Page 64 - EdViewptsSpring2020

Administrator Evaluation:

Exploring an Alternative Model

By Dr. Maribeth Edmunds, Director of Secondary Education and Dr. Aparna
Rajagopal, Supervisor of STEM, South Brunswick School District

For many experienced evaluation was “worse than imagined.” Since then, states have taken up

administrators, seeking According to the National Leadership this charge. The New Jersey School
Evaluation Study, new administrators
Boards Association and the NJ
useful feedback about their “frequently received helpful and Association of School Administrators,
practice is both critical constructive coaching and feedback.” for example, collaboratively developed
a tool to evaluate superintendents
However, the same was not true
and desired. However, using a for experienced administrators. He based on the Professional Learning
traditional observation model can be stated, “Evaluation was least helpful Standards. (2019) State approved
unproductive to say the least. How for veteran administrators and central models of teacher evaluation have
many times can an experienced office directors.” Reeves called for a improved this process as well.
administrator benefit from being “constructive alternative to existing However, experienced central office
observed running a faculty meeting leadership evaluation systems.” directors like myself as well as my
or addressing parents at a PTO The Wallace Foundation also called colleague Dr. Rajagopal may benefit
meeting? Not many. for improvements. They stated that from something more.
In 2004, Doug Reeves wrote about high-quality assessments should The purpose of this article, therefore,
the state of administrator evaluation be part of an “ongoing process for is to describe a professional learning
in our country. Simply put, he stated, professional growth” and “provide experience that took place between
“I have bad news.” In fact, he said actionable feedback on what matters two experienced school administrators
his assessment of administrator most.” (2009) via a self-directed evaluation process.

Educational Viewpoints -62- Spring 2020