Our new Certificated Evaluation Program began in the 2019-20 school year. Our previous evaluation program had been in place since 1999. 

During the 2014-15 negotiations, RVTA and the District agreed to begin work on a revised evaluation program.  In the 2015-16 school year, the Evaluation Committee (comprised of union representatives and site and district administrators) began by meeting to discuss what we all liked about the then current program and what was and wasn’t working.  After contacting other districts to learn how their programs work, and if responses were favorable, we gathered their programs as well as conducted web searches to consider best practices.  In the 2016-17 school year, the Committee considered all the information we had gathered and drafted a new program and forms.  We were completely aligned and in agreement as to the elements we wanted in our new program, including but not limited to:

• represent and apply to all unit members regardless of position
• be based on the professional standards for unit member's position
• focus unit member and evaluator efforts on District and site goals/initiatives
• outline the various evaluation sources used for evaluation
• be a growth model in which the unit member and evaluator collaborate to support unit member continuous improvement
• encourage unit members to reflect upon their progress and seek professional growth to support and foster student growth
• include a rubric that is referenced when considering and discussing unit member progress
• include fillable forms.  

During the next two school years, we launched a pilot evaluation program with permanent unit members.  We held review meetings and provided opportunities for written feedback.  The Committee used the input to make revisions.  By the end of the 2018-19 school year, the Committee was pleased with and satisfied that we had finalized a new program and forms.

On the first work day in the 2019-20 school year, Committee representatives provided an overview of the evaluation program to all certificated unit members and provided online and hard copy options for unit members to review.  Additionally, an online opportunity for unit members to ask questions and/or share concerns was provided.  No questions or concerns were submitted.  RVTA conducted a vote, and the new program received all “yes” votes.  At the August 27, 2019 Board Meeting, the new certificated evaluation program and forms were unaimously approved.  District administrators and RVTA are very proud of our accomplishment and excited about our evaluation program.