This REL Southwest coaching project provided support for the design process of a teacher and principal evaluation system for schools that serve American Indian students. Specifically, the project served one large school in New Mexico with 100 percent American Indian student enrollment and two districts in Oklahoma with large American Indian student populations. With REL Southwest's support, the partners developed teacher and principal evaluation systems that are research-informed and reflective of local school district priorities, particularly with respect to culturally relevant practices for their American Indian communities. The partners developed definitions of effective teachers and principals in their local context, refined standards and developed rubrics describing levels of performance in alignment with the standards, selected measures (for example, observation tools) to gather relevant data on performance quality, and considered student outcomes measures that may be used in the evaluation systems. In addition, the partners began developing guidebooks that describe the evaluation procedures and business rules. The project's short-term outcomes include the development of evaluation system designs ready to pilot. In the longer term, REL Southwest anticipates outcomes will include the adoption of principal and teacher evaluation systems that will promote effective teaching and school leadership that is responsive and appropriate to the local American Indian communities.
Related Resources: Browse other REL Southwest resources to support American Indian students
