Albuquerque Public Schools
Information for Principals
Improvement plans for PAR primarily concentrate on instruction from elements in Domains 2 and 3. Sometimes Domain 1 is addressed.
Signs a Teacher May be in Need of Interventions
- Poor lesson planning and/or the absence of planning and preparation for instruction
- Inadequate content knowledge
- Serious discipline and classroom management problems
- High incidence of student referrals
- Frequent conflicts with students
- Lack of instructional strategies
- Difficulty holding student interest in classroom activities
- Difficulty differentiating instruction
- Poor knowledge and alignment of assessment tools and strategies
- Difficulty collaborating with colleagues and engaging parents in student learning
- Trouble with organization and managing day-to-day job requirements
- Communication with colleagues, parents, and students about progress and learning needs
Myths
Myth 1: It takes two years to complete an Improvement Plan to dismiss a teacher who is not meeting competencies/domain elements.
Fact:
Once the Improvement Plan has been written, and work has started with a Consulting Teacher, PAR recommendations are made between 45 and 90 working days. Occasionally an additional 45 days is needed.
Myth 2: Supporting a teacher on an Improvement Plan takes too much time.
Fact:
Principals are required to observe a teacher on an Improvement Plan once every ten days and hold one debrief session with the teacher about the observation with a written memo.
Myth 3: The Albuquerque Teacher Federation protects teachers who are not meeting competencies/domain elements.
Fact:
The ATF ensures that the Negotiated Agreement is in compliance throughout the Improvement Plan process.
Myth 4: A principal must write too many memos and directives before placing a teacher on an Improvement Plan.
Fact:
There is no maximum number of memos/directives that must be written. There must be documented communication between an administrator and a teacher when a teacher is not meeting competencies/domain elements.
Myth 5: A principal’s paperwork during an Improvement Plan is excessive.
Fact:
Principals are required to observe a teacher on an Improvement Plan once every ten days and hold one debrief session with the teacher about the observation with a written memo. The ten-minute report to the PAR Panel is oral.