Some housekeeping items for you this Friday.

First off, we’ve put together a new Spotlight publication on the topic of teacher evaluation. It has a collection of news stories, features, and Commentary pieces, exploring everything from research on effective teaching to evaluation standards to peer-assistance and -review programs run in partnership with teachers’ unions. It can be all yours for the low price of $4.95.
Secondly, we’re thrilled to announce a new staffer over at sister publication Teacher magazine online, Liana Heitin. Liana should be a familiar face to fans of Teacher Beat: She’s so great that while she was interning one summer, I stole her away to write for Teacher Beat as a guest-blogger. So make sure to check out her posts on the Teaching Now blog. (My baby’s all grown up and has her own blog! *sob*).
Finally, I’ll be on vacation next week taking a breather from all things teacher-related. Keep the dialogue going in my absence and watch for breaking-news updates from my colleagues.