Administrator Evaluation

The role of school leadership is vital in efforts to improve quality teaching and student learning. During the 2007 legislative session, districts were directed to develop and implement an evaluation system for administrators. Following their initial year as an administrator, career administrators are evaluated annually based on the six Iowa Standards for School Leaders (ISSL). The minimum requirement of Iowa law is that persons new to administration have a comprehensive evaluation during their initial year of employment. Best practice is for administrators who assume a new administrative position to have a summative evaluation during their first year in the new position. After the initial comprehensive/summative evaluation the law requires an annual formative assessment around the principals’ Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP). The three-year summative evaluation requires documentation of competence on the six ISSL standards, meeting of district expectations drawn from the district’s CSIP and building improvement plan, Individual Professional Development Plan (IPDP) attainment, and other supporting documentation.

A comprehensive administrator performance review process must:

• Align with the Iowa School Leadership Standards and Criteria
• Be intended to acknowledge strengths and improve performance.
• Connect academic, social, emotional and developmental growth for all students in the building/system.
• Recognize the importance of a principal's role in improving the culture of the learning community.
• Have research-based criteria about effective principal behaviors which are substantiated by measurable data from multiple sources, and are legal, feasible, accurate and useful.
• Provide opportunities for personal and professional growth as a facilitator/leader of learning.
• Be ongoing and connected to school improvement goals.
• Align building and district goals with community members’ vision for education.

Iowa Standards for School Leaders

The Iowa Standards for School Leaders (ISSL) and criteria represent a set of knowledge and skills that reflects the best evidence available regarding effective leadership for Iowa schools. The standards and criteria are linked to the evaluation of administrators and the professional development plans for administrators.

Iowa Standards for School Leaders (2008-04-10)

More information on comprehensive administrator performance reviews can be found on the SAI website for Principals (http://www.sai-iowa.org/principaleval) and Superintendents (http://www.sai-iowa.org/supteval).

Iowa Individual Administrator Professional Development Plan

2008-09 Iowa Evaluator Approval Training Program II: Evaluation of Administrators