Connecting High Quality Professional Development and Educator Evaluation

Lessons from Massachusetts Districts: Presentation at 2014 Educator Evaluation Convening

FAQs: Elaborating on the Work Done in Chelmsford Public Schools and Southeastern Regional Vocational School District

Answers to the FAQs were based on interviews with the district professional development leaders from Chelmsford Public Schools and Southeastern Regional Vocational School District.

How do you use the Massachusetts Standards for Professional Development in your district?

How do you connect educator evaluation with professional development in your district?

What factors enable your school's success in making these connections?

Chelmsford Public School leaders reported that the following factors help ensure a coherent system of educator learning and development in their district:

• Teachers and leaders work together to define, support, and evaluate professional development.
• A professional development coordinator, who also is the curriculum coordinator, ensures coherence and makes sure that teachers have the support to input the curriculum that they are asked to implement.
• There is a focus on building capacity among staff within the district to provide professional development.
• There are online tools that both teachers and administrators can use to manage professional development and evaluation data.
• The district offers options for all staff in their respective roles, gives teachers leadership roles in delivering professional development, and offers multiple formats for professional development (e.g., online, hybrid, in-person, graduate courses, ten-hour series, and Twitter Professional Learning Networks).

Southeastern Regional Vocational School District leaders reported that the following factors help ensure a coherent system of educator learning and development in their district:

• There is a dedicated professional development liaison to work with both teachers and administrators in a nonevaluative capacity.
• Teachers are involved in the design and selection of professional development.
• There is a close partnership with a local university that provides professional development as needs arise.

How is your Professional Development Committee structured and what does it do?

Which data system(s) do you use to manage professional development data?

How much dedicated time do teachers have to engage in high-quality professional development?

What funding streams support professional development in your district?

Last Updated: June 5, 2020