Making Evaluation Meaningful: Transforming the Conversation to Transform Schools

Re-evaluate your perspective on teacher evaluation to truly transform school performance!   The tools, strategies, and reflections in this book provide realistic solutions to the problem faced by many schools: meaningless evaluation. A considerable amount of time, energy, and money is spent on the teacher evaluation process, yet the question remains whether it is truly transforming the learning of teachers and, therefore, students.   This practical guide shows how evaluation can become the tie that binds all school improvement activities together to: Bring clarity and purpose to all educators making their roles more effective Improve teacher practice since they receive better support Increase student achievement and overall school culture "For years, building leaders have been agonizing over teacher evaluations, pouring countless hours into a practice that consistently fails to produce the desired result; more meaningful conversations that produce improved quality instructional practices and increases in student achievement. In his book, Making Evaluation Meaningful, PJ Caposey shares a step by step framework filled with quick & easy to follow "Tips for Tomorrow," as well as detailed examples to help you shift your mindset and behave yourself to a more effective instructional leader. This book will leave you questioning your own evaluation system while at the same time inspiring you to re-commit the time and resources needed to help grow and develop your teachers." —Jimmy Casas, Principal and CEO   " PJ Caposey, through a practitioner lens, has developed an incredible guide that not only helps to demystify the evaluation process, but also provide ready-to- use strategies to ensure reflection and growth are the result. In the end evaluation must be meaningful for both parties. This book will help get you there." —Eric Sheninger, Author/Consultant, Senior Fellow/Thought Leader   "PJ Caposey has developed a great resource on teacher evaluation that actually provides realistic, encouraging, and supportive guidance instead of an arbitrary checklist!" —Larry Ferlazzo, Teacher, Author and Education Week Teacher advice blogger Luther Burbank High School, Sacramento, CA

Table of Contents:
Foreword Preface Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction Being an Effective Instructional Leader Takes Practice Learn From Mistakes Rethink Established Theories Don’t Neglect the Why and How Focus on the Goal: Improving Practice 1. Realize Evaluation Undoubtedly Impacts Culture Cultural Impact of Evaluation Changes 2. Master the Technical Elements of the Tool Close Reading Time in Classrooms Understanding of Best Practice Creating a Crosswalk Suggestion for Improvement Bank Staying Current With Trends 3. Leverage the Opportunity Presented at a Pre-conference Typical Pre-conference Experience Pre-conference Versus Job Interview Meaningful Pre-conference Questions Framework Alignment When a Pre-conference Goes Wrong Re-recruitment 4. Possess a Game Plan for Every Observation Three Typical Observational Practices The Hybrid Solution Reflective Conference Impact 5. Create a Process for Self-Reflection Self-Assessment Dos and Don’ts Guided Practice Understand Evaluator Fear of Self-Assessment Auxiliary Benefits Evaluator Self-Assessment 6. Be Cognizant of the Questions Driving Effective Evaluation Driving Questions Are Suggestions for Improvement Present Across All Domains and Do They Exist for Components Rated Proficient as Well as Needs Improvement or Unsatisfactory? Are the Suggestions Provided Research Based and Grade and Content Appropriate for Each Teacher? Does Feedback Link District Initiatives and Goals to Individual Teacher Performance? Does the Administrator Explain the Why and How Behind Suggestions for Improvement? Do Themes or Tendencies Emerge? Is There Evidence of Framework Mastery for the Evaluator? Is the Tone and Type of Language (Direct and Indirect) the Same Across All Evaluation Summaries? Does the Evaluator Provide Context and an Understanding of the Personal and Professional Growth of the Teacher? Does the Evaluator Provide Concrete Goals for Future Performance Outlined With Accountability Measures? Does the Evaluator Communicate as if They Mutually Own the Future Growth of the Teacher? Is Feedback Provided in a Consistent and Easy-to-Understand Manner? 7. The Reflective Conference Fight Climbing the Ladder of Inference Talk Less Than the Teacher To Serve, Not to Convince Questions Without Answers The Answer Is Within Them Schedules Match Priorities Establish Goal Areas Tips for Success for All Types of Reflective Conferences 8. Communicate for Teachers, Not to Them Effective Feedback Strategies 9. Personalized Professional Development: Mutually Own Future Growth Establishing a Personalized Professional Development Plan for Teachers What Happens if I Am Not an Expert in This Area? Conclusion (and a Note to Superintendents) A Note to Superintendents Resource: Suggestions-for-Improvement Bank References Index

