Montgomery County Board of Education Responses- Assorted

Well, I suppose I'm not surprised that not a one of the incumbents for the Montgomery County Board of Education would answer my questions.   The incumbents after all, have the most to lose.  It's fascinating they don't feel the need to express their opinions about education, however.   This is after all, the localist of local elections.   But I suppose that just goes to show you how much they will rely on their incumbency advantage and across the board MCEA endorsement.   When you add in Montgomery County's horrific turnout, the chance they lose becomes even more remote.   Needless to say, I dug up their responses to a question on student achievement data and evaluations from an MCEA questionnaire.   I'll let you judge the quality of responses for yourself. 

Shirley Branderman


14.) What is your view of how student achievement data should be used in the evaluations of teachers?

The Maryland General Assembly enacted the Education Reform Act of 2010 which requires that student growth data be a significant component in the evaluation of teachers. This mandate recognizes that we cannot separate teaching and learning. Evaluations of a teacher’s effectiveness must include consideration of student performance as demonstrated by achievement data. The Montgomery County Teacher Professional Growth System (TPGS) does just that. Developed using standards from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, student performance data factors strongly in two of the six standards used in teacher evaluation under the TPGS. The use of multiple measures of student performance as primary data in the TPGS constitutes an appropriately significant component of the evaluation process.



Judith Docca

140 What is your view of how student achievement data should be used in the evaluations of teachers?

It should be used judiciously, recognizing improvement overall without outrageous, arbitrary goals. All of society gas a piece of this- not just educators. Citizens need employment nutrition, housing, opportunities for training and health care to produce school-ready students.



Michael Durso

14.)What is your view of how student achievement data should be used in the evaluations of teachers?

In a word, carefully. I believe our critics have seized upon this test score evaluation piece, and notlooked at all aspects. How does one evaluate Art — Music — PE — Dance- Special Education andothers on the basis of test scores? Are we to completely forget the late bloomer? How about the teacher who excels at reaching the °hard to reach" and may only see minor, incremental progress. I believe we must tread very slowly in this area, we always look for the "silver bullet "in education, and to date it has remained elusive.



Pat Oneill

14.) What is your view of how student achievement data should be used in the evaluations of teachers?

Student achievement data is just one measure of small effective teaching. I support the use of the 1/3 weight.