The success of a school and its students rests on the shoulders of its leaders and their ability to effectively set goals, structure and support for the people they lead.
With more than 2,000 public schools in Minnesota, state lawmakers passed legislation that requires school administrators to develop a system to monitor people holding those leadership roles.
The way principals and teachers manage and lead has a direct impact to the success of students, according to Nordy Nelson, Independent School District No. 361 superintendent. Educators are trusted to prepare children for life outside of elementary and high school. Support from every leadership role within a school is needed when considering the tools and resources needed to mold young scholars into successful adults.
This year, Minnesota lawmakers are making it mandatory for principals to be routinely evaluated on an annual basis and Nelson believes it can only move the district in a positive direction.
“(Observation) can’t help but benefit anyone,” he said.
Nelson said that in the past, he would issue biannual written summaries to Tim Everson and Melissa Tate, the district’s principals. This year, however, a formal observation will include one-on-one monitoring between Nelson and each principal.
And, Everson and Tate will not be the only school officials to be monitored. Next year, state law will require a more structured monitoring system for teachers as well. Nelson said in preparation for the 2014-2015 school year, the district will begin monitoring teachers this year.
“Since we have the Q-Comp (Quality Compensation) program, we’ll use that format with teachers,” Nelson said of the monitoring.
The Q-Comp program includes guidelines that require teachers to have two peers observe their class and each teacher in turn is also required to sit in on the classes of two teachers.
Nelson said non-tenured teachers are required to be reviewed three times per year, but that it will expand to include tenured next year.
The superintendent said about one third of the tenured teachers will be observed this coming school year.
“We just need to get that going because it has to be in place a year from now,” he said. “We are using this year to ease into the process and lay the format for having a solid plan in place next year.”
Nelson said feedback from the observations will hopefully promote and interest in material being covered in the class with the ultimate goal of boosting student performance and test scores.
“We need to get there little steps at a time, but I see this as moving in the right direction,” Nelson said.
