Seven Key Metrics to Strengthen Teacher Effectiveness and Drive Professional Growth

Research shows that teachers are more important to student success than any other aspect of schooling. However, evaluating a teacher’s effectiveness can be quite complex. The National Council on Teacher Quality notes that “since ‘good’ teaching is so multifaceted, it requires multiple measures to capture its complexity.”

Strong teacher evaluation and professional development systems are essential for measuring teacher effectiveness and supporting professional growth. Protocols differ across states and districts regarding what these evaluations include, often measuring student outcomes and data, such as test scores and surveys, along with teacher metrics, including observations and self-evaluations. Tracking specific metrics, whether part of a district’s professional growth system or not, can help inform discussions with teachers about their practice, highlight their strengths, and identify areas that require professional support.

Seven Metrics Schools Should Track

1) Student Achievement Data

It’s essential to acknowledge that measures of student achievement and growth, such as students’ scores on standardized tests, should not be used as the sole indicator of teacher effectiveness, as experts caution that many other factors can influence student test scores. However, these metrics can still help support teacher effectiveness. For example, if several students in a teacher’s class are struggling with a topic or if one teacher’s class consistently fails to meet local or national testing benchmarks while other classes perform well, it’s worth having a conversation to explore why. The student achievement data and these discussions can be crucial in identifying areas where additional professional support may be needed.

2) Student Survey Data

Numerous studies highlight the importance of student perceptions and engagement for student success. According to the NCTQ, “measures of how students perceive their school climate, student attendance and grades, and teacher-student relationships have positive correlations with both test score gains and other academic and non-academic factors, from suspension rates to college attendance.” Teachers have a significant influence on these factors, so data from tools such as student climate surveys and feedback forms can be a valuable metric for assessing teachers’ best practices and identifying areas for professional growth.

3) Classroom Observation Data

Observing teachers in action provides critical insight into their teaching practice and is an essential component of teacher evaluations. These observations enable administrators to observe and assess how a teacher manages their classroom, their instructional practices, and the effectiveness with which they engage students in learning. Scores from teacher observations are a key metric in many professional growth systems. It is essential that classroom observations are conducted regularly and that they are accompanied by constructive feedback and recognition of positive practices, as well as areas for improvement.

4) Teacher Self-Evaluations and Self-Reflection Data

Teacher self-evaluations can be a powerful metric in supporting teacher effectiveness and are a core component of most teacher evaluation programs. Self-evaluations allow teachers to set goals for themselves and develop plans to achieve them. Regular self-reviews and reflections throughout the year provide teachers with opportunities to assess their teaching practices, their impact on student success, and their progress toward their goals. They can identify which strategies are effective and which are not, and make adjustments as needed with the ultimate goal of supporting student success. It is essential to allocate time at the beginning of the year for teachers to plan and set goals, and then to provide regular opportunities for self-evaluation throughout the year as part of their professional development.

5) Peer Evaluation Data

Peer evaluations help teachers enhance their practice by providing opportunities to observe and learn from one another. This kind of collaboration benefits both the evaluator and the person being evaluated. For instance, the observing teacher might offer feedback and tips to help improve a specific lesson or suggest ideas for better organization or classroom management. Additionally, they may discover inspiring ideas to incorporate into their own teaching.

When teachers support and learn from one another through collaborative learning, it becomes a powerful method for improving teaching and building connections. Data and feedback from peer evaluations can play a crucial role in assessing overall effectiveness and growth.

6) Participation in Professional Development

Teachers enter the profession because they are passionate about education and helping students succeed. When teachers regularly seek out new ideas and ways to enhance their teaching practices, it can have a significant impact on their classroom experience. Conversely, if a teacher consistently fails to take advantage of professional development opportunities or neglects to complete required training, it may signal a larger issue. They might be overwhelmed and experiencing burnout, or external factors outside of school might be impacting their participation.

To support teachers effectively, it is important to ensure that professional development is engaging, convenient, and relevant, and that teachers are given dedicated time to complete it. Data on participation rates can be a valuable metric in supporting teacher effectiveness and informing professional growth plans. If teachers avoid PD because they feel overwhelmed or find the content doesn’t meet their needs, administrators can explore ways to support teachers and improve professional development programs.

7) Student Attendance Data

Having a great teacher can significantly influence attendance, as students who feel engaged, valued, and excited about learning are more likely to attend class. Student attendance data can be a useful metric, though it’s important to keep in mind that, like many data points, it doesn’t tell the whole story. Several factors, both inside and outside of school, that are unrelated to the teacher can affect whether a student comes to class, such as illness or issues at home, to name just a few. So, while attendance is a valuable metric and can help guide discussions about the support teachers need, it should be considered only one part of the larger picture.

The bottom line is that evaluating and supporting teacher effectiveness is a complex process. It requires collecting and analyzing multiple data points, as well as ongoing conversations about how to support teachers’ professional growth. “An accurate, reliable, and unbiased measure of teacher effectiveness can’t depend on just one input,” notes NCTQ. “Data from multiple classroom observations, student test scores, student surveys, and more can be brought together to create a more comprehensive picture of how a teacher supports their students’ success.”

Tracking the metrics above will help empower school and district administrators to support teacher effectiveness and student success.

How Vector Can Help

Vector Solutions’ Professional Growth Suite combines best-in-class professional development content and tools to manage staff evaluations and professional development, streamlining the professional growth process. Easy-to-use tools simplify administrative workflows. Centralized reporting and tracking in one consolidated platform increase administrators’ efficiency and empower educators and staff to grow and develop professionally.

Our Professional Growth Suite includes:

• Evaluations+ maximizes professional growth opportunities with easy-to-use tools and customizable forms and workflows that help manage the evaluation and development process for educators and staff from start to finish.
• PD Tracking allows users to easily plan, manage, track, and evaluate all professional development events and activities for educators and staff, improving organization, streamlining communications, and saving valuable time.
• Vector Training addresses individual professional development needs and supports ongoing professional growth by providing access to hundreds of high-quality online courses on important safety, prevention, and instructional topics.