Teacher Evaluations - A Good Thing

New York Enacts Teacher Evaluations

Local school and community officials react to the new system

By Chad Kushins

NYS Gov. Andrew CuomoNYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi
NYS Education Commissioner John B.King

Elected officials and educators alike are responding to a statewide agreement reached last week, which would bring tougher teacher evaluations in public schools statewide and make student performance 40 percent of a teacher’s grade. 

Almost instantly controversial, the deal reached by New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo, NYSUT (New York State United Teachers), and State Education Commissioner John B. King Jr. would base the remaining 60 percent of the evaluation on classroom observation and other factors not related to standardized tests. Districts through collective bargaining will determine this criteria for the plan.

 The plan now goes to local school districts where discussion over specific areas such as an appeal process will be developed. A plan must be implemented within the coming year. Cuomo claims he will deny non-compliant districts the scheduled four percent increase in state aid that he has proposed.

The announcement brought together Cuomo, State Education Commissioner, King, and Teachers Union President Richard C. Iannuzzi, who had been wrestling over the details of the new statewide system since its introduction into law in 2010 as part of the state’s application for a federal “Race to the Top” grant.  New York is one of 19 states that received grants under the “Race to the Top” competition, which requires every recipient to adopt a teacher evaluation system.  Last month, the federal Education Department warned New York that it could lose its share of the money if it did not comply, causing a rush to compromise and completion of the announced plan.

The agreement creates a rating system for teachers.  The ratings are “highly effective,” “effective,” “developing,” and “ineffective.” For a teacher rated “ineffective,” a Teacher Improvement Plan (TIP) would be developed. Two annual ineffective ratings could lead to a hearing and possible dismissal. A rating of “highly effective” would allow teachers to be eligible for merit increases or other perks, as determined in local labor contracts.

Many officials and educators from Smithtown are responding to the announcement.  “There’s a lot to like here,” said Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick.  “When the announcement was made, we had a real deadline looming.  Governor Cuomo said, ‘We’ve had plenty of time,’ and he was right.  Our educational system has some major problems, given what we’re spending – that’s not debatable.  And I really do believe that there has to be accountability.  That’s been avoided, but now we have a governor who’s willing to stand up for it.  I, personally, thank him for that.”

Fitzpatrick continued, “I think that one of the reasons that there’s been no accountability in the schools has been the problem of taking on the union.  Now, it’s a matter of receiving a grant for funding and I really think Cuomo is leading the way here.”

According to Fitzpatrick, there is only one element to the new system that he has found to be a negative aspect.  “I’m not happy that bad teachers would be getting a two-year reprieve,” he added.  “But that’s the only downside, the only pill we have to swallow – and it’s a significant one.  It’s the kids who are going to suffer because of that for two years.”

State Senator John Flanagan concurred, citing the new governor as a chief source in the proposal and commenting on its importance for the state.  “Teacher evaluations are fundamentally and critically important to everyone,” said Flanagan.  “Also, if you can make a good compromise, that has value on its own.  I congratulate the governor.  He and his office made this needed compromise.”

Flanagan continued, “Whatever is done [with the evaluations], it must be in a timely fashion … If you look at other areas and school districts with high graduation rates and high grades, those set an example.  Ultimately, my hope is that this happens and that it happens right.”

“I commend the teachers and administrators who are working together now on an APPR (Annual Professional Performance Review) Committee that will ensure that we select the very best evaluation model to meet our district’s needs,” said former teacher and current member of the Smithtown Board of Education Joanne McEnroy.  “The Governor’s new system will, I believe, create the need for teachers to ‘self assess’ and, I think that they will have to develop and maintain some type of a professional portfolio in order to articulate and corroborate the full measure of their work.  This opportunity for teachers to self-assess/advocate is an unintended, but I believe positive outgrowth of the Governor’s proposal.”

According to McEnroy, she is not for an evaluation system that would use students’ scores on standardized tests to judge a teacher’s abilities.  “Every one of the new evaluation models that are proposed address areas that speak to a teacher’s ability to recognize and plan to meet this kind of diversity and, to execute lessons to address it,” she continued.  “However it needs to be established and, at the very least acknowledged, that the circumstances that are brought to the learning situation do act upon outcome.  While the teacher can control the planning, the process, the practices and the teaching methods that are used, he or she often has no ability to control the circumstances that are brought to the setting.”

McEnroy added, “In the Smithtown district, there are so many things to be proud of.  That was also the case before the Governor’s proposal.  Our students have always done well because our teachers are held to a very high standard—by our community, by our administration and, most importantly, by themselves.”

Calls to the Superintendent’s office and local branches of the New York Teachers Association were not returned due to winter break.

According to Flanagan, the next step in making the teacher evaluations a mandatory practice is to see this proposal go before the legislature.