NSU University School Faculty, Staff and Employee Handbook

97 Appendix L: TEACHER EVALUATION Introduction: Mission and Standards The mission of NSU University School requires that we enable our students to be globally competitive for work and postsecondary education and prepared for life in the 21st century. This mission requires a new design for the evaluation of teacher effectiveness and a new set of skills that teachers must use daily in order to help their students learn 21st century content and master skills they will need when they graduate and enroll in higher education. A New Vision of Teaching The different demands on 21st century education dictate new roles for teachers in their classrooms. The following defines what teachers need to know and do to teach students in the 21st century: ƒ . Leadership among the staff and with the administration is shared in order to bring consensus and common, shared ownership of the vision and purpose of work of the school. Teachers are valued for the contributions they make to their classroom and the school. ƒ . Teachers make the content they teach engaging, relevant, and meaningful to students’ lives. ƒ . Teachers can no longer cover material; they, along with their students, uncover solutions. They teach existing core content that is revised to include skills like critical thinking, problem solving, and information and communications technology (ICT) literacy. ƒ . In their classrooms, teachers facilitate instruction encouraging all students to use 21st century skills so they discover how to learn, innovate, collaborate, and communicate their ideas. ƒ . The 21st century content (global awareness, civic literacy, financial literacy, and health awareness) is included in the core content areas. ƒ . Subjects and related projects are integrated among disciplines and involve relationships with the home and community. ƒ . Teachers are reflective about their practice and include assessments that are authentic and structured and demonstrate student understanding. ƒ . Teachers demonstrate the value of lifelong learning and encourage their students to learn and grow. Standard I: Teachers Demonstrate Leadership Teachers lead in their classrooms. Teachers demonstrate leadership by taking responsibility for the progress of all students to ensure that as they graduate from high school, they are globally competitive for work and postsecondary education, and are prepared for life in the 21st century. Teachers communicate this vision to their students.