Part 6: Improving Principal Performance Training Materials Overview Supporting principals is essential to the success of schools. Resources are needed to assist principals in growing professionally. Sometimes additional support is required to help principals develop so that they can meet the performance standards for their schools. These training materials provide activities, briefs, and resources designed to help evaluators become more effective in helping principals improve their performance. Materials Overview Page Number Explanation Excerpt from the Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Principals This excerpted document from the Guidelines for Uniform Performance Standards and Evaluation Criteria for Principals provides an overview of the tools administrators may use to address a principal’s specific needs or desired areas for professional growth. 6-2 Activity Remediation: A Tale of Two Principals Participants read about two principals who have problems that could result in dismissal. They discuss potential remediation actions. 6-9 Briefs Brief on Using Teacher Evaluation to Improve Principal Performance The brief discusses the importance of feedback and how principal evaluation is connected to principal improvement in the new evaluation system. 6-12 Brief on How to Conduct a Successful Evaluation Conference The brief explains what an evaluation conference is, why it is important, and what makes an evaluation conference effective. 6-15 Resources Conferencing Skills This document provides tips for evaluators on ways to make conferences with principals more effective. 6-17
After the agreed upon-time to support growth and improvement, the evaluator and principal meet again to discuss the impact of the changes. What are the characteristics of the Performance Improvement Plan and the Support Dialogue? The below depicts the characteristics of both the Performance Improvement Plan and the Support Dialogue. These characteristics include: the purpose, the initiator of the process, documentation required, and the expected outcomes. Support Dialogue Performance Improvement Plan Purpose To aid principals who could benefit from targeted performance improvement or who would like to systematically focus on their own professional growth. To aid principals who receive "Unacceptable" or "Developing/Needs Improvement" ratings in their performance evaluations. Process Initiated By Evaluator or principal Evaluator Required Documentation Documentation Required: None Support documentation may include memos or other records of the discussion, and other documentation at the district level (e.g., site visit forms, analysis of student achievement data, or financial audits. Documentation Required: Performance Improvement Plan Superintendent notification Expected Outcomes Performance improvement is documented and the Support Dialogue remains ongoing at the discretion of either the evaluator or the principal. If no performance improvement occurs, a Performance Improvement Plan may be initiated. If adequate improvement occurs, the evaluator recommends continued employment of principal. If improvement does not occur or is insufficient, the evaluator may recommend that principal either continue with the Performance Improvement Plan or be dismissed from employment.