A New Teacher’s Guide to the Teacher Evaluation Process

by Amanda Melsby – November 5, 2024

The teacher evaluation process is a stressful yet necessary reality for teachers. If you’ve never been evaluated, the process can feel like walking blindfolded through a maze. In this article, we’ll examine the following components of a teacher evaluation.

You’re not alone if you feel stressed or overwhelmed by the teacher evaluation process. Let’s begin with a brief background on teacher evaluations, and then we’ll walk you through the process.

Teacher Evaluations Serve Two Purposes: Formative and Summative

The challenge with most teacher evaluation processes lies in their dual purpose. Here’s the dilemma:

Formative Purpose: The evaluation process should provide steady and ongoing feedback to help new teachers improve their practice.

Summative Purpose: Teacher evaluations are also used to determine contract renewal for the following year.

So, is the evaluation process to help you improve or to decide whether you keep your job for the following school year? Unfortunately, the answer is sometimes both.

This tension between improvement and assessment often makes it difficult for teachers to embrace the formative aspects – exactly the part most teachers want and need. Try not to let the summative aspect paralyze you. Do your best to focus on growth and learning from the process.

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What Does the Teacher Evaluation Process Look Like, From Start to Finish?

Each school or district has its unique approach, but most follow a similar structure:

Step 1. Introduction to the Evaluation Process

Receive evaluation model/standards
Get timeline and key dates
Understand the specific school/district criteria

Step 2. Teacher Goal-Setting

Align your goal with the standards
Create measurable objectives (SMART goals)

Step 3. Observations

Formal (scheduled)
Informal (drop-in visits)

Step 4. Feedback Meetings

Scheduled meetings with your evaluator to review observations
Discussions focus on your progress

Step 5. Year-End Review

Final evaluation meeting; often when the teacher receives a “rating”
Review and assessment of your goals from the start of the process

What Are the Different Evaluation Models?

Here are the three most common teacher evaluation frameworks along with their major characteristics:

Marzano Model

- Four domains, or categories, for effective teaching
- 60 specific elements within those domains
- Evidence-based evaluation

Charlotte Danielson Framework

- Four domains
- 22 components within those domains
- Focus on teacher growth

State/Province Teaching Standards

- Vary by state or province
- Structured around core competencies or standards for the teaching profession
- Local adaptations based on state education priorities

Despite the model differences, most focus on:

Lesson planning and preparation
Instructional delivery
Assessment
Classroom environment and management
Student engagement
Professional growth

How to Prepare for the Teacher Evaluation Process

Creating an evaluation goal.

Choose a goal that addresses your specific needs.

- Reflect on your teaching practice and pinpoint a skill or strategy you want to improve
- Gather any student data that would provide a baseline for where you are currently

Choose a goal that aligns with your evaluation model.

- Review the domains or standards in your district’s framework
- Identify the domain or category that your specific need fits into

Choose a goal that supports broader school/district priorities.

- Talk to your administrator to determine if school-wide or district initiatives need to play a role in your goal-setting

Choose a goal that is measurable and achievable.

- Break down your goal into actions or steps
- Identify any resources needed
- Set a reasonable timeline for accomplishing your objective
- Evidence of success

Sample Teacher Evaluation Goal:

“By the end of the semester (timeline), I will increase the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced on the persuasive writing assessment from 65% to 80% (success) through implementing a research-backed writing workshop (action) in my English class.

Prepping for the classroom observations.

Observations, both formal and informal, are the bulk of the evaluation process. Here’s how to approach them:

Formal Observations

- Try to schedule your observation for the second time you are teaching the lesson
- Write out a formal lesson plan – it will help even if not required (Check out “Four Main Parts of a Lesson Plan”)
- Have extra handouts or resources so your evaluator can follow along

Informal “Pop-In” Observations

- Maintain consistent routines and procedures with students
- Include a combination of teacher-directed and student-led activities
- Incorporate daily formative assessments of some
- Ensure your classroom environment is organized and welcoming

For any observation, the evaluator wants to note your strengths as well as where you might be able to improve. If a lesson doesn’t go as planned, focus on reflecting and adjusting rather than perfection.

Receiving feedback after an observation.

The feedback meetings with your evaluator are your chance to demonstrate your growth mindset. Here are a few ideas to make the most of your meetings.

Be Specific About Feedback

- Ask for feedback on particular areas you want to improve
- Request that the evaluator time or rate specific elements, like your transitions or amount of student participation

Provide Helpful Context

- Explain your rationale for your instructional activities
- Share how you’ve adapted based on previous feedback
- Discuss any extenuating circumstances that may have impacted a lesson

Demonstrate Reflective Practice

- Come prepared with your assessment of the lesson (Have a response to, “How did you think it went?”)
- Identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement
- Outline your plans for addressing growth areas

Plan Next Steps

- Collaborate with your evaluator to set actionable next steps
- Document agreed-upon goals and timelines
- Schedule follow-up meetings to monitor progress

Try to adopt a growth mindset during your evaluation

Lastly, I acknowledge the difficult nature of an evaluation – people are understandably sensitive to professional (and. You’ll be able to get more out of the evaluation process if you approach it with a growth mindset. Try to:

- View feedback as valuable information and a chance to improve
- See challenges as opportunities to try out new techniques
- Focus on continuous improvement

If you want more support, download our companion Teacher Evaluation and Classroom Observation Checklist to keep track of every step in your evaluation journey.