An educational leadership doctoral project: Teacher evaluation policies and practices at the district level

This report describes a project focused on quality teacher evaluation practices. Many scholars described the relationship between quality teaching and student learning. Literature suggests a connection between teaching practices and teacher evaluation practices. In addition, scholars recommend educational leaders conduct a periodic review of district practices. Because of Missouri state requirements, district leaders need resources to assess their teacher evaluation practices. These tools are not provided by the state.;The process reviewed literature on effective practices and literature on effective teacher evaluations and identified issues that exist in the connection between them. Constructs were created which supported the development of the audit tool that local leaders can use to support their own teacher evaluations. Auditing practices were assessments for educational leaders to perform quality insurance for improving current practices. Audits assist leaders in improving their current district teacher evaluation practices. After reading the literature looking for relationships between teacher effectiveness and teacher evaluations, constructs were identified that were then reviewed by an expert panel.;To address the issue identified earlier, a tool was created which reflects current auditing procedures, to assist district administrators in assessing their teacher evaluation practices. The tool was then piloted in a graduate level educational leadership course. By using the Personnel Standards created by the Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation, English's Curriculum Standards, and components suggested by auditing consultants, the tool provides leaders a way to internally monitor a district's teacher evaluation practice.