Evaluation Journal 2: My Job Description

Teaching Duties

• Teach the practical skills of instrumental music and computer studies at Viscount Montgomery School.
• Apply the curriculum by designing and adapting lessons that effectively engage students and cause learning.
• Constantly assess students’ work and refine teaching to address observed needs.
• Communicate clearly what is expected for behaviour and assignments.
• Integrate other subjects into music and computer activities as opportunities permit.
• Use and promote the use of technological tools.

Learning Environment

• Create and sustain a classroom environment that has positive and challenging expectations.
• Maintain an organized classroom, with relevant information and images posted on walls and bulletin boards.
• Maintain all supplies and equipment to keep it working as intended, and teach the proper care of all equipment.
• Manage equipment repairs.
  

Students

• Cultivate in students a genuine love for learning, especially by being an example of openness and teachability.
• Supervise and teach students with consistency and respect.
• Use a wide range of teaching and communication techniques to reach all types of learners and personalities.
• Maintain a safe, healthy environment by using appropriate practices, routines and rules.

Partnerships

• Involve parents and guardians as indispensable and valuable partners in education.

• Make appropriate use of community social services, School Council and the Home and School Association.
• Adhere to the policies and procedures of the school board.

Administration

• Create and maintain a daily lesson book, short range and long term plans, schedules and records.
• Produce and organize documentation for all classes taught, including course outlines, lesson plans, equipment policies, letters, forms and checklists.
• Provide lesson plans, information and all necessary materials for substitute teachers.
• Report on student progress using electronic report card software.
• Work closely and cooperatively with administrators in all matters of school policy, student discipline, supervision, professional conduct, professional evaluation, staff meetings and teaching duties.
• Use approved accounting procedures when handling funds for activities, equipment and supplies.

Voluntary Roles

• Administer electronic report cards by configuring the classes, transferring teachers’ data, and printing.
• Assist teachers in all aspects of the completion of electronic report cards.
• Assist staff as they use computer technology in the school program, and for board surveys and in-services.
• Arrange for purchase of new computer and related equipment and supplies as needed.
• Maintain our school website, and recruit and coordinate volunteer assistants.
• Help coordinate the student production of the school Memory Book.
• Help plan extra-curricular activities that enrich student learning and growth.
• Mentor and support music teachers by serving with the Middle School Music Teacher’s Committee.
• Serve as a member of the Information Technology Advisory Committee.

Reference:

The Education Act, “Duties of a Teacher.”
Ontario College of Teachers, “Standards of Practise for the Teaching Profession.”

Evaluation Journal 1

Mid October, 2005
Our church board, of which I am a member, implemented a job review system that is based on self-evaluation of performance, with reference to job description. The results of self-reflection produce ideas for growth. Then, two or three others also complete the process. Their feedback enlarges the picture and should confirm your self-evaluation, and blind spots in job performance will show up. The discussions that arise from this body of information will lead to some realistic goal setting, some areas for improvement, and a sense of purpose and direction for the following months.

I saw the value of beginning with a job description that everyone agrees upon. I have not ever really sat down and pondered what my true job description is!
I saw the value of the employee being the initiator of the process. This puts the responsibility for growth where it belongs.
I also saw the value of the employee receiving input from more than just their direct supervisor, but from one or two other peers or clients who would know them well. Each one would have a different perspective.
I can see the importance of discussing the results with the evaluators for clarifying issues, and then for goal setting.

End of October, 2005
Job description written in first draft. The document draws from the "Duties of a Teacher" in the Education Act, and from the Ontario College of Teachers "Standards of Practice for the Teaching Profession."

The Full Service School- Picture Day

Ahh, picture day...what more can I say?

In the ongoing effort to serve the interests of photographers, our school once again held our annual Picture Day, as do all other schools in the western world. But why, I ask? Why can't they all just go to Sears for their photos?

What drives school decision-making? "Literacy," we're told. Unless it's Picture Day. Then, everything goes right out the window, and organizational chaos quickly takes over in the middle school. The day begins with a staff photo, and we're all late getting to the doors when the bell rings. Throughout the day administrators, and sometimes even students man the P.A., interrupting classes repeatedly as they call the next bunch down for pics.

A student shows up at my door, "It's time for your advisor pic. They need you now." Problem- it's 5 minutes before end of class, and there's no adult assigned to replace me. What am I supposed to do? Beam me down to auditorium, Scotty! Ten minutes later, I'm done. The kids in my advisor were supposed to stay in the auditorium, but were told to go back to class. Problem: they are from 3 different classrooms! One of those teachers was expecting the kids to be in the auditorium, but half the class showed up in the classroom, while the rest wandered the halls trying to figure out where to go.

A little planning and forethought would sure go a long way. The photographer should be the one inconvenienced. They should have at least two group locations set up, maybe three. They could rent a camera or two. How about a slightly extended advisor time, so that advisor classes can be brought down by a student runner (no announcements required), lined up and done within 10 minutes. The whole photo thing should be done in half a day with minimal disruptions, or we shouldn't do it at all.

Who serves who in the school photo business?

Now, don't get me going about Helloween...

Things I Wanna Do, Part 2

I'd like to get a bunch of school baseball caps made up, and distribute them for free to every boy and adult male staff, father, guardian in our school community.

It pays to be a guy. There are way too many dumb guy TV commercials out there, don't you think?

Things I Wanna Do, Part 1

Make a "Welcome to our School" DVD that can be given to our guest teachers, our staff, job applicants, our parents and whoever else wants one. It would have a boy and a girl from each class in the cast. The kids would all have speaking parts and they would introduce the viewer to all the aspects of our school.

We have the technology, do we have any volunteers to make it happen?