Topic: Teacher Evaluations

Teachers are leaving our Schools in Droves, What’s Next?

By Sue Freeman Culverhouse | June 23, 2015 |

Clarksville, TN – It’s no secret. Teachers are leaving the profession to accept higher paying jobs elsewhere, to retire, or just to call it quits because the hassle has become too much to bear.

The new Teacher Evaluation system has tipped the barrel over. Principals and administrators all over Tennessee are spending a tremendous number of hours preparing for, sitting in classrooms to evaluate, scheduling follow up discussions, and allaying fears of teachers. Frustration and tears are taking energy away from preparations for the classroom. «Read the rest of this article»

Nick Steward to host Education Roundtable in Houston County and Humphreys County

April 25, 2012 |

Clarksville, TN – Educaton is one of the most important investments we can make as a state. That is why I have spent several months evaluating the challanges that our community faces.

Spending time in McEwen High School (Humphreys County), Erin ElementarySchool  (Houston County), and New Providence Middle School (Montgomery County) gave me a great deal of insight.

But I want to meet with you to get more direct input from educators, administrators, and parents. «Read the rest of this article»

Does Intense Stress on Teachers Affect Student Learning?

By Sue Freeman Culverhouse | January 24, 2012 |

I listen to teachers when they speak and when they write to me. The stress I am hearing from everyone is getting worse as TCAP assessments near. Students are quite savvy about emotions exuding from their teacher. Let’s see how this plays out in the classroom.

Stress for teachers has been increased a hundredfold this year because of the new teacher evaluation system. Every tenured teacher is receiving four evaluations—a 15-minute environmental one, a 15-minute practice type visit, a 45-minute announced evaluation with pre-planning and post conference, and a “surprise” unannounced evaluation plus a post-conference.

«Read the rest of this article»

When Teachers Leave Our Schools, What Next?

By Sue Freeman Culverhouse | January 10, 2012 |

It’s no secret. Teachers are leaving the profession to accept higher paying jobs elsewhere, to retire, or just to call it quits because the hassle has become too much to bear. 

The new Teacher Evaluation system has tipped the barrel over. Principals and administrators all over Tennessee are spending a tremendous number of hours preparing for, sitting in classrooms to evaluate, scheduling follow up discussions, and allaying fears of teachers. Frustration and tears are taking energy away from preparations for the classroom. «Read the rest of this article»

Teacher’s Take On the New Evaluation System

By Sue Freeman Culverhouse | November 7, 2011 |

Following a recent article I wrote on the new teacher evaluation system in Tennessee, I received an overwhelming response from readers. As you will see, teachers in Tennessee are extremely unhappy, and are thinking of looking for new careers outside the school system. Our state legislators are beginning to hold discussions of the situation and not a moment too late.

Sadly, I read recently that some business leaders don’t want the evaluation systems “watered down.” I suggest that each of these business “geniuses” try evaluating each and every one of their employees numerous times a year after holding weeks of intensive training; then they can see what happens to the bottom line after they lose all this time in “evaluating” their teams. In other words, they need to literally MYOB, as I tell my students. In case you don’t know, that stands for MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS!

Below are a sample of those e-mails and Facebook posts (with names concealed to protect the innocent!) «Read the rest of this article»

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