Archive: November 2000

Observation or Visitation
By Steve Kaplan, UniServe Field Organizer

A number of school sites have reported that principals are scheduling "observations" of extended length for all staff members. It is important to differentiate between an "Observation" and the principal's normal supervisory responsibilities. The pertinent contract language is found in Article 14, Sections 14.6.2.1 through 14.6.2.4 on page 76 of the contract. The principal has a right to visit your classroom as part of their normal duties. However, this is separate from an "observation." An "observation" is part of the formal evaluation process and requires a number of steps:

• Notification of "when the observation is to be conducted, the method of observation, and who will do the observation."
• You then provide the evaluator with "a brief outline of the lesson being observed and the assessment or observation method to be used to measure student achievement."
• The evaluator must then prepare a written statement within a reasonable period of time (approximately ten workdays) with a copy given to you.

This procedure only applies to an "observation" that is part of an evaluation and is required, "When classroom observations are being used as assessment techniques for a unit member whose performance is considered effective."

Any other time when the principal visits your classroom cannot be termed an "observation." While the term "visitation" is not found in the contract it is helpful to use a separate term in distinguishing an "observation" that is part of an evaluation and is being used to assess teacher performance from all other times when a principal is in your classroom.