Below is an article that I have written to share information about the status of the Michigan Council for Educator Effectiveness. I encourage you to read and answer the questions at its end by utilizing the comment link. I am very interested in taking your feedback to my fellow members of the MCEE and hope you will share your insights.

Thank you to those of you who attended the EdCon 2012 conference. As I mentioned at my Michigan Council of Educator Effectiveness Update, I would like to hear your feedback on student growth measures. If you have a few minutes, please feel free to leave a few comments below about the following questions:

1. Should the State evaluation data (i.e. MEAP, MME, Smarter Balance, etc.) be the only source of student growth data? Why or why not?
   
   
2. Should local student growth models be allowed? Why or why not? How could we ensure that the local models are rigorous and legitimate?
   

A few weeks ago, the Grand Blanc Community Schools embarked on a renewed commitment to our Strategic Plan. We spent three days working with the strategic planning guru, Dr. William Cook, reimaging our district by writing a new a mission, parameters, goals and strategies. Throughout the three days, we were continually asking ourselves, how we can provide our students with the best educational experience for their future. What we soon realized is that we could not predict the future and that we are preparing many of our students for jobs that may not even exist.

Three weeks ago, one of the assistant principals left Grand Blanc High School to become the principal of Davison High School. I wanted to wait a few weeks and send him a letter, one that provided some advice on how to be an effective principal. As I reflected on what this letter would entail, I realized it was the advice I would often give myself and close professional friends, if they asked.

Right. We are all in the midst of figuring out what new laws we are required to follow, what protocol we are supposed to use and determining which of our teachers is highly effective, effective, minimally effective or ineffective. I suppose there is comfort in knowing that you are not alone. Every building principal is facing the same issues and teacher evaluation is now our number one priority (well, besides maintaining a safe and orderly environment, understanding the common core standards, preparing students for the MME, etc.).