Professional Reflection Years Clause Samples

Professional Reflection Years. 1. Teachers hired on or before June 30, 2013 shall participate in a four- year cycle of evaluation and professional reflection, in lieu of the traditional three-year evaluation cycle. After teachers complete the third year of their evaluation cycle, they shall be eligible for a one-year pause for reflection upon proof of continued competence and professional growth as specified below. 2. In order to earn this fourth year in the cycle, teachers must have no “ineffective” ratings on any row of the APPR teacher practice rubrics during the prior years of that cycle, must show progress and/or demonstrated learning on any “developing” ratings on any row of the APPR teacher practice rubrics during the prior years of that cycle, and an “effective” or “highly effective” overall 60-point APPR rating. The District may permit in its discretion a reflection year if any of these criteria are not met, but such a pause is deemed in the best interests of the teacher’s professional growth. 3. Teachers who do not qualify for the fourth-year pause for reflection (T4) shall remain on the T3 cycle until they complete T3 satisfactorily and meet the criteria outlined in Section G(2) above. 4. Teachers in the reflection year will submit a written reflection with regard to each of the District teaching standards and expectations (similar to those submitted by tenure candidates) as well as a statement of their philosophy of education and a statement of how the teacher has grown professionally over the past three years. Teachers in the T3 year shall elicit written student feedback on their performance to be used in their T4 reflection. This feedback will be seen only by the teacher. 5. The building principal and/or other designee of the Superintendent will determine if the teacher has successfully and in good faith completed the requirements for professional reflection stated above. This determination will be subject to review using the same procedures used for the appeal of APPR ratings. 6. Teachers who have successfully and in good faith completed the requirements for professional reflection stated above will receive a nonrecurring stipend of $1000 on or before the September 1 following the reflection year. ARTICLE TWELVE - Extended Leaves of Absence Without Pay, and Teacher Exchange Leave