away from it.

Board President Nancy Deal asked how often administrators should visit classrooms.

“It’s probably less frequent because of the times that we’re in,” Deal said. “Is there a target each of them are trying to hit?”

Spina said there was a target number in the past, but the district has moved away from that.

“There’s a couple of reasons,” Spina said. “One is because teachers are in different places, so having a set number that is applicable to every teacher on every single type of thing you’re looking for, there’s lots of domains and components that is the framework for teaching. I don’t know that it’s always necessary.”

Whether the teacher is a veteran or new might depend on how many visits they receive from a principal or administrator, said Spina. A teacher who was just hired might receive more visits because everything is new to them.

Deal said the evaluation program will benefit students as well as the staff.

“Anytime you have a teacher that is willing to try something new and step out of their comfort zone, I think is a benefit for all of our students,” Deal said. “I also think it’s a positive when our students see people come in and out of your classroom.”

When students are used to different individuals coming in and out of their classroom, Deal said it’s not a big deal to them when there is a substitute, or when another teacher or principal comes to observe.

The Board also approved out-of-state and overnight trips from student groups in the district during the meeting.

Board Treasurer Dr. Christopher Lewis said the requests came from the Williamston Middle School band and choir, the high school marching band, the high school Model United Nations and the high school Business Professionals Association.

Other business included the schedule for homecoming, the week of Oct 4. The homecoming parade and football game were Friday, Oct. 8, and the high school homecoming dance was Saturday, Oct. 9.

Deal said the weather held off for the most part during homecoming week, and the scheduled events seemed to go on without a hitch. With the exception of the football game ending early due to lightning.

“I think people were really excited to get back for their kids, for homecoming; the excitement,” Deal said. “I haven’t seen our streets packed for homecoming, or a homecoming parade like they did on Friday.”

The next board of education meeting is scheduled for Monday, Nov 1, at 6 p.m. in the Williamston Middle School Multi-Purpose Room.