Teacher Performance Appraisal for New Teachers: A supportive process that encourages professional growth (New Teachers' Column)

You  are hired and you celebrate. Then you enter the classroom to confront the challenges and excitement of teaching. After you feel you have established a routine, it is time to prepare for your teacher performance appraisal (TPA). Along with the other elements of the New Teacher Induction Program (NTIP), new teachers must achieve two satisfactory performance appraisals within the first 24 months of teaching, to successfully complete the program.

The foundation of the TPA is professional dialogue based on mutual respect, trust, collaboration, and a positive relationship. It is meant to be a supportive process that encourages professional learning and growth. Here are the steps in the process.

1. Pre-observation meeting
At this meeting you will want to be prepared to discuss

• competencies to be addressed and examples of how you will demonstrate each
• your successes and strengths, as well as anything you would specifically like feedback on
• characteristics of your students/class
• lesson to be observed (including modifications required)
• curriculum expectations
• assessment
• resources used.

Consider bringing samples of student work, portfolios, and artifacts to demonstrate evidence of your practice and strengths.

2. Classroom observation(s)
These should occur on the date and time agreed upon in advance. Check your pre-observation notes to review the competencies being focused on. Prepare your class so they are aware that there will be an observer in the class. This is not the time to try a new instructional strategy, or ignore a behaviour issue that arises. Jot down some notes following the observation. Ask for feedback as soon as possible afterward.

3. Post-observation meeting
At this meeting the evaluator will

• discuss the classroom observation including the competencies previously identified
• provide feedback and make recommendations.

Be prepared to ask questions so you fully understand the feedback, and to provide input on recommendations made – after all, it is your professional growth. This is your opportunity to identify any concerns you have about the process.

4. Summative report
There should be no surprises in the content of the report or the rating or recommendations. Your signature acknowledges receipt of the report. Members can contact ETFO at any time throughout the process. If you receive an unsatisfactory rating, it is very important to contact the federation as soon as possible for support and advice.

Reflections from a new teacher on the TPA process

“When I first found out about NTIP and the TPA, I immediately became anxious and dreaded the whole evaluation. Lessons hardly ever go exactly as you’ve written them on paper, and I could think of a million things that could go wrong while my principal was observing me.”

“My mentor helped me by discussing which lessons I should choose. For my first observation my principal was going to observe my grade 2 lesson on probability, which included a lot of manipulative and hands-on tasks – so a lot of opportunity for chaos. I continued to feel anxious until after I had my first meeting with my principal.”

“During that meeting my principal made sure I understood that this was an observation, rather than an evaluation, and it was not meant to point out my every flaw and mistake. The goal was to show off my strengths as a teacher and perhaps discover some beneficial areas for professional development. After speaking with her I instantly felt more relaxed.”

“At the start of my first observation lesson, I felt a little nervous about having my principal in the back of my room, sitting in a Primary student’s chair, with a clipboard. As she patiently sat through my entire lesson with a smile on her face, I could feel her support and I knew that she was only hoping for the best. Within minutes, I became so absorbed in my lesson and the excitement of my students that I completely forgot she was there. My lesson went really well and I got excellent feedback from my principal.”

“Looking back I can say that I found my TPA to be extremely helpful and an integral part of my learning process as a beginning teacher. Do not fear your TPA; instead, think of it as a chance to have someone reaffirm that you are making a difference in the lives of your students.”
— Michelle Beaumont, member, Elementary Teachers of Toronto Local.

The Ontario Ministry of Education has produced two manuals regarding NTIP:

• The New Teacher Induction Program: Induction Elements
• Teacher Performance Appraisal: Technical Requirements Manual You can find them at edu.gov.on.ca/eng/teacher/induction.htm