How to use student achievement to evaluate the superintendent remains a big question for Clarkston Board of Education.
Board members shared thoughts and concerns, Sept. 14, regarding Superintendent Dr. Rod Rock’s proposed four major goals for 2015.
Last summer, the board completed Rock’s evaluation based on last year’s goals, and concluded as long as progress is made towards the goals, he would receive a favorable evaluation, said board President Steve Hyer.
“We are in no big hurry to approve this, and we want to make sure we get it right,” Hyer said.
Trustee Susan Boatman said superintendent goals should be measurable so the board can evaluate Rock’s progress towards them.
Hyer said Rock’s goals are in line with the district’s strategic plan, but the big question is how students achievement is measured.
How Rock’s progress towards big ideas or “stretch goals” like the Whole Child initiative is measured is troubling for Trustee Craig Hamilton.
“How will you measure if all students are happy,” asked Hamilton. “I’m all about big ideas and I’m OK with stretch goals, but when you give someone an A for effort, that bothers me.”
Trustee Kelli Horst agreed measuring Rock’s progress for such goals is a challenge.
“How we measure the whole child, that’s the challenge. I’d like to show where students begin and end,” Horst said, adding perhaps progress made in behaviors like absenteeism and behavior should be considered.
Rock’s first goal for this year is to implement Teachers College Reading and Writing Project Running Records, for the first time this year, to assess benchmarks in Rock’s goal to increase reading levels and the understanding of complex text in third grade students.
Running records is an assessment tool educators use to gauge student performance in reading and comprehension.
Rock’s second and third goals aim to increase skills and understanding of math applications in fifth through seventh grade students.
Rock said strategies used to achieve fifth grade math goals will include math workshops and enhanced instruction for teachers.
To increase math skills in sixth and seventh graders, Rock wants to adopt and implement “Big Ideas,” a math curriculum program which uses both formal instruction and non-conventional methods to teach math to middle school and high school students.
Student math benchmarks are usually measured using state tests.
Data from this past year’s M-STEP is not available until November so Rock suggested fifth graders? math growth be determined by comparing students against county and state averages.
To measure sixth and seventh graders’ academic growth, rather than relying on M-STEP, Rock suggested students be tested using FAME, a Harvard created assessment rubric.
“The question is do we want to take a more holistic approach to testing,” Hyer said.
Several board members said traditional tests like M-STEP and alternative testing methods should be considered, but traditional testing should be included, too.
“I would like to use at least two, one state and one local, to measure student benchmark and achievements,” said Trustee Elizabeth Egan.
Rock’s goals also aim to increase the well-being of students.
He said he will work improve the number of elementary students who feel healthy, safe, supported, challenged and engaged.
Rock’s strategies include implementing Leader in Me, which piloted last year at four elementary schools in the district. Love and Logic, a program which uses positive tactics on students, will be in one elementary school.
Rock also wants Student Opportunities for After School Resources practices and increased social work support in elementary schools.
Measurements of the goals, Rock suggested, would be measured via surveys given to students, parents and teachers.
The Whole Child initiative is Rock’s fourth goal, which addresses both academic and emotional needs of students and emphasizes the importance of students, parent, teachers and the communities responsibilities and role in educating children.
“Although this is not specific to students academic achievement, it is worth careful analysis in my opinion,” he said.
An revised draft of Rock’s goals will be presented and discussed at a future meeting.