Evaluating America’s Teachers

Jim Popham provides a step-by-step analysis of the do's and don't's regarding evaluation, and leaves the reader with hope that, done properly, teacher evaluation can lead to better instruction. Evaluating America's Teachers is a must read for policy makers, district and school administrators, and classroom teachers grappling with reviewing and improving teacher evaluation. -- Alan Burke, Deputy Superintendent, K-12 Education 20120923 Dr. Popham makes many true and important points in this book. Particularly noteworthy is his point that tests are not validated, inferences are. A measure that may well allow valid inferences about what a student knows may not necessarily be valid in making an inference about teacher effectiveness. I believe that many of those wishing to evaluate teacher effectiveness miss this important point. -- William A. Mehrens, Professor Emeritus 20121023 Through his delightful wit and insightful use of vocabulary, Jim Popham has crafted a must read book for education policy makers, school administrators, and teachers. Throughout the book there are many pearls of wisdom that help steer the teacher evaluation discussion in states and local school districts. As a chief state school officer who is currently working on implementing a statewide teacher evaluation system that is required to meet the Race to the Top and ESEA waiver requirements, this book provided me with the right questions to ask prior to completion of our work. I believe this book will enable readers to turn the subtitle-Mission Possible?-from a question into a reality. -- Terry Holliday, Commissioner of Education 20121024 In the contentious environment where there are so many competing models for evaluating teacher quality (many of which are seriously flawed), it is refreshing (and essential) that strategies are considered that examine the full range of teacher quality (not just test scores on just reading an mathematics) to achieve a fair, valid, and comprehensive look at the quality of teachers. This book does just that and should be a must read for policymakers, administrators, and teachers. -- Barbara Plake, Professor Emeritus 20121025 Popham's gift of writing and his wealth of knowledge and experience pour out of every page in this book. It recognises the inevitable-we will evaluate teachers-and shows how it can be done properly provided we remember that it is humans weighing the various sources of evidence that make judgements and not isolated instruments (observations, tests, ratings) that make these decisions. Hence, multiple methods, growth models, a clarity between formative and summative interpretations, and an emphasis on ensuring that the methods have instructional validity. The book glistens with goodness, it is sobering but optimistic, and it is fun to read. -- John Hattie, Director, Melbourne Education Research Institute 20121031 Teachers, administrators, and policy makers rejoice! Here is a single book, from a nationally recognized scholar, that makes sense of the issues involved with the evaluation of teachers. -- David C. Berliner, Regents' Professor Emeritus 20121031 In an effective and diplomatic manner, Popham suggests concrete ways that policy makers, along with local school leaders and teachers, can make sure our students are protected from summative teacher evaluation systems that do more harm than good. No one should make policy at any level or strive to build a defensible teacher evaluation system without studying this book. -- Rick Stiggins, Retired Executive Director 20121102 Jim Popham has taken on one of the most contentious issues in American education today, and he presents an objective, fact-based approach to creating new systems to evaluate teacher effectiveness that are both fair to teachers and helpful in improving instruction. -- Jack Jennings, Founder and President 20121109 Popham is softly critical of ineffective practice and common misperceptions but strongly proactive in his belief that this can be done-we can create teacher evaluation systems that are fair and have a positive impact on student learning. I truly feel after reading Evaluating America's Teachers: Mission Possible that this task is not only, in Popham's words a mission possible, but it is a mission critical for America's schools. -- Tom Foster, Director of Research and Evaluation 20121116 As America's educational policymakers wrestle with revamping teacher evaluation systems, decisions are likely to be made that will have real and significant consequences in classrooms-the stakes are high. Every school board member in the country needs a solidly-researched, clearly articulated guide to understanding what works and what could go wrong. Dr. Popham's Evaluating America's Teachers is that guide. -- Nancy J. Budd, Esq. 20121116 In Evaluating America's Teachers, Jim Popham brings clarity to the critically important and divisive issue of teacher evaluation. Drawing on a deep reservoir of technical knowledge in assessment and evaluation, Dr. Popham uniquely combines expertise, perspective, and wisdom to present an authentic path forward for policymakers, administrators, and teachers to address the evaluation of teachers in ways that honor the work they do with children in classrooms. If we commit to the disciplined thought and action called for in this eminently readable book, America's teachers and children will thrive. -- Dawson R. Orr, Superintendent of Schools 20121116 Evaluating America's Teachers by James Popham is an enlightening description of methods utilized to evaluate teachers, with strengths and weaknesses described for each method. Federal mandates have positioned teachers on the receiving end of evaluations that are poorly understood in terms of reliability, validity, and bias. This book provides insight on teacher evaluation not only for teachers, but administrators and policy makers as well. It informs readers of the essentials involved in teacher evaluation. -- Hector Ibarra, Middle School Teacher 20121116 Once again Jim Popham has brought insight and clarity to a complex topic that only a person of his stature and expertise could provide. -- Robert J. Marzano, CEO 20121116 I believe the book will be a very good resource to educators. This book focuses on the hottest topic in the field of education right now and the author clearly has a great deal of experience with the subject. In addition, his use of humor makes the book an enjoyable read. -- Dr. Peter DeWitt, Corwin Author and Elementary School Principal 20121120 This book hits squarely on a topic for which district and state policy makers need current information. It is too bad this book was not out during the roll out of teacher evaluations in states everywhere. I am sure the author's wisdom could have certainly helped in selecting tests that effectively measure teacher effectiveness. -- John Robinson, Principal 20121120 I could see using this text in a book study with my administrative team as we discuss how we can ensure effectiveness in our assessments of classroom performance. His explanation of what to look at for evidentiary source makes more sense than anything the state put out, but in the end, the state will dictate a good part of what will be used in the evaluation. -- Martin Hudacs, Superintendent 20121120 I see Evaluating America's Teachers: Mission Possible? as a direct attempt to address this controversial issue head on. In this book the author addresses the need for teacher accountability and addresses the hurdles and pitfalls which are often encountered in states and school districts attempts to develop a comprehensive and all encompassing fair teacher evaluation process. -- Carl J. Weingartner, Corwin Author and Retired Principal 20121120 I find the book to be an interesting and effective guide to help a state or school district purse a teacher evaluation process that can measure the true progress of a teacher's competence and value. -- Carl J. Weingartner, Corwin Author and Retired Principal 20121120 I like many of his proposals about the format of a quality teacher evaluation system. As a New York state high school principal, I feel our state is working to put many of these recommendations into practice. -- David G. Daniels, High School Principal 20121120 It is an incredible discussion of the problem. VERY in-depth and comprehensive. It really is one of the best summaries of testing I have ever read, and it makes an incredible case for improving the teacher evaluation dilemma -- Joe Crawford, Corwin author and Consultant 20121120 As states ramp up their teacher evaluation efforts, it is becoming more and more important that this is done in a way that benefits, rather than harms, students. In this important and well-argued book, Jim Popham explains why teacher evaluation absolutely has to be based on a weighted evidence approach, and shows what policy-makers, administrators, and teachers need to do to make this work. Everyone interested in the quality of education in the United States should read this book. -- Dylan Wiliam 20121202