About the Author :
PJ Caposey’s has had a wide range of educational experiences throughout his career. Mr. Caposey’s educational career began by receiving the Golden Apple Scholarship in high school which supports students pursue their dream to teach by providing scholarship money and training in return for a commitment to teach in a need-based area. Mr. Caposey did just that after completing his studies at Eastern Illinois University by teaching at Percy Lavon Julian High School in the inner-city of Chicago. After completing his administrative certification at National Louis University, Mr. Caposey served as an Assistant Principal in Rockford Public Schools before becoming the principal Oregon High School at the age of 28. After arriving at Oregon High School, Mr. Caposey and the school have received many honors. Personally, PJ was acknowledged by winning the Illinois Principal’s Association/Horace Mann Partners in Education Award and IPA Principal of the Year for NW Illinois. Additionally, Mr. Caposey personally has been selected as an Award of Merit winner by the Those Who Excel program sponsored by the Illinois State Board of Education, was honored as one of the nation’s top young educators when announced as an Honoree for the ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award, has been named an ASCD Emerging Leader. PJ was named one of 25 Superintendents to watch nationally by NSPRA and won the INSPRA Distinguished Service Award of Excellence in 2016. More importantly, Oregon High School was named one of the nation’s top high schools by US News and World Report in 2012 and one of the top 2000 high schools in the country by Newsweek in 2013. Meridian has also received  multiple national distinctions which will be released to the public in Fiscal Year 2017. PJ recently earned his Doctoral degree through Western Illinois University and continues to write and guest blog for many websites such as Huffington Post, Eye on Education, ASCD, Edutopia, My Town Tutors, and Test Soup. PJ has also penned two books – his most recent co-authored with Todd Whitaker – named Building a Culture of Support: Strategies for School Leaders and Teach Smart: 11 Learner-Centered Strategies to Ensure Student Success. In addition, Mr. Caposey also serves as an adjunct professor for Aurora University within their educational leadership department and a principal coach for SUPES Academy. PJ is a sought after presenter, consultant, and professional development provider and has spoken at many local, state, and national conferences. A short list of those entities which PJ has presented on behalf of include: ASCD, Illinois Principal’s Association, National Rural Educators Association, AdvanEd, and many others. PJ also enjoys the opportunity to work in different consultative capacities for schools and other organizations. PJ served as the Oregon High School principal for four years and currently is in his third year as the Superintendent of Meridian 223. He is married, also to a teacher, who works with gifted students, and lives with his four children: two sons, Jameson and Jackson; and twin toddlers, Anthony and Caroline, in the Northwestern part of Illinois.

Review :
"PJ Caposey has developed a great resource on teacher evaluation that actually provides realistic, encouraging, and supportive guidance instead of an arbitrary checklist!" "PJ Caposey does it again! He writes with authority, relevance, and passion about a topic often researched and often avoided by practitioners. He shares tips, needed mindset shifts as well as concrete examples of how to maximize the inherent power in the evaluation process. He outlines how to take a process required by law into a meaningful and powerful learning journey for all involved. Caposey masterfully lays out a coherent structure for making evaluation meaningful and for equipping would be evaluators with the "how" and "why" for conducting critical conversations. This compelling manuscript is a must read for graduate students studying to become school leaders and practicing school leaders alike." "Evaluation is an incredibly important and time consuming responsibility for educational leaders. Caposey shares practical methods and notions that will move your evaluation process from good to great. Promoting the success of every student is directly tied to the type of feedback evaluators provide to teachers. Making Evaluation Meaningful will change your mindset and push your school culture in a positive direction." "Quality feedback informs and provides practical suggestions for improvement and is pivotal if the goal is to improve teaching and learning. PJ Caposey, through a practitioner lens, has developed an incredible guide that not only helps to demystify the evaluation process, but also provide ready-to- use strategies to ensure reflection and growth are the result. In the end evaluation must be meaningful for both parties. This book will help get you there." "One of the most daunting and frustrating challenges for school leaders is making teacher evaluation count. Implementing a model is not enough. Through practical examples, PJ Caposey has discovered how to do the things school leaders want to do—build on strengths, develop shared meaning, and ultimately improve student learning. These goals are attainable with the principles shared in Making Evaluation Meaningful." "PJ Caposey′s book Making Evaluation Meaningful is an important read for administrators and teacher evaluators as it addresses the overarching challenges with teacher evaluation, starting with the biggest issue in education, oversimplification. The book seeks to provide solutions that make evaluators more adept at providing teachers with better feedback to ultimately improve the learning culture in a school.  Evaluation undoubtedly impacts culture, so the way we approach the process can and will have ripple effects." "For years, building leaders have been agonizing over teacher evaluations, pouring countless hours into a practice that consistently fails to produce the desired result; more meaningful conversations that produce improved quality instructional practices and increases in student achievement. In his book, Making Evaluation Meaningful, PJ Caposey shares a step by step framework filled with quick & easy to follow "Tips for Tomorrow," as well as detailed examples to help you shift your mindset and behave yourself to a more effective instructional leader. This book will leave you questioning your own evaluation system while at the same time inspiring you to re-commit the time and resources needed to help grow and develop your teachers."