Opinion
Education Letter to the Editor

Hire Retired Educators for Classroom Observations

August 29, 2017 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

To the Editor:

In the article “Principals are Loath to Give Their Teachers Bad Ratings” (July 13, 2017), Marilyn Boerke, a director of district talent development in Washington state, is quoted as saying, “If you haven’t repeatedly gone into the classroom and given suggestions for improvements, it’s not really fair to give a poor evaluation.”

It is not only unfair, it is unethical. But it happens all the time. First, let us be reminded of the fundamental purpose of assessment. Assessment is only as good as the information gathered and its application to the improvement of the teacher. Keeping that in mind, it is extremely important to provide an assessment plan that includes a variety of classroom observations as well as teacher feedback. The reality is that school administrators do not have time to do that. And it is extremely expensive to hire more administrators.

The solution is to hire retired teachers through a college or university to provide that service. Not only would they have more time, they would have the experience to assess and respond to the needs of the teachers. The issue must no longer be about a poor vs. a good evaluation. It is no longer about power, ego, and control by school administrators. The issue is about the quality of education and providing students the best possible teachers available. Whenwe focus on the needs of students, the educational world will turn upside down. Assessment, in turn, will be on an even playing field.

Eldon “Cap” Lee

Education Consultant

Burnsville, N.C.

A version of this article appeared in the August 30, 2017 edition of Education Week as Hire Retired Educators for Classroom Observations

Events

School Climate & Safety Webinar Engaging Every Student: How to Address Absenteeism and Build Belonging
Gain valuable insights and practical solutions to address absenteeism and build a more welcoming and supportive school environment.
Student Well-Being K-12 Essentials Forum Social-Emotional Learning 2025: Examining Priorities and Practices
Join this free virtual event to learn about SEL strategies, skills, and to hear from experts on the use and expansion of SEL programs.
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Education Briefly Stated: February 5, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
8 min read
Education Quiz News Quiz: Jan. 30, 2025: Interim Ed. Dept. Leader | Navigating Immigration Policies | Teacher Evaluations | And More
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
Al Drago/AP
Education Briefly Stated: January 29, 2025
Here's a look at some recent Education Week articles you may have missed.
9 min read
Education Quiz Education Week News Quiz: Jan. 23, 2025
Test your knowledge on the latest news and trends in education.
1 min read
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
President Donald Trump speaks in Emancipation Hall after the 60th Presidential Inauguration on Monday, Jan. 20, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. His administration's order to pause potentially trillions of dollars in federal spending this week sent school districts scrambling to figure out which funds might be halted.
Al Drago/AP