Teacher evaluations are more professional

By Anna Real
Staff Writer

Although Costa teachers must be evaluated on a varying basis, there is no need for extensive student or parent feedback because these groups can be influenced be a variety of unprofessional and subjective factors that are not conducive to the holistic evaluation process.

Teachers should be evaluated solely by administrators and teachers in their department using the pilot evaluation method because other faculty members will give unbiased opinions of a teacher’s work and are more experienced in the field of education compared to students.

According to English teacher Ann Brown, the department evaluations yield more unbiased evaluations of the teachers than student evaluations. Because of this, teachers receive a more accurate evaluation as compared to students that may have prior biased opinions.

The department and administration only gather their information from their in-class observations of teaching and conferences. These are hands-on means of evaluation that yield an accurate picture of teacher strengths as well.

Teacher evaluations based on the pilot program are the best option because students may be biased based on personal experiences with teachers and have dislike stemming from grades or other conflicts. These circumstances would make student evaluations less reliable overall.

Heads of departments would be the most valuable evaluators of teachers’ performances. According to Brown, the heads of the department are typically people with a lot of experience in the education system and a specific subject. Because of their vast experience, department heads can tell if a teacher is adequately fulfilling his or her responsibilities by observing his or her teaching methods in the classroom over a short period of time.

Department heads have also been in the same position as the teachers they are evaluating and, therefore, have insight into both sides of the process. Their experience will lead to more valuable feedback.

On top of the fact that students have more biased opinions, they might not completely understand teachers’ full responsibilities, including creating lesson plans throughout the year and teaching the required standards. The department’s teachers and administration can give more accurate criticism than students because of their familiarity with the job requirements of the teacher.

Some might argue that the students should evaluate teachers since they are the ones who are with them every day. Although this is true, students are not as informed as teachers who know what to look for on a professional basis.

Teachers should evaluate the other teachers in their department who have reached tenure in formal evaluations consisting of conferences and classroom observations, and student input should not be required in the process to ensure an objective evaluation.

The department’s teachers and administration members will have more valid opinions than the students based on their extensive experience and knowledge about the education system. Their perspective incites more constructive criticism.