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Annoucements:
Appendix for 2020-21 COVID-19 Hybrid/Virtual Learning
In March, the LEAD short-cycle was paused due to the suspension of school leader evaluation requirements outlined in SB10-191. This short-cycle was in place to support shifting the LEAD evaluation cycle to more closely align with the academic year.
Here are some important updates for the 2020-21 school year:
- Ratings. Due to the pause in March, leaders evaluated on LEAD will not receive formal EOY (end-of-year) ratings until fall of 2021. This LEAD cycle will encompass a body of evidence (BOE) from fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters.
- Student Learning/Outcomes. As of July 30, CDE will not be monitoring measures of student learning/outcomes (i.e. SPF/SGI) requirement for educator evaluations in the 2020-21 evaluation cycle. One-hundred percent of an educator's final effectiveness rating will be based on professional practices for this school year only.
- LEAD Appendix. The LEAD Appendix sets guidelines for LEAD-aligned feedback and expectations for leaders evaluated on LEAD during 2020-21 COVID-19 hybrid/virtual learning.
Evaluation Cycle Timeline has Shifted
LEAD has shifted from a calendar-year evaluation cycle to a November-October annual cycle to more closely align to the academic year. The 2020-21 academic year is the first full year of implementation of the new cycle (Nov. 1, 2020-Oct. 31, 2021).
Goals: Process & Guidance for School Leaders
Goal setting is an important part of our growth and performance system and is an opportunity for each school leader to connect their work directly to school goals within the School Strategic Plan, Unified Improvement Plan (UIP) and Black Excellence Plan (BEP).
LEAD goals directly connect the professional practice competencies within the LEAD School Leadership Framework by focusing leader actions on setting ambitious equity-centered goals, communicating and progress monitoring toward goals, demonstrating ownership of goals, and driving ongoing support.
Next steps:
- Each school leader evaluated on LEAD should set at least two to four LEAD goals aligned to the School’s Strategic Plan/UIP and the LEAD Professional Practice competencies.
- Note: Principals who received a less than Distinguished ELA implementation rating on their 2019 LEAD evaluation must have at least one ELA-specific goal.
- LEAD goals should be entered into Whetstone and confirmed with the school leader's manager by Oct. 31.
- Note: Growth & Performance and ELA will be monitoring goal submission via Whetstone.
- Read this LEAD Goals slide deck, and work with your RIS/RAIS within your region for LEAD goal process, context, considerations, examples and questions.
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SCHOOL LEADERS
When we created the Denver Plan 2020, a consensus around the importance of school leadership was clear – that’s why preparing and supporting school leaders is one of the strategies in the plan.
In order to ensure Great Schools in Every Neighborhood, DPS designed the LEAD growth and performance system to support Instructional Leadership Teams and improve student achievement. This includes the LEAD Framework and Appendix for SY 20-21 which define what excellent school leadership looks like. LEAD also helps school leaders develop their skills by identifying their areas of strength and opportunities for growth. This happens through supervisor and teacher feedback paired with access to personalized professional learning opportunities.
LEAD aligns closely with our teacher-focused growth and performance system LEAP (Leading Effective Academic Practice). Together, the two systems support the growth of all educators in every school.
Interested in becoming a school leader? Check out
School Leader Talent Report user guides
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LEAD ONLINE TOOLS
Whetstone
Whetstone is the collaborative observation and coaching tool for educators, inclusive of; Teachers, Specialized Service Providers and School Leaders. This tool includes enhanced communication and analytic features that make documentation and sharing simple, while helping educators work together to make progress toward their goals.
Whetstone is available at https://dps.whetstoneeducation.com/
Training resources are found by searching "Whetstone" in Schoology and within Whetstone itself.
Whetstone User Guides:
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LEAD GROWTH AND PERFORMANCE SYSTEM RESOURCES
LEAD Framework Resources
- LEAD Calendar of Events
- LEAD Growth & Performance System Handbook and Appendix for SY 20-21
- School Leader Positions on LEAD
Principal/AP/Leader of Others
- LEAD Guide: How to create goals in Whetstone
- Infor HR Instructions: How to change AP position to be indirect supervisor over deans
- LEAD Fairness Guide
- LEAD End-of-Year Conversation Guide PDF Version
- Whetstone Login Page
LEAD Evaluation Structure
LEAD evaluation is made up of 50% professional practice and 50% student growth.
Professional practice is measured by the six competencies in the LEAD Framework.
LEAD Framework Competencies:- Instructional Expertise
- Vision & Strategy
- People & Culture
- Community & Equity
- Personal & Values
- Operational & Organizational
Student growth is measured by SPF growth and individual goals for student growth.
- SPF Growth Indicator, at least 30% of overall rating
- Recommended 20%, minimum 10%
- Individual goals for student growth aligned with UIP and School Improvement Plan, at least 20% of overall rating
- Recommended 30%, minimum 5%
All principals, assistant principals, and leaders of others create and submit 2–3 leader-selected student growth goals. Student growth goals are intended to highlight school leaders’ primary areas of focus and are intended to align with the school’s Unified Improvement Plan (UIP) and Strategic School Plan.