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CANYON CORRIDOR CONNECTION
Educat ion
Alhambra Principals Soar to High Heights
T
he Alhambra Elementary School District has partnered with the Maricopa County Education
Service Agency (MCESA) in implementing the Rewarding Excellence in Instruction and Leadership
(REIL) initiative. Through this collaboration, Alhambra has one of the strongest teacher and
administrator evaluation systems.
In order for school leaders to effectively evaluate teachers, they are required by law to participate in
Qualified Evaluator Training. After a rigorous training, all 15 school principals and our three new executive
directors of leadership and development, scored “exceeds” on the certified evaluation exam for the learning
observation instrument (LOI)!
Here’s how it works: With the support of MCESA, evaluators take their learning and practice to a higher
level by participating in the certified evaluator process. Once a 30-hour qualified evaluator training is
completed, evaluators then begin evaluating teachers and learning more about LOI elements.
This job-embedded professional development includes scripting and scoring practice videos, calibration
cadres, walkthroughs and co-observations with the REIL field specialist. Evaluators refine their practice and
increase their level of inter-rater reliability and agreement when scoring the LOI.
At the conclusion of this year-long, job-embedded professional development opportunity, evaluators
complete a six-hour certified evaluator assessment. Evaluators script and score two videos and submit their scores to be analyzed. Each evaluator
receives an individualized report, which provides an overall passing rate. If an evaluator scores “meets” or “exceeds,” they are labeled as a
certified evaluator according to Alhambra and MCESA.
At the conclusion of the 2013-14 school year, 100% of Alhambra evaluators, including principals, assistant principals and outreach
coordinators, achieved certified evaluator status, with 96% of the evaluators receiving a score of “exceeds!” Alhambra evaluators are dedicated
to improving instruction through their observation practice and using multiple observations as an opportunity to directly impact student
achievement.
A heartfelt thank you is extended to MCESA for partnering with Alhambra for the last 4.5 years to develop our evaluation instruments,
allowing the district to move into the future instructionally stronger than ever.
I often tout a school leader’s title is “principal,” but the role truly is “instructional leader.” Larry Lezotte, an educational researcher noted for his
extensive expertise regarding effective schools, identified instructional leadership as a necessary correlate to ensure learning for
ALL STUDENTS.
Congratulations school leaders for soaring to great heights in Alhambra: America’s New Academic Reality!
Dr. Karen E. Williams, Superintendent
Alhambra School District | 4510 N. 37
th
Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85019 |
[email protected]| 602-336-2921
Dr. Karen E. Williams,
Superintendent,
Alhambra School District
Alhambra Elementary School
District Principals
Back Row, L to R
:
Theresa Killingsworth,Alhambra
Traditional School; Nicole Durazo, Montebello
School; Karen Stengel, Simpson School; Paige
Brill, Barcelona Middle School; Melissa McKinsey,
Westwood Primary School; Lori Weiss, Executive
Director of School Leadership and Development;
Dr. Randy Martinez, Granada East School; Dr.
Sharon Spearman, Cordova Middle School; Dr.
Tracey Lopeman, Executive Director of School
Leadership and Development
Front Row, L to R:
Melinda Schlosser, Carol
G. Peck School; Pam Escobedo, Cordova Primary
School; Melissa Gonzales, Catalina Ventura School;
Stacy O’Rourke, Granada Primary School; Mandi
Caudill, Sevilla Primary School; Monique Ortiz,
Andalucia Middle School; Jacquelyn Hardiesty,
James W. Rice Primary School; Garry Glay,
Sevilla West School