4A: Reflecting on teaching.

• The teacher makes a thoughtful and accurate assessment of a lesson’s effectiveness and the extent to which it achieved its instructional outcomes, citing many specific examples from the lesson and weighing the relative strengths of each. Drawing on an extensive repertoire of skills, the teacher offers specific alternative actions, complete with the probable success of different courses of action.

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4B: Maintaining accurate records.

• The teacher’s system for maintaining information on student completion of assignments, student progress in learning, and non-instructional records is fully effective. Students contribute information and participate in maintaining the records.

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4C: Communicating with families.

• The teacher communicates frequently with families in a culturally sensitive manner, with students contributing to the communication. The teacher responds to family concerns with professional and cultural sensitivity. The teacher’s efforts to engage families in the instructional program are frequent and successful.

  • Example of 7th Grade Team Family Newsletters: Each month, our 7th grade team sends a newsletter to our students' families to let them know what is going on in the classroom that month. It is a quick, informative way for us to collaborate and communicate with families. 

  • Below is the flyer that I hand out to students and their parents/ guardians on 7th grade orientation night. 

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4D: Participating in the professional community.

• The teacher’s relationships with colleagues are characterized by mutual support and cooperation, with the teacher taking initiative in assuming leadership among the faculty. The teacher takes a leadership role in promoting a culture of professional inquiry. The teacher volunteers to participate in school events and district projects, making a substantial contribution and assuming a leadership role in at least one aspect of school or district life.

  • Notes from a Walkthrough Observation (11/6/2020): "Miss. Houston, along with 8 other HS faculty members, volunteered to participate in a professional development opportunity offered through Workforce Solutions of North Central PA.  The professional development was in relation to the Teacher in the Workplace initiative and provided opportunities to tour regional companies virtually, discuss current workplace and employer needs, build the skills students will need to succeed in today's workforce and identify employment trends and high priority occupations both in our area and statewide to help students pursue a pathway to future success. I appreciate Miss. Houston's willingness to attend these sessions and take time out of her personal/family hours after school.  These sessions will hopefully build on the focus areas of Career Education & Readiness (artifacts) that we have been targeted since it became a state requirement. I feel that improving our knowledge of what's out there and what's needed in terms of employment will assist our teachers in developing learning experiences that provide students with a better understanding of what they want to do when they leave high school but also what it is going to take to get there."

  • Notes from Formal Observation (2/1/2021): Distinguished: "Miss Houston continues in her role as Cross Country Coach; she recently completed a summer AP training and has welcomed the challenge of being an AP US History teacher (which is a lot of work).   She has taken part in District/building-focused initiatives (Friends of Rachel, Project-Based Learning, Teacher in the Workplace) and assists fellow teachers in using the new Savas digital curriculum resources.  She has worked with department and grade level colleagues in addition to networking with teachers from all over to learn new things, bounce ideas off and generate new resources/connections for student learning and assessment.  She is also working towards her Masters through Wilson College...all impressive but will pay dividends later in her teacher career."​

 

 

4E: Growing and developing professionally

• The teacher seeks out opportunities for professional development and makes a systematic effort to conduct action research. The teacher solicits feedback on practice from both supervisors and colleagues. The teacher initiates important activities to contribute to the profession.

 

 

4F: Showing professionalism.

• The teacher can be counted on to hold the highest standards of honesty, integrity, and confidentiality and takes a leadership role with colleagues. The teacher is highly proactive in serving students, seeking out resources when needed. The teacher makes a concerted effort to challenge negative attitudes or practices to ensure that all students, particularly those traditionally underserved, are honored in the school. The teacher takes a leadership role in team or departmental decision making and helps ensure that such decisions are based on the highest professional standards. The teacher complies fully with school and district regulations, taking a leadership role with colleagues.