Slowing Down Urged for New Reviews of Teachers

Several members of a state advisory panel on teacher evaluations are concerned the new system won’t be ready for full adoption by next fall.

The issue was raised Friday at a meeting of NMTEACH, a panel whose members were chosen by the state Public Education Department to provide insight as the department overhauls teacher evaluations. The new system requires teacher evaluations be based on test score improvement, classroom observations and other measures to be determined by districts.

The classroom observation portion of the system is being tested this year in schools around the state. Details such as how student test score growth will be calculated and what other measures of student learning may look like have not yet been determined.

Kirk Carpenter, superintendent of Aztec Municipal Schools, said he is concerned most districts won’t have enough training and time introduce the system well. All schools in Aztec are participating in the test, so Carpenter said his district has had time.

“The dialogue we have had has been very beneficial,” Carpenter said. “For us, are we going to be ready? Possibly. We’re spending a lot of time, and we’re in the pilot. I worry about the rest of the state.”

Carpenter also raised concern that the PED has not solicited feedback from teachers about the process. Other members of the panel shared his concerns about the schedule.

Sonya Romero-Smith, who teaches in Albuquerque, said the timeline is too fast.

“It feels very heavy looking at these dates, because I want to know what is expected of me,” she said. “I want to know what my training is going to be, and I’d like to have some time to practice it, the same way I would give my students time.”

State education chief Hanna Skandera said she respects the group’s concerns but is reluctant to delay the process if it will improve student learning.

“Our kids are in high stakes every day,” she said, adding that she wants students to be taught by teachers who are getting constructive feedback.

As written, the new rule does not change teacher pay, but it does say low-performing teachers who don’t improve after receiving help may not have their contracts renewed.

Carpenter predicted major problems if principals in other districts don’t get enough quality training, especially in classroom observation skills.

“If we don’t get that face-to-face training in every single school district prior to this going into place, I think we’re in for a train wreck, I really do,” Carpenter said.

He emphasized he supports the system as a whole. “I’m just very concerned, because I want this to work,” he said.

Carpenter also said the test has spurred conversations in Aztec about how to improve teaching. Skandera said that’s a good reason to push forward.

“If teaching is getting better, Kirk, in your district right now, or you’re having ‘a ha’ moments, wow, that’s awesome,” she said. “And if you’re seeing things like, ‘Wow, we can make this better, shore this up,’ that is what we want.”
— This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal