New teacher study doesn’t represent school districts

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

By Robyn Vincent

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Although a new study calls into question the effectiveness of teachers in Wyoming, Teton County School District policies notably vary from practices observed at the state level. The differences are an important contrast to the ‘D’ grade allocated to the Cowboy State by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ), school officials say.

The independent nonprofit organization surveyed each U.S. state on its ability to evaluate and retain effective teachers, but did not survey individual school districts.
“Some of the points they marked Wyoming down for are definitely not the case for our district,” said Teton County School Board trustee Dr. Cherie Hawley, a former dean of Cal State University, Los Angeles.

Hawley also pointed out that Wyoming data was incomplete, because the state did not return a survey offered by the Council, like many of the other states surveyed. She suspected that many states, like Wyoming, elected not to respond because the Council holds no government affiliation and is not connected to to any of the agencies schools must normally report to.

The low grade for Wyoming is partially due to it’s dismissal of the Council’s recommendation for New Teacher Evaluation, based on two formal evaluations – one conducted at the beginning of the school year. In Teton County, however, “our district does specify that the first formal evaluation must occur during the first half of the first year,” explained Hawley. “This may also be true of other districts, but the NCTQ doesn’t survey districts.”

Hawley also noted that the study’s section on tenures did not accurately describe Teton County. While the Council noted that the Cowboy State does not require school districts to gather evidence of teacher effectiveness before awarding tenure, Hawley explained that Teton County does in fact have this practice in place.

Another low blow to Wyoming - also not true of Teton County - was in the area of teacher support. “Unlike many states,” the Council wrote, “Wyoming does not require that extra support be provided to new teachers to help them overcome the inordinate stress and pressure associated with the first months of teaching.”
For more than five years, however, Teton County has boasted a solid mentoring program for teachers.  “The induction program includes a mentor who works with [teachers] individually, on a regular basis throughout the year,” said Hawley.  PJH
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New teacher study doesn’t represent school districts | Planet JH News Article: Jackson Hole High School

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