Eric Smith: Teachers will get say in new bill to evaluate their performance

By Eric Smith

Special to news-press.com • November 18, 2010

I want to commend The News Press on its editorial “Teachers deserve a say on performance pay bill” (Nov. 7) for highlighting the need for ongoing conversation regarding teacher quality here in the Sunshine State.

During the last several months, officials at both the state and local level have sought feedback from teachers and other stakeholders about the need for continued improvement in our state’s education system, particularly in the areas of teacher support and evaluation, professional development and interpreting student data.

A prime example of this dialogue is the Florida State Board of Education’s recent “What’s Working in Effective Teaching and Leadership” series which featured five workshops across the state to hear directly from educators and education stakeholders.

While each workshop covered a different topic, they focused in large part on statewide efforts to build improved teacher and principal evaluation systems to better inform educators and education leaders about their strengths and weaknesses.

Discussion specifically included the pros and cons of tying student performance data based partially on statewide assessments to educator effectiveness.

The meetings were very successful with a wide variety of opinions and commentary offered, and footage from the workshops is still available for viewing through the Department of Education’s website.

There has also been a tremendous amount of discussion taking place within our school districts as they work feverishly to develop their Race to the Top work plans.

As part of Florida’s winning application, participating districts must construct new teacher and principal evaluation systems that are partially based on growth in the performance of their students.

A key part of this process is local flexibility within the grant allowing districts to build a system that’s right for them.

This local decision-making process will undoubtedly require significant
discussion with local teachers to ensure all parties are on board with the plan.

Additionally, I created the Commissioner’s Teacher Task Force last January to gather input from dedicated educators about key education issues.
This Task Force is comprised solely of Florida teachers with a longstanding history of student success in a variety of environments, and
I’m going to be leaning on them heavily for their advice and ideas in many different areas, including new teacher evaluation systems.

There is no doubt that our teachers, as well as many other stakeholders, need to have an active voice in the revolutionary education reforms that are underway in Florida.

Their input is going to be essential if we expect these changes to take root and produce lasting success in our schools.

Based on the conversations that have already happened, I can say with confidence that we are on the right path to implementing a collaborative reform agenda that upholds my No. 1 goal: better opportunities and outcomes for our children.

http://www.news-press.com/article/20101118/OPINION/101117064/1015/opinion/Eric-Smith--Teachers-will-get-say-in-new-bill-to-evaluate-their-performance