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Teacher evaluation data stirs conversation on whether system should stay
The release of evaluation ratings for public school teachers across Florida has reignited the conversation among educators and lawmakers about whether the state should be using a system that many say is flawed.

Southwest Florida parents push teaching over tests

Big Idea Tips and Do It Tips for School Improvement
BIT: Many leading educators recommend greater personalization in America’s high schools to offset the dysfunction that so many schools experience as they struggle with students who feel isolated and alienated. While the inclination may be to believe that 12th graders are beyond this emotional crisis, they, especially, are in need of a personalized school environment. Its key components are providing relevance and building meaningful relationships. When students have a personalized school environment, they are more likely to show marked improvements in academic achievement, social awareness and positive contributions to their school community.

DIT: Provide relevance in the curriculum to enable students to connect their learning to themselves, the real world and their future. Infuse relevance into the 12th grade learning environment in a highly personalized way by immersing students in an area of study that should be of high interest: themselves. The natural tendency of these emerging adults is preoccupation with matters of independence and self-definition as they prepare for the transition to the world beyond high school.

DIT: Build meaningful relationships with adults who care about the academic, personal and social growth of their students to forge strong bonds between schools and students. Nurturing relationships have the potential to give students a sense of belonging. This engagement ultimately yields improved academic performance.

DIT: Initiate a journey of self-exploration in the senior year in a variety of ways: inventories, guided reflection, journaling and portfolios. The more seniors know about themselves with respect to their abilities, strengths and weaknesses, personality traits, interests, learning styles, goals and aspirations and core beliefs, the better equipped they will be to negotiate the challenges of the future.

DIT: Help students develop self-worth to increase their participation in the learning process. They will be more likely to persevere through difficult tasks.

DIT: Foster active engagement in learning. You want students to become so involved in their own learning that they lose track of time and space.

DIT: Encourage a sense of purpose that means being responsible and accountable for choices, behaviors and actions. To develop these traits, students must have leadership roles in schools that provide a real sense of responsibility.

DIT: Challenge students to think about who they want to become, as well as what they want to be.