Welcome to the ACCESS Newsletter
Dear Educators,

Welcome to the first 2021-2022 school year ACCESS newsletter. I am very excited to launch this year’s newsletter, which will inform and inspire you on a monthly basis with all things evaluation - both for teachers and specialists. 

A particular focus this year will be on the new teacher evaluation system. The new system is called the Delaware Teacher Growth and Support System, sometimes referred to as the DTGSS. DDOE is excited to pilot the DTGSS in nine districts and charter schools. Piloting the system will allow the DDOE and the Redesign Steering Committee to test out the implementation of the new system and make any final adjustments before statewide implementation in the fall of 2022. 

I am also very excited to share with you that the DDOE has released a redesigned website. The website has all the information you will need about the DTGSS. Link to the website: https://education.delaware.gov/educators/dtgss/

It’s the new school year - a time for new dreams and goals as well as renewed energy to keep us moving forward for our students. This year’s newsletter is all about recharging, renewing and reconnecting!

Thank you,

Angela

Angela Socorso
Education Associate
Teacher Development and Evaluation
2021-2022 Pilot Districts for the DTGSS
This group of pilot LEAs represents all types of schools, and all geographic areas across the state. These districts include over 130 administrators and thousands of teachers. The pilot districts also include a representative sample of students by different demographic indicators.
Q&A with Pilot LEA leaders
Q: Why did you decide to join as a pilot LEA?  

Jason Cameron, Seaford School District: We knew the whole state was going to the new evaluation in 2022-22 and felt by being in the pilot we would have a ‘seat at the table’ and more support from RBT with fewer schools as opposed to next year when everyone is in it.

Q: What are you most excited about? 

Amanda Wroten, Indian River School District: I am most excited about implementing a coaching model that is focused on student learning. This structure will help to support building the relationship that is needed for a coaching model to be successful.

Kathy Devine, DSCYF: DSCYF Education Unit is extremely excited to implement the new teacher evaluation system pilot. This learning-focused system supports building a growth mindset for all educators and students. One such instructional choice that supports this mindset is developing a clear set of “Criteria for Success”.  Our team believes implementing this component will allow our students to display ownership of their learning and achieve tremendous growth. DSCYF teachers have been trained on developing criteria for success and worked over the summer to add this procedure to all approved lessons. 

Teachers met in content area PLCs twice a week to complete this work. Not only did they develop Criteria for success for each lesson but aligned and adjusted current objectives. Both administrators and teachers are eager to assess student outcomes and reap the benefits this new system will afford.

Q: After engaging in four days of training with our partners at Research for Better Teaching, what is one new learning that you would like to share?

Michael Saylor, DDOE: The training challenged my thinking about the role of leadership in a growth-oriented system. The PD walks leaders through the strands of instructional leadership – knowledge about teaching, data about teaching and learning, effective communication, high expectations for adults, and most importantly, increased student achievement.

Zulieka Jarmon-Horsey, Seaford School District: It provided a deeper understanding the “why” of this work. It provided context and resource to support teachers as the facilitators of learning within their classrooms. 
Educator Resources
  • ACCESS eNewsletter: Read Delaware’s monthly eNewsletter focused on school staff evaluations. View previous issues here. 

  • DTGSS Schoology group: Get DTGSS information specific to teachers and administrators. Find downloadable resources, including training and overview materials. For access, enter Schoology code: X8WB-ZKQJ-M585J or email [email protected] 

Sample Research Behind the DTGSS
The following articles are a sample of just some of the resources the Steering Committee reviewed as they created the DTGSS framework and process.