Job: Part-Time Assessment of Classroom Effectiveness (ACE) Observers - Arizona Teaching Fellows Program (AZTF)

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Jobing Description

Location:Arizona
Type of Vacancy:Part-Time Seasonal


Description

Part-Time Assessment of Classroom Effectiveness (ACE) Observers - Arizona Teaching Fellows Program (AZTF)
Our Program
The Arizona Teaching Fellows (AZTF) program is administering the Assessment of Classroom Effectiveness (ACE), an innovative approach to certification that will use multiple streams of evidence to assess, and ultimately recommend, new alternate route teachers for state professional licensure. AZTF is currently seeking experienced educators to conduct a series of evaluative classroom observations of first-year alternate route teachers.
ACE Observer Role and Responsibilities
ACE Observers are responsible for conducting classroom observations and evaluating alternate route teachers who are participating in AZTF. Observers will be required to attend ~20 hours of initial training as well as 2-3 ongoing professional development sessions for the observer team throughout the academic year. These trainings will be held virtually, consisting of conference calls and webinars. ACE Observers will also attend one-on-one check-in meetings with the AZTF Training and Effectiveness Manager or Effectiveness Coach as needed; these will be in-person meetings to discuss observation logistics like caseload and scheduling. ACE Observers will conduct at least 3 observations per assigned participant beginning in September 2012 and continuing through April 2013. The information gathered by the observers will aid in AZTF's understanding of beginning teachers' growth trajectory and form an important part of how we ultimately measure their effect on student learning. An ACE Observer is responsible for:
o Observing each assigned teacher at least 3 times in the classrooms for announced and unannounced observations that will last 45-60 minutes per participant from September 2012 through April 2013
o Evaluating each teacher using the ACE Instructional Framework, writing a comprehensive observation report aligned to AZTF's standards for ratings, and submitting reports electronically to AZTF
o Participating in all required introductory and ongoing training, team meetings, and one-on-one check-ins
o Demonstrating the ability to evaluate teacher performance based on AZTF's observation rubric
ACE Observers should be available for the activities and the times outlined below:
o ACE Observer Training: About 20 hours of training between September 3rd and 14th
o Classroom observations of assigned participants: Observations will take place between September 2012 and April 2013 and will require eight to ten hours per week of observation time, dependent on the number of teachers (generally 20-25) assigned to observe.
o Team Meetings: Between September 2012 and April 2013, ACE Observers will attend two to three follow up team meetings focused on ongoing norming and professional development. Meetings will last one to two hours each.
o Check-ins with AZTF Staff: ACE Observers will attend one-on-one check-ins with AZTF program staff. Check-ins will take up one to two hours per month and will take place in-person or via phone.
Qualifications
Successful ACE Observers are self-motivated with strong organizational skills and a commitment to improving teacher effectiveness for all students. The ideal candidate must also:
o Have a strong education background, content knowledge, and instructional skill set with a minimum of 2 years teaching experience in high-need schools
o Support alternate routes to teacher licensure
o Possess expertise in grades K-12 in one of the following content areas:
o Secondary (7-12) Math
o Secondary (7-12) English Language Arts
o Secondary (7-12) Science
o Secondary (7-12) Special Education
o Elementary Special Education

o Demonstrate a track record of meeting ambitious academic goals with students
o Have strong written and communication skills
o Possess the ability to provide effective, comprehensive written observation reports of new teachers
o Have experience piloting or improving teacher feedback/evaluation systems (preferred)
All candidates must also pass the final assessment administered at the close of initial training to continue as an ACE observer. In the event that a candidate does not pass, s/he will be paid for attendance at initial training but not for any of the subsequent follow-up meetings or check-ins.
Compensation
ACE Observers will be paid $25/hour for all training/norming sessions (including independent study) and team meetings throughout the year. Furthermore, ACE Observers will receive $120 per completed observation. (Each ACE Observer will be assigned ~20-25 teachers to observe at least 3 times between September 2012 and April 2013)
ACE Observers will be employees of TNTP, a non-profit consulting organization that is partnering with public school districts in Arizona to certify new alternate route candidates through the Arizona Teaching Fellows program. For more information on TNTP, please visit www.tntp.org.
Application Instructions
If you are interested in becoming an ACE Observer, please email a one-page cover letter and résumé to Erin Tobin, AZTF Training and Effectiveness Manager, at etobin@tntp.org. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis.
The cover letter must specifically address the following questions:
1.) What is your definition of an effective teacher and how would you quantify effectiveness?
2.) To what extent should a first-year teacher be held accountable for student achievement gains?
3.) Why do you want to become an evaluator who provides written feedback from observations to AZTF and program participants?
Please submit any questions or concerns electronically to the email address provided above.
We review applications on a rolling basis - so it is to your advantage to apply as soon as possible. We will not consider applications without a cover letter tailored to this position, which can be addressed to the Human Capital department. Please note that an offer of employment will be subject to the successful completion of a background check. TNTP is committed to fostering and capitalizing on the diversity of our organization. We are an equal opportunity employer and seek individuals of all ethnic and racial backgrounds to apply to this position.
TNTP helps school districts and states fulfill the promise of public education by ensuring that all students—especially those from high-need communities—get excellent teachers. A national nonprofit organization founded by teachers, TNTP is driven by the knowledge that although great teachers are the best solution to educational inequality, the nation's education systems do not sufficiently prioritize the goal of effective teachers for all. In response, TNTP develops customized programs and policy interventions that enable education leaders to find, develop and keep great teachers and achieve reforms that promote effective teaching in every classroom. Since its inception in 1997, TNTP has recruited or trained approximately 37,000 teachers—mainly through its highly selective Teaching Fellows™ programs—benefiting an estimated 5.9 million students. TNTP has also released a series of acclaimed studies of the policies and practices that affect the quality of the nation's teacher workforce, most recently including The Widget Effect: Our National Failure to Acknowledge and Act on Differences in Teacher Effectiveness (2009). Today TNTP is active in more than 40 cities, including Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, New Orleans, New York, and Washington, DC, among others. For more information, please visit www.tntp.org.