Under education reform, school principals swamped by teacher evaluations
School principals, including some who back more rigorous review of teachers, are balking at education reforms required by Race to the Top. New teacher evaluations are all-consuming, they say.
A fourth-grader at Alton Elementary in Memphis, Tenn., gives a thumbs up. Tennessee is implementing a new teacher evaluation system this year.
Mike Brown/The Commercial Appeal/AP
Sharon McNary believes in having tough teacher evaluations.
But these days, the Memphis principal finds herself rushing to cram in what amounts to 20 times the number of observations previously required for veteran teachers – including those she knows are excellent – sometimes to the detriment of her other duties.
“I don’t think there’s a principal that would say they don’t agree we don’t need a more rigorous evaluati