Teacher in Need of Assistance

1. Teacher in Need of Assistance Intervention Plan Bill Parry Senior Specialist Education Service Center Region One

2. Commissioner’s Rules • a) A teacher whose performance meets any of the following circumstances will be designated as a " teacher in need of assistance ": • (1) a teacher who is evaluated as unsatisfactory in one or more domains; or • (2) a teacher who is evaluated as below expectations in two or more domains.

3. Commissioner’s Rules • f) An intervention plan may be developed at any time at the discretion of the appraiser when the appraiser has documentation that would potentially produce an evaluation rating of "below expectations" or "unsatisfactory".

4. Timeline – T.I.N.A. (FAQ) • What is the timeline for an intervention plan? • The timeline for the intervention plan is a local decision and is determined by the appraiser, in consultation with the teacher. The timeline of the intervention plan may be established so that the intervention plan is completed prior to the deadline for contract decisions.

5. Contents – T.I.N.A. (FAQ) • Must the Intervention Plan for Teachers in Need of Assistance include all domains for which a teacher shows less than proficient performance? • Yes. Because of appropriate personnel procedures, teachers in need of assistance must be notified of all domains in which their performance is less than proficient.

6. Teacher in Need of Assistance • (b) When a teacher is designated as a teacher in need of assistance, the appraiser and/or the teacher's supervisor shall, in consultation with the teacher, develop an intervention plan that includes the following…

7. Intervention Plan for Teacher in Need of Assistance • 1. Domain(s) in which the teacher is in need of assistance. • Example: • Domain 1. Active, successful Student Participation in the Learning

8. Intervention Plan for Teacher in Need of Assistance • (e) The intervention plan shall include options for professional development activities designed to enhance teacher proficiency. At least one option shall not place significant financial burden on either the teacher or the school district.

9. Intervention Plan for Teacher in Need of Assistance • 2. Professional improvement activities and dates for completion. • Example • Workshop #2645 Higher Order Questioning Skills by October 25, 2007, and • Participate in a weekly “Group study” of Highly Effective Questioning by Hannel and Hannel to be completed by November 10, 2007.

10. Intervention Plan for Teacher in Need of Assistance • 3. Evidence that will be used to determine that professional improvement activities have been completed. • Example: • Written documentation of attendance to the sessions will given to the appraiser within five working days of completion.

11. Intervention Plan for Teacher in Need of Assistance • 4. Directives for changes in teacher behavior and timelines. • Example: • Beginning on November 1, weekly appraiser walkthroughs will occur throughout the remainder of the first semester. Appraisers will identify a significant increase in higher order questioning of students with associated student success, as identified in the professional development activities previously mentioned.

12. Intervention Plan for Teacher in Need of Assistance • 5. Evidence that will be used to determine if teacher behavior has changed. • Example • Walkthroughs will identify significantly greater skill in the use of higher order questioning and associated student success.

13. Teacher Response and Appeals • See Commissioner’s Rules (150.1005) regarding teacher responses and appeals.