This article explores how inservice teachers articulate and challenge notions of effective teaching as part of an environment of high-stakes teacher evaluation (HSTE) in Tennessee. Drawing on data from public forum speeches at school board meetings, policy documents, and interviews, we used thematic discourse analysis to investigate how teacher…

Researchers and practitioners sometimes presume that using a previously "validated" instrument will produce "valid" scores; however, contemporary views of validity suggest that there are many reasons this assumption can be faulty. In order to demonstrate just some of the problems with this view, and to support comparisons of…

Background/Context: As part of a nationwide initiative that re-conceptualized teacher evaluation, Virginia issued the Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Teachers on July 1, 2012; these guidelines marked a significant overhaul of the state's approach to teacher evaluation. Previous studies examined the impact…

This causal comparative study examined differences between Modeling Instruction delivered through distance learning (DL) versus face-to-face (FTF) in terms of teachers' performance on professional development evaluation tools for content knowledge and self-efficacy. The theoretical foundation of this study included elements of professional…

Researchers have just scratched the surface in terms of the applicability of social cognitive theory to the work of the school principal specifically in an era of high stakes accountability mandates. The purpose of this qualitative study was to better understand school principals' self-efficacy regarding their leadership capabilities as they are…

Teacher clarity is widely considered an essential element of effective teaching and student success. The same holds true in the IDEA Student Ratings of Instruction system (SRI). On Diagnostic Feedback (DF), the item "Explained course material clearly and concisely," which IDEA considers a measure of teacher clarity, has consistently been…

The purpose of this study was to explore whether or not evaluation practices found in a Tennessee school system impacted teachers' job satisfaction. School districts have difficulty retaining quality teachers because of discontentment in the professions. Teachers who are satisfied with their jobs tend to have a greater influence on student…

In this paper, we put forward the OTTO Model as a means for developing data literacy in pre-service teacher education. The OTTO Model was developed using a combination of quantitative and qualitative data drawn from a three-year study investigating the nature and development of pre-service teachers' data literacy. The aim of the study was to…

Teaching practice periods are intended to prepare pre-service teachers for their professional lives as teachers. With this in mind, we have developed a tool for gathering feedback from learners taught by teachers-in-training to provide these pre-service teachers with feedback that contributes to their professional development. This study presents…

This paper discusses how pedagogical theory can be used in conceptualizing a collaborative teaching development program in higher education. A theoretically driven teaching development program can be of benefit to both the reviewer and the reviewee by providing (a) a foundation for the reviewee to examine their educational content being reviewed;…

This qualitative study investigated the effect of Saudi EFL post-observation conferences on female teachers' professional development through assessing teachers' reflection. It also examined to what extent these conferences are considered reflection-enhancing. Moreover, it contributed towards filling the gap in the literature regarding this area…

Ten years ago, many policy makers viewed the reform of teacher evaluation as a highly promising mechanism to improve teacher effectiveness and student achievement. Recently, that enthusiasm has dimmed as the available evidence suggests the subsequent reforms had a mixed record of implementation and efficacy. Even in districts where there was…

The goal of clinical practice is to enrich teacher candidate learning through enhanced field experiences. Evaluation is a key element of coteaching during which coteachers review their teaching and its impact on pupil learning. However, coteachers are challenged in enacting coevaluation, that is, a critique of the teacher candidate's and clinical…

In 2012, New Jersey implemented a broad change to the teacher evaluation system with the Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey (TEACHNJ) Act which identified the Marzano Causal Teacher evaluation system as one of the prescribe models for districts to adopt. This system provides a more differentiated teacher…

This article examines elements of democratic leadership emerging from a broader study of professional leadership culture in a school setting. The qualitative case study examined the perceptions of school-level professionals in one elementary school with a reputation for strong results in student learning, regarding the nature of the professional…