The Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) has selected Griffin-Spalding County School System (GSCS) as one of 12 school districts in the state to pilot a new teacher evaluation system called GaLEADS.
This new evaluation system pilot is one of several steps that the GaDOE is taking to respond to the needs identified by the 2022 Teacher Burnout Task Force. Former GSCS Teacher of the Year Shanika Freeman participated on this task force.
This new system is intended to replace the current Teacher Keys Effectiveness System. State School Superintendent Richard Wood said, “Our aim is to create a teacher evaluation system that values and elevates our educators, instead of devaluing them – recognizing their central and irreplaceable role in student success.
The new GaLEADS teacher evaluation system pilot will give teachers more autonomy over their own professional growth and the resources to succeed. This program will allow piloting districts to work with the Carl Vinson Institute of UGA to conduct local teacher burnout task force sessions and begin strategizing solutions that address local needs. In this new program, teachers will receive targeted feedback and support for performance standards that are personalized. This pilot program will also include the expansion of local teacher recruitment and retention efforts.
GSCS Executive Director of Human Resources Judi Battle shared, “It is an exciting opportunity for our district to be at the forefront of a new evaluating system designed to improve the experiences of our educators.”
The GaDOE shared that pilot districts will begin work this fall in anticipation of the launch of GaLEADS in August of 2023. School districts had the opportunity to apply to be a part of the pilot program and the 12 participants were selected based on their readiness to address teacher recruitment and retention, focus on developing school leaders who foster strong instructional practices and priorities related to strengthening the teacher leader pipelines.