Rethinking Teacher Supervision and Evaluation: How to Work Smart, Build Collaboration, and Close the Achievement Gap [Paperback]

Kim Marshall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 9, 2009 | ISBN-10: 0470449969 | ISBN-13: 978-0470449967 | Edition: 1

In this important book, education expert Kim Marshall shows how to break away from the typical and often ineffective evaluation approaches in which principals use infrequent classroom visits or rely on standardized test scores to assess a teacher's performance. Marshall proposes a broader framework for supervision and evaluation that enlists teachers in improving the performance of all students.

Emphasizing trust-building and teamwork, Marshall's innovative, four-part framework shifts the focus from periodically evaluating teaching to continuously analyzing learning. This book offers school principals a guide for implementing Marshall's framework and shows how to make frequent, informal classroom visits followed by candid feedback to each teacher; work with teacher teams to plan thoughtful curriculum units rather than focusing on individual lessons; get teachers as teams involved in low-stakes analysis of interim assessment results to fine-tune their teaching and help struggling students; and use compact rubrics for summative teacher evaluation.

This vital resource also includes extensive tools and advice for managing time as well as ideas for using supervision and evaluation practices to foster teacher professional development.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Rethinking Teacher Supervision and Evaluation

How to Work Smart, Build Collaboration, and Close the Achievement Gap

Kim Marshall

Rethinking Teacher Supervision and Evaluation

In this important book, education expert Kim Marshall shows how to break away from the typical and often ineffective evaluation approaches in which principals use infrequent classroom visits or rely on standardized test scores to assess a teacher's performance. Marshall proposes a broader framework for supervision and evaluation that enlists teachers in improving the performance of all students.

Emphasizing trust-building and teamwork, Marshall's innovative, four-part framework shifts the focus from periodically evaluating teaching to continuously analyzing learning. This book offers school principals a guide for implementing Marshall's framework and shows how to make frequent, informal classroom visits followed by candid feedback to each teacher; work with teacher teams to plan thoughtful curriculum units rather than focusing on individual lessons; get teachers as teams involved in low-stakes analysis of interim assessment results to fine-tune their teaching and help struggling students; and use compact rubrics for summative teacher evaluation.

This vital resource also includes extensive tools and advice for managing time as well as ideas for using supervision and evaluation practices to foster teacher professional development.

Praise for Rethinking Teacher Supervision and Evaluation

"Here is the right book at the right time for practitioners, policymakers, and parents from an ex-principal who did in his school exactly what the title says."
—Larry Cuban, professor emeritus of education, Stanford University

"Kim Marshall is among the wisest, most insightful educators of our time—and one of the best writers in the business. I highly recommend Rethinking Teacher Supervision and Evaluation to anyone seeking clear, practical advice on effective leadership practices, based on Marshall's hard-won and successful experiences as a school leader."
—Mike Schmoker, speaker and author of Results Now

About the Author

Kim Marshall, a former teacher, principal, and district official in the Boston Public Schools, is an independent professional development consultant working with schools and districts nationally on leadership practices. Marshall writes for educational journals such as Education Week and Phi Delta Kappan and publishes a weekly online newsletter, The Marshall Memo, summarizing the best ideas and research in education.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass; 1 edition (December 9, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470449969
• ISBN-13: 978-0470449967
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.8 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #60,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kim Marshall, a former teacher, principal, and district official in the Boston Public Schools, is an independent professional development consultant working with schools and districts nationally on leadership practices. Marshall writes for educational journals such as Education Week and Phi Delta Kappan and publishes a weekly online newsletter, The Marshall Memo, summarizing the best ideas and research in education.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book on school reform December 15, 2009

By Grant Wiggins

Format:Paperback

Kim Marshall has done a wonderful job of describing what supervision and evaluation needs to be in a world of accountability and professionalism. The book is unusually well-written, comprehensive, yet practical - a deft weaving of theory, practice, tools, and argument. I highly recommend it, and the Principals we work with will profit from using it. It is especially important for building leaders in an urban environment, showing readers that change is indeed possible - even likely - if only the right practices are - dare I say it? - marshalled.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Goodbye lengthy evalutions & limited teacher feedback! April 13, 2010

By Paul BambrickSantoyo

Format:Paperback

Good-bye lengthy formal evaluations and limited teacher feedback! This book really cuts through the morass to offer a gritty, practical, feasible model that can transform teacher supervision in a school. Every school and district would benefit from implementing the core tenets of the book. He has integrated the critical tasks of observation, curriculum planning and data-driven instruction to drive real student achievement. Kudos to Kim for a great book!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Why this book is a must read December 8, 2009

By Diana Lam

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Kim Marshall writes based on decades of experience in schools trying to figure out the most effective way to supervise and evaluate teachers. His recommendations are clear, thoughtful, practical, and focused on raising standards in our profession. He writes about his own experience and growth as a principal in an urban school wrestling with these issues. This book complete with rubrics is the book he wishes he had on day one as a principal. We're fortunate now that we have it as a handbook going forward.