Basic Measures of Teacher / Supervisor Performance PDF Print E-mail
It's important to note that the measures described on the student performance page serve as basic measures of teacher/supervisor performance as much as the measures below. For example, a measure of instructional trials per week for a classroom is a performance measure for the teacher of that class and, as noted, teachers earn raises by meeting performance goals. However, the measure described here is a little different. Simply stated, we want to get teachers to teach students flawlessly (quality) and frequently (quantity). The Direct Observation Tool we use measures the following:

Primary Measures
  1. Accuracy of instructional presentation-
    • clear and consistent antecedents and consequences
    • follows a script or adheres to a program outline
  2. Speed of instructional presentation-
    • has instructional materials ready so there are no delays between instructional trials
    • is "fluent" with the program (i.e., knows what he/she is doing moment-to-moment)
    • recording data does not interfere with pace of instruction
Secondary Measures
  1. Ability to manage other students in the classroom not in 1:1 instruction-
    • keeps an eye out for behavior to reinforce in other students and does so ("catches them being good") when the opportunity presents itself
    • can monitor the independent learning activity of at least one student while working 1:1 with another
  2. Ability to create a motivating context that will evoke Verbal Behavior from students with severe communication and attentional disorders-
    • knows the schedule of reinforcement for the student and program being observed
    • knows the verbal behavior level of the student (e.g., uses one-word, two-word, three-word mands to request preferred items/activities)
    • has items/activities available that are likely to motivate the student
    • minimizes "off-task" behavior through instructional pacing.

A brief Q & A on our Direct Observation System

Who does these observations?
Only highly skilled teachers and supervisors. Six of the nine teachers/supervisors Directly observing staff with this tool are Board Certified Behavior Analysts.

Who gets observed?
All classroom staff and speech therapists are directly observed.

Don't teachers resent having someone "looking over their shoulder" while they teach?
Generally not. Since supervisors are in the classroom measuring teacher skills and giving feedback on a regular basis, they are considered a part of the "instructional team".

Performance Goal III:

Increase and maintain the number of school-wide weekly Direct Observations to >150.

Performance Goal IV:

Increase and maintain the school-wide percentage of flawless instructional presentations, as measured through direct observation, to >90%.