FARMINGTON — The Regional School Unit 9 Board of Directors heard a presentation on the updates to the teacher-evaluation process at the Tuesday, July 26, meeting.

Director of Curriculum Laura Columbia and Mt. Blue Education Association President Doug Hodum spoke about what revisions are being proposed to the evaluation process, which will soon come before the board for approval.

Columbia and Hodum are co-chairs of the teacher-evaluations committee, which is half comprised of teachers from across the district’s schools alongside a special education interventionist and building/district administrators.

Columbia said the committee has worked on revisions in the last year that would focus the evaluation process in on how this can be an easier process for teachers that prioritizes improvement.

The committee is proposing some things stay the same, including the evaluation system and software.

The committee is proposing changes to the number of components to be evaluated. Teachers would also have an opportunity to choose growth plans and action steps encapsulating a series of elements they’ve labeled as “SMART” goals:

• “Specific – Make your goals specific and narrow for more effective planning.”

• “Measurable – Define what evidence will prove you’re making progress and reevaluate when necessary.”

• “Attainable – Make sure you can reasonably accomplish your goal within a certain timeframe.”

• “Relevant – Your goals should align with your values and longterm objectives.”

• “Time-based – Set a realistic and ambitious end-date for task prioritization and motivation.”

Columbia said the SMART guidelines are “a great way [to give] teachers parameters on how to move forward in their goals, as well as a great tool for principals to use for feedback.”

Alongside amending ways teachers can form their action steps, Hodum told the board that the committee will be “implementing a variety of different supports” upon request from staff and administrators.

“We’ve gotten some feedback from … administrators and teachers saying that they feel like they need a little bit more support in the process,” Hodum explained.

He said the committee has met with administrators to help them establish a system for creating the growth plans with teachers and a method for finalizing ratings/scores for teachers.

The committee will also practice teacher observations with administrators – who are required to do so in the evaluation process.

To better support teachers, Hodum said that they will be spreading out orientations/trainings on how to use the evaluation software programs in order to avoid overwhelming new teachers with information and give them “a little bit more time to process through and develop a good, solid growth plan.”

During discussion, Director Debbie Smith asked how often the evaluations occur.

Hodum explained probationary teachers, or new teachers, are reviewed annually for the two-year probationary period. Following that period, the evaluations will happen every three years unless they are assigned an action plan.

Following the presentation Superintendent Chris Elkington said it’s been important to prioritize the voice of teachers so the evaluations can “lead to improved learning for students and improved instruction by staff.”

“This is one of the most important efforts that we can make in our school system to improve learning and teaching,” Elkington said. “This committee is vital.”

Board of Directors Chair Carol Coles added that these revisions, focused on growth can help with the perception that an “evaluation is a negative thing, when in fact it can be a support to improve schools and do some exciting work.”