Massachusetts Model System for Educator Evaluation

Part III: Guide to Rubrics and Model Rubrics for Superintendent, Administrator, and Teacher
Appendix A. Superintendent Rubric

January 2012

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148-4906 Phone 781-338-3000 TTY: N.E.T. Relay 800-439-2370 www.doe.mass.edu

Guide to Superintendent Rubric

Rubrics defined in the regulations as scoring tool[s] that describe characteristics of practice or artifacts at different levels of performance (603 CMR 35.02) are a critical component of the Massachusetts educator evaluation framework and are required for every educator. Rubrics are designed to help educators and evaluators (1) develop a consistent, shared understanding of what proficient performance looks like in practice, (2) develop a common terminology and structure to organize evidence, and (3) make informed professional judgments about formative and summative performance ratings on each Standard and overall. This appendix contains the ESE Model Superintendent Rubric.

Structure of the Superintendent Rubric

Standards: Standards are the broad categories of knowledge, skills, and performance of effective practice detailed in the regulations. There are four Standards for all administrators: Instructional Leadership; Management and Operations; Family and Community Engagement; and Professional Culture. Indicators: Indicators, also detailed in the regulations, describe specific knowledge, skills, and performance for each Standard. For example, there are five Indicators in Standard I of the Superintendent rubric including Curriculum, Instruction, and Evaluation. Elements: The elements are more specific descriptions of actions and behaviors related to each Indicator. The elements further break down the Indicators into more specific aspects of educator practice and provide an opportunity for evaluators to offer detailed feedback that serves as a roadmap for improvement. Descriptors: Performance descriptors are observable and measurable statements of educator actions and behaviors aligned to each element and serve as the basis for identifying the level of teaching or administrative performance in one of four categories: Unsatisfactory, Needs Improvement, Proficient, or Exemplary.

Use of the Superintendent Rubric

This rubric describes administrative leadership practice at the district level. It is intended to be used throughout the 5 step evaluation cycle for the evaluation of the superintendent by the school committee. This rubric can also be used by the superintendent for the evaluation of other district level administrators, such as assistant superintendents, directors of curriculum and instruction, school business administrators, and directors of special education. The responsibilities of administrators to whom this rubric will be applied may vary. ESE encourages administrators and evaluators to use the rubric strategically by discussing and agreeing upon certain Indicators and elements that should be high priorities according to that administrators role and responsibilities as well as his/her professional practice, student learning, and district and/or school improvement goals. There are a variety of ways to emphasize these components throughout the evaluation cycle. For example, high priority Indicators and/or elements can be analyzed in greater depth during self-assessment, targeted during goal setting, a focus for more comprehensive evidence collection, or all of the above. However, the expectation is that by the end of the evaluation cycle, administrators and evaluators have gathered and shared a reasonable amount of evidence on every Indicator to support a rating for each Standard.

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Superintendent Rubric At-A-Glance

Standard I: Instructional Leadership
A. Curriculum Indicator 1. Standards-Based Unit Design 2. Lesson Development Support

Standard II: Management & Operations

A. Environment Indicator 1. Plans, Procedures, and Routines 2. Operational Systems 3. Student Safety, Health, and Social

Standard III: Family and Community Engagement

A. Engagement Indicator 1. Family Engagement 2. Community and Business Engagement

Standard IV: Professional Culture

A. Commitment to High Standards Indicator 1. Commitment to High Standards 2. Mission and Core Values

and Emotional Needs

B. Instruction Indicator 1. Instructional Practices 2. Quality of Effort & Work 3. Diverse Learners Needs B. Human Resources Management & Development Indicator 1. Recruitment & Hiring Strategies 2. Induction, Professional B. Sharing Responsibility Indicator 1. Student Support 2. Family Collaboration

3. Meetings
B. Cultural Proficiency Indicator 1. Policies and Practices

Development, and Career Growth Strategies

C. Assessment Indicator 1. Variety of Assessments 2. Adjustment to Practice C. Scheduling & Management Information Systems Indicator 1. Time for Teaching and Learning 2. Time for Collaboration D. Evaluation Indicator 1. Educator Goals 2. Observation s & Feedback 3. Ratings 4. Alignment Review E. Data-Informed Decision Making Indicator 1. Knowledge & Use of Data 2. School and District Goals 3. Improvement of Performance, E. Fiscal Systems Indicator 1. Fiscal Systems E. Shared Vision Indicator 1. Shared Vision Development D. Law, Ethics & Policies Indicator 1. Laws and Policies 2. Ethical Behavior D. Family Concerns Indicator 1. Family Concerns D. Continuous Learning Indicator 1. Continuous Learning of Staff 2. Continuous Learning of Administrator C. Communication Indicator 1. Two-Way Communication 2. Culturally Proficient Communication C. Communications Indicator 1. Communication Skills

