Passing out worksheets for her students, English teacher Adrienne Gent works diligently to ensure they are doing well in her class and in their preparation for standardized tests they will take second semester.

Administrators currently are inspecting teachers during a year-long evaluation process. This twofold system is carried out through a professional practices side and also a student achievement side.

“It’s very complicated,” said Jackie Ingratta, assistant principal for curriculum. “The district takes a look at our school scores and see where we are in comparison to schools like us, and they give us a grade.”

Teachers were evaluated individually on the professional practices aspect of the inspections and must now give themselves scores based on whether or not they are achieving their objectives. But with respect to the student achievement aspect, the scores are not as distinctive.

“Everybody gets the same score, which is getting a lot of criticism because some of the teachers are getting scored based on kids they aren’t teaching,” Ingratta said.

Gent said she thinks the scoring can be unfair.

“For most public schools, there are so many outside factors that affect student scores,” she said. “To add that into factor of a teacher’s pay who doesn’t even teach that class is totally unfair. I understand that we’re all supposed to be linked, but to hold us all accountable isn’t right.”

Ingratta understands the criticisms, but said that because the system is new, there were bound to be problems.

“It’s the nature of the beast,” Ingratta said. “It’s just the way it goes.”

Staff report