TEACHER DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION/ALTERNATIVE TEACHER PROFESSIONAL PAY SYSTEM

The school district and the West St. Paul Federation of Teachers  has a joint agreement for teacher evaluation which includes the use of the Alternative Teacher Professional Pay System(ATPPS).

Every licensed staff member/teacher will

• complete a professional growth goal and plan based on student achievement or standards of practice
• be observed/evaluated three times, by more than one trained evaluator, during the course of the year.
• complete a summative evaluation that looks at observation/evaluation ratings and ensures at least 75% proficiency

• Probationary teachers shall be formally observed/evaluated by district and/or building administrators at least three times during the year. 

• Continuing contract teachers not on high-cycle shall be formally observed/evaluated by Instructional Peer Coaches at least three times during the year.  

• Continuing contract teachers on high-cycle (once every three years) will be observed/evaluated at least twice by a building and/or district administrator and once by an Instructional Peer Coach. 

ATPPS pairs continuing contract (tenured) teachers with peer coaches who help teachers develop annual goals and action plans that address professional growth and student achievement. Throughout the school year, the peer coaches observe and evaluate teachers, then meet with teachers to discuss progress on their goals and provide constructive feedback on their teaching methods and classroom interactions. 

ATPPS provides additional resources and supports for probationary teachers through the new teacher mentor program. 

Teachers in District 197 have reported that the ATPPS program has improved classroom instruction by helping them establish personalized goals and allowing them to reflect on their teaching. As a result of meeting with their instructional peer coaches (IPC) teachers shared they are more conscious about their instructional decisions, more focused on student learning and more aware of classroom practices.

The District's ATPPS program is overseen by the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment. 


ATPPS CONTACTS
Lora Messer-Nilles ATPPS Coordinator 
651-403-7036 | lora.messernilles@isd197.org

Cari Jo Drewitz, Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment 
651-403-7003 | carijo.drewitz@isd197.org