Effectiveness, and Learning

F. Managing Conflict Indicator 1. Response to Disagreement 2. Conflict Resolution 3. Consensus Building

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Standards and Indicators of Effective Administrative Leadership Superintendent Rubric

Standard I: Instructional Leadership. The education leader promotes the learning and growth of all students and the success of all staff by cultivating a shared vision that makes powerful teaching and learning the central focus of schooling.
Indicator I-A. Curriculum: Ensures that all instructional staff design effective and rigorous standards-based units of instruction consisting of well-structured lessons with measurable outcomes.
I-A. Elements I-A-1. StandardsBased Unit Design Unsatisfactory Does not set the expectation that administrators use effective strategies for ensuring development of welldesigned standards-based units, provide adequate resources or support for this activity, and/or monitor or assess progress. Needs Improvement Provides limited training and/or support to administrators to employ effective strategies for ensuring welldesigned standards-based units. May sometimes monitor and assess progress and provide feedback. Proficient Provides support and assistance for administrators to learn and employ effective strategies for ensuring that educators and educator teams design standardsbased units with measurable outcomes and challenging tasks requiring higher-order thinking. Frequently monitors and assesses progress, providing feedback as necessary. Supports administrators to learn and establish effective strategies for ensuring that educators develop well-structured lessons with challenging, measurable objectives and appropriate student engagement strategies, pacing, sequence, activities, materials, technologies, and grouping. Exemplary Empowers administrators to employ strategies that empower staff to create rigorous standards-based units of instruction that are aligned across grade levels and content areas. Continually monitors and assesses progress, provides feedback, and connects administrators to additional supports as needed. Is able to model this element.

I-A-2. Lesson Development Support

Does not state expectations for administrators that they establish effective strategies to ensure development of well-structured lessons, does not provide training or support, and/or does not discriminate between strong and weak strategies for ensuring effective lesson-planning practices.

Provides limited training to administrators on how to establish effective strategies for ensuring that educators develop well-structured lessons and/or does not consistently identify and/or address patterns when there is evidence of a weak strategy being employed.

Supports administrators to collaborate on developing strategies that enable educators to consistently develop series of interconnected, wellstructured lessons with challenging objectives and appropriate student engagement strategies, pacing, sequence, materials, and grouping and identifies specific exemplars and resources in each area. Is able to model this element.

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Standards and Indicators of Effective Administrative Leadership Superintendent Rubric

Indicator I-B. Instruction: Ensures that practices in all settings reflect high expectations regarding content and quality of effort and work, engage all students, and are personalized to accommodate diverse learning styles, needs, interests, and levels of readiness.
I-B. Elements I-B-1. Instructional Practices Unsatisfactory Does not look for evidence of and/or cannot accurately identify ways that principals identify effective teaching strategies when the principals observe practice and review unit plans.. Needs Improvement While the superintendent may observe principal practice and artifacts, s/he only occasionally looks for evidence that principals are identifying effective teaching strategies and practices when they observe practice and review unit plans. May set high expectations for the quality of content, student effort, and student work district-wide, but allows expectations to be inconsistently applied across the district. Proficient While observing principal practice and artifacts, ensures that principals identify a variety of effective teaching strategies and practices when they observe practice and review unit plans. Exemplary While observing principal practice and artifacts, ensures that principals know and employ effective strategies and practices for helping educators improve instructional practice. Is able to model this element.

I-B-2. Quality of Effort and Work

Does not set high expectations for the quality of content, student effort, and/or student work district-wide, or expectations are inappropriate.

Sets and models high expectations for the quality of content, student effort, and student work districtwide and supports administrators to uphold these expectations consistently.

Sets and models high expectations for the quality of content, student effort, and student work district-wide and empowers administrators, educators and students to uphold these expectations consistently. Is able to model this element. Employs strategies that ensure that principals know and consistently identify teaching strategies and practices that are meeting the needs of diverse learners while teaching their content. Is able to model this element.

I-B-3. Diverse Learners Needs

Does not look for evidence of and/or cannot accurately identify ways that principals identify effective teaching strategies and practices that are appropriate for diverse learners.

While the superintendent may observe principal practice, s/he only occasionally looks for evidence that principals are identifying effective teaching strategies and practices that are appropriate for diverse learners when they observe practices and review unit plans.

While observing principal practice, ensures that principals look for and identify a variety of teaching strategies and practices that are effective with diverse learners when they observe practices and review unit plans.

