when evaluating their director. Each board will need to decide, with their director, what data is appropriate to review when measuring success toward the school’s mission. I recommend setting three to five mutually agreed-upon goals annually. This gives the board and director shared academic achievement and funding priorities. If current end-of-year testing is going to be used, that can delay evaluations. I recommend that end-of-year director evaluations happen before contract renewals. Remember, data can be collected all year, and if the board feels things are not going well, discussions should happen as soon as possible — don’t wait for the end-of-year or mid-year evaluation. The director needs to know what the board is thinking, based on data, so corrections have time to happen. Data from parent surveys and/or teacher surveys are often used in the evaluation process. For example, if there are questions on the survey asking about school culture, the board needs to be clear with the director how that information will be used in evaluating his/her performance. Once an evaluation tool is selected, the director, when giving their report at a board meeting, can refer to areas of the evaluation. For example, if the tool speaks to teacher professional development, then the director can report on the teacher professional development that happened that month and the board minutes provide documentation that can be used when evaluating that area on the evaluation tool. WHO SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN THE EVALUATION PROCESS? Boards often use an evaluation committee to recommend an evaluation tool to the whole board for approval. It is always good to have input from the director on the evaluation tool to be used. The committee might ask each individual board member to fill out the evaluation and then gather the information to compile it into a concise evaluation. The committee might also ask the director to complete a self-evaluation so they can see how the director perceives his or her own performance. When a meeting is set with the director to review their evaluation, it is best to have at least two board members with the director. It can be overwhelming to have the whole board trying to give feedback, so the board chair and vice chair are often the board members who meet with the director. If the evaluation process has resulted in some financial concerns, you might choose your designated financial board member to attend with the board chair. The evaluation tool you have chosen is the evaluation discussion document. Don’t be afraid to add comments that are important to your discussion to the tool for documentation. Once the evaluation is complete, the completed document can be shared with the whole board. Directors work hard and all directors want their school to achieve student success and make progress towards the school’s mission. Board members give their time voluntarily and have a vested interest in ensuring their school meets all students’ needs. One definition of evaluation is “a process that critically examines a program,” and, in this case, the person responsible for implementing that program. We all want to know we are doing a good job, that we are on the same page with others, and if not — how to improve. A director evaluation can be the discussion that moves the director to greater self-improvement and greater school success. Kim Dohrer has worked in education for 40 years. She has been an administrator at all levels K-12. Before leaving for California, she served as the first president of Academica West. She currently consults with and volunteers in schools. 23
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