Chapter 4: Teacher Growth and Assessment: The SERVE Model of Teacher Evaluation

Teacher evaluation offers an invaluable tool to link the actual performance of a teacher to the goals and strategic initiatives of a school thus increasing student performance. However, a system must be in place that integrates accountability, professional development, and communication between administrators and teachers. The SERVE model of teacher evaluation, Teacher Growth and Assessment, aimed to do all of that in order to enhance school reform efforts. This chapter presents the model and its development so that readers may adapt the ideas to fit their own schools. The chapter offers research-based practices that may interest those who develop as well as implement systems designed to hold teachers accountable while giving constructive support and feedback for continued professional growth. It is not a punitive system, and it is not presented in this manner. Rather, the SERVE Teacher Growth and Assessment model can assist schools in their school reform efforts by engaging both teachers and administrators in operationalizing their reform initiatives. This chapter will provide examples of how this has been done in schools struggling to get instructional models such as Paideia and Total Quality Schools implemented in their classrooms with fidelity.