Question/Answer

How many times will you be meeting with administration for the action research model?

Twice a year.  At the beginning to get approval of your goal, and at the end of the process to report out.  Twice in between you must meet with someone to complete Steps/Stages 3 and 4.  That person can be an adminstrator, team members, grade level partner, department head, Galileo leader, etc.  At your first meeting with your administrator, you will determine who that person/people will be.

How many times will you be meeting with administration for the traditional model?

Twice a year.  At the beginning of the year to get approval for your goal and after you have been observed.

Are you able to collaborate with others if you chose the action research model?

Absolutely!  This is encouraged.  You can work with your "team" of teachers on the same goal, your department, your PLC, your grade level partner, or ANY OTHER staff member (s)

Are you able to collaborate with others if you chose the traditional model?

No

How ridid is the time frame for the action research model?

It is flexible within reason.  For example, if at the end of the school year you've started to see success with your strategy, but would like to tweak it and continue to work towards the same goal--your administrator could approve that and the next year could be a continuation of the first year's goal.

What consitutes a "research based" strategy?

This includes strategies that you have read about in books, heard about while attending a conference, read about in scholarly journals (for example, Educational Leadership), or that a colleague has implemented through his/her own action research and found to be successful.

What if you attend a conference during the summer or read a book and want to try a program or strategy in your class, but you've gathered no data to support the use of that strategy.  Can you still be allowed to use that strategy?

Absolutely!  There is a great deal of flexibility with regard to this, however, keep in mind you always need administrative approval for goals and strategies.

Will we be given time to meet with others if we chose to collaborate?

You will have to find that time on your own, however, you can use department meetings, grade level meetings, prep time, etc.

Will we be given time to work on this throughout the school year?

As with every other evaluation process we've had, no additional time will be given to work on this.

Can a SMART goal come from the affective domain?

Definitely!  Especially for counselors!

What if the strategy I've chosen to implement for the action research model doesn't work?  Do I fail my evaluation?

To "pass" the action research model, you are being evaluated on your participation in the process, not the success or failure of your strategy.  The goal of this model is to get people actively engaged in reflecting on and thereby bettering their practice.  Please note that NOTHING about the success or failure of the strategy is included in the personnel file document.

What if I teach a semester long class?  Do I have to go through the process twice?

No, it's the same as in the past.  You set one goal and work through it throughout the duration of the year.  You can collect date from only one group of students and shorten the time line a little.  You can implement the strategy with both groups and collect and compare data from both.  You can implement the strategy with one group and not the other and compare your results.  There are many options.

What is a SMART goal?

There are handouts in the process document materials that explain a SMART goal and give examples.  In addition, staff will be inserviced on the topic.  If additional support is needed, administrators and Galileo leaders can provide support.

What's the difference between a goal and a strategy?

A goal is what you hope to accomplish.  A strategy is what you will do to accomplish the goal.

What's the difference between the action research model and the traditional model?

The biggest difference is that the traditional model is based on a classroom observation by an administrator and the action research model is based on your participation in the action research process.  You are NOT observed by adminstration as part of the action research model (though any administrator is justified in observing any staff member at any time).  The action research model allows for collaboration.  The traditional model does not.  Those are the major differences.

How often do I have to set a goal for the action research model?

Annually.  However, administration, per contract, is only required to formally evaluate you every 3 years.  So, it may be every three years only that a document will be placed in your personnel file.  At the same time, you are responsible for setting goals annually and working towards those goals, so you should keep a copy of the process documents on hand and every year work through the process.  This is no different than in years past.  Keep in mind that there is legislation pending that may force a change in the contract in the future so that staff members must be evaluated annually.  Until then--it's only every 3 years.

How often do I have to set a goal for the traditional model?

Annually.  However, administration, per contract, is only required to formally evaluate you every 3 years.  So, it may be every three years only that a document will be placed in your personnel file.  At the same time, you are responsible for setting goals annually and working towards those goals, so you should keep a copy of the process documents on hand and every year work through the process.  This is no different than in years past.  Keep in mind that there is legislation pending that may force a change in the contract in the future so that staff members must be evaluated annually.  Until then--it's only every 3 years.

Does my SMART goal have to be tied to the school improvement plan?

It can be tied to the school improvement plan OR the district strategic plan (which is much less specific and more flexible).  Also remember that your goal is subject to administive approval, so as long as your administrator approves the goal--you are all set!  This is especially helpful for counselors and special education teachers.

Can I set my SMART goal at the end of a school year so I can begin working on a strategy for the next school year?

Absolutely!

Can my SMART goal be the same as PLC or grade project goals?

Absolutely!

What if my administrator does not participate in this process with me?

Contact your building union representative.

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