The Standards of Quality are assumed to represent high quality standards for K-12 public education for all students in the Commonwealth. In point of fact, they represent a minimum foundation. In practice, the SOQ represent a mechanism for the state to fund their share of public education (which must add up to at least 55% …
May 2012 archive
May 24
Virginia Administrators Work on Teacher Performance Evaluation System
It is the week of May 21st and several Virginia school administrators, retired and currently working, are spending time in Richmond to plan for the upcoming summer training sessions to help principals prepare for the changes and challenges in the Virginia Teacher Performance Evaluation training this summer. The first round of training will occur in July beginning on July 10 …
May 19
Governor McDonnell’s Budget Amendents Target Many Education Areas
The Governor’s amendment pen was busy following last month’s approval of a compromise budget by the General Assembly. Eighty-eight is a BIG number in the state budget world – representing the number of budget amendments Governor McDonnell sent to the Floor on Monday for the General Assembly to consider. This on the heels of contentious …
May 10
McDonald Signs Legislation To Help Make Virginia Students College and Career Ready
BRISTOL – Flanked by leaders from the General Assembly, students, teachers and staff from Virginia High School in Bristol, Governor Bob McDonnell ceremonially signed into law four pieces of legislation today aimed at making students graduating from college or high school ready to enter the workforce as productive members of society. The laws support the …
May 10
Leadership Traits for Principals: The Importance of Visibility
When you stop and reflect upon what is expected from you each and every day in your building, do you sometimes get overwhelmed? From instruction to safety/security to helping teachers and students, responding to parent concerns, to time spent in seemingly endless meetings and nights away from home due to athletics and the list goes on. Most …
May 07
Changes in Teacher Evaluation
As all principals know, beginning July 1, teacher evaluation changes significantly. The revised evaluation model includes seven performance standards: professional knowledge; instructional planning; instructional delivery; assessment of and for student learning; learning environment; professionalism, and student academic progress. It is standard 7, student academic progress, which could change the evaluation process most dramatically. Working with …
May 03
Virginia Schools Earn Student Council National Recognition
The National Association of Student Councils (NASC), a program sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) annually recognizes student councils that consistently provide quality leadership programs, activities and services to their schools and communities. This year, the NASC has named 190 of its member councils as 2012 National Councils of Excellence and …
May 01
Evaluation Tips from a Classroom Teacher
If you look into the near future of education in Virginia, you will see that more stringent standards and processes for teacher evaluation may soon be in place. The “40% Solution” that is being reviewed is designed to align successful student performance with classroom observation, teacher evaluation and ultimately the evaluations for building principals. As building administrators prepare for the possible developments …