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Standards and Indicators of Effective Administrative Leadership Superintendent Rubric

Indicator I-C. Assessment: Ensures that all principals and administrators facilitate practices that propel personnel to use a variety of formal and informal methods and assessments to measure student learning, growth, and understanding and make necessary adjustments to their practice when students are not learning.
I-C. Elements I-C-1. Variety of Assessments Unsatisfactory Does not communicate or monitor a strategy for assessments, leaving it up to administrators to design and implement their own strategies. Needs Improvement Provides administrators with some formal assessment options and suggests that they coordinate their assessment practices within their teams and include a variety of assessments but does not monitor this practice. Proficient Supports administrator teams to use a variety of formal and informal methods and assessments, including common interim assessments that are aligned across grade levels and subject areas. Exemplary Leads administrator teams to develop and implement a comprehensive assessment strategy that includes ongoing informal assessment and common interim assessments that are aligned across grade levels and subject areas. Is able to model this element. Leads, plans, facilitates, and supports administrator team review meetings after each round of assessments. Monitors teams plans, adjustments to instruction, and outcomes and shares lessons learned with others. Is able to model this element.

I-C-2. Adjustment to Practice

Does not encourage or facilitate administrator teams to review assessment data.

Suggests that administrator teams meet to review data and plan for adjustments and interventions but inconsistently monitors this practice.

Provides the resources for planning time and effective support for administrator teams to review assessment data and identify appropriate interventions and adjustments to practice. Monitors administrators efforts and successes in this area.

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Standards and Indicators of Effective Administrative Leadership Superintendent Rubric

Indicator I-D. Evaluation: Provides effective and timely supervision and evaluation of all staff in alignment with state regulations and contract provisions.
I-D. Elements I-D-1. Educator Goals Unsatisfactory Does not support administrators to develop professional practice, student learning and/or district/school improvement goals, review the goals for quality, and/or support administrators in attaining goals. Needs Improvement Supports administrators and administrator teams to develop professional practice, student learning and, where appropriate, district/school improvement goals but does not consistently review them for quality and/or monitor progress. Proficient Supports administrators and administrator teams to develop and attain meaningful, actionable, and measurable professional practice, student learning, and where appropriate, district/school improvement goals. Exemplary Supports administrators and administrator teams to develop and attain meaningful, actionable, and measurable professional practice, student learning and district/school improvement goals and models this process through the superintendents own evaluation process and goals. Is able to model this element. Makes unannounced visits to schools throughout the year to observe administrator practice and provides targeted constructive feedback to all administrators. Engages with all in conversations with all administrators about improvement, celebrates effective practice, and provides targeted support to administrators whose practice is less than Proficient. Is able to model this element. Exercises sound and reliable judgment in assigning ratings for performance, goal attainment, and impact on student learning. Ensures that administrators understand in detail why they received their ratings and provides effective support around this practice Is able to model this element.

I-D-2. Observations and Feedback

Rarely conducts visits to observe principal practice and/or does not provide honest feedback to administrators who are not performing proficiently.

Makes infrequent unannounced visits to schools to observe principal practice, rarely provides feedback that is specific and constructive for administrators, and/or critiques struggling administrators without providing support to improve their performance.

Typically makes at least three unannounced visits to each school to observe principal practice every year and provides targeted constructive feedback to all administrators. Acknowledges effective practice and provides redirection and support for those whose practice is less than Proficient.

I-D-3. Ratings

Assigns ratings for performance, goal attainment, and impact on student learning without collecting and analyzing sufficient and/or appropriate data or does not assign ratings for some administrators.

Assigns ratings for performance, goal attainment, and impact on student learning in a way that is not consistently transparent to administrators.

Exercises sound and reliable judgment in assigning ratings for performance, goal attainment, and impact on student learning and ensures that administrators understand why they received their ratings.

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Standards and Indicators of Effective Administrative Leadership Superintendent Rubric

I-D. Elements I-D-4. Alignment Review Unsatisfactory Does not review alignment between judgment about practice and data about student learning when evaluating and rating administrators. Needs Improvement Occasionally reviews alignment between judgment about practice and student learning data. Proficient Consistently reviews alignment between judgment about practice and student learning data and provides guidance to administrators to make informed decisions about educator support and evaluation based upon this review. Exemplary Studies alignment between judgment about practice and data about student learning when evaluating and rating administrators and provides effective support around this practice. Is able to model this element.

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Standards and Indicators of Effective Administrative Leadership Superintendent Rubric

Indicator I-E. Data-Informed Decision Making: Uses multiple sources of evidence related to student learning, including state, district, and school assessment results and growth data, to inform school and district goals and improve organizational performance, educator effectiveness, and student learning.
I-E. Elements I-E-1. Knowledge and Use of Data Unsatisfactory Relies on too few data sources to represent the full picture of school or district performance, and/or does not analyze the data accurately. Needs Improvement May work with administrators to identify multiple sources of student learning data, but these data do not provide multiple perspectives on performance, and/or analysis of the data is sometimes inaccurate. Proficient Guides administrators and supports them in identifying a range of appropriate data sources and effectively analyze the data for decision-making purposes. Exemplary Leads administrator teams to identify a range of appropriate data sources, including non-traditional information that offers a unique perspective on school and district performance, and models effective data analysis for staff. Is able to model this element. Involves stakeholders in a comprehensive diagnosis of school and district strengths and weaknesses using appropriate data, and leads a collaborative process to develop a focused, results-oriented strategic plan with annual goals. Is able to model this element. Uses multiple data sources to evaluate administrator and district performance. Provides administrators and administrator teams with the resources and support to disaggregate assessment data and assists them in identifying students who need additional support. Empowers educators to use a range of data sources to pinpoint areas for their own and schoolwide improvement. Is able to model this element.

I-E-2. School and District Goals

Gathers limited information on school and district strengths and weaknesses and/or does not use these data to inform district plans or actions.

Assesses school and district strengths and weaknesses using data that are not carefully analyzed and/or writes an unfocused strategic plan.

Uses data to accurately assess school and district strengths and areas for improvement to inform the creation of focused, measurable district goals. Provides support to principals in their efforts to create focused, measurable school goals. Uses multiple data sources to evaluate administrator and district performance. Provides administrators and administrator teams with the resources and support to disaggregate assessment data and assists them in identifying students who need additional support.

I-E-3. Improvement of Performance, Effectiveness, and Learning

Does not share assessment data with administrators or provide them with resources and support to use data to make adjustments to school or district plans, and/or model appropriate data analysis strategies.

Shares limited data with administrators to identify student and/or educator subgroups that need support; provides limited assistance to administrator teams in using data to improve performance.

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Standards and Indicators of Effective Administrative Leadership Superintendent Rubric

Standard II: Management and Operations. Promotes the learning and growth of all students and the success of all staff by ensuring a safe, efficient, and effective learning environment, using resources to implement appropriate curriculum, staffing, and scheduling
Indicator II-A.
II-A. Elements II-A-1. Plans, Procedures, and Routines

Environment: Develops and executes effective plans, procedures, routines, and operational systems to address a full range of safety, health, and emotional and social needs.
Unsatisfactory Does not organize the district effectively for orderly and efficient movement of students. Needs Improvement May establish plans, procedures, and routines to guide administrators, but student entry, dismissal, meals, class transitions, assemblies, and recess are not consistently orderly and/or efficient. Proficient Develops systems, plans, procedures, and routines for administrators to implement that generally ensure orderly and efficient student entry, dismissal, meals, class transitions, assemblies, and recess. Develops systems and procedures for the effective supervision and support of custodial, clerical, food services, and other staff effectively so that the campus is clean, attractive, welcoming, and safe. Supports administrator teams in developing systems and procedures for positive student behavior; models high expectations for student behavior and provides appropriate training for administrators to uphold these expectations. Establishes districtwide routines and consequences, including policies and systems to prevent and address bullying and other behaviors that threaten students social and emotional well-being. Exemplary Establishes systems, plans, procedures, and routines that empower administrators, students and staff to implement orderly and efficient student entry, dismissal, meals, class transitions, assemblies, and recess. Is able to model this element. Creates and maintains a district environment in which custodial and other staff take personal responsibility for keeping the campus clean, attractive, welcoming, and safe. Is able to model this element. Guides administrators and teams to develop practices that consistently showcase high expectations for student behavior and invest staff and students in upholding these expectations. Successfully implements district-wide routines and consequences such that students take ownership over addressing bullying and other behaviors that threaten students social and emotional wellbeing. Is able to model this element.

II-A-2. Operational Systems

Fails to establish systems and procedures to support custodial and/or other staff, so that the campus is not generally clean, attractive, welcoming, and/or safe.

Develops systems and procedures that result in inconsistent supervision and/or support of custodial and other staff, resulting in a campus that is not consistently clean, attractive, welcoming, or safe. May urge administrators to demand good student behavior but allows varying standards to exist in different schools. Supervises and supports administrators in addressing student discipline and bullying matters on a case-by-case basis in the absence of a system of procedures and consequences.

II-A-3. Student Safety