Alignment Between Teacher Evaluation and Professional Development: Synergistic or at Cross-Purposes?

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 9
  In Roundtable Session: Tracking an Educator's Career: Coaching, Evaluation, and Wages

Abstract

One of the ostensible purposes of teacher evaluation is to support professional growth and development via feedback. However, significant research find that school leaders struggle to provide teachers with targeted follow-up professional development aligned with identified strengths and needs to facilitate growth. Further alignment between evaluation and professional development systems can potentially enhance the developmental aspects of both, but also come at the risk of making professional development more compliance or accountability oriented. We investigate empirically which of these effects dominate by examining differences in access to professional development activities and the effectiveness of professional development by teacher evaluation score, professional developer role, and type of activity.

Authors

• Robert Shand, American University

• Toks S. Fashola, American University

• Corbin M. Campbell, American University

• Gabrielle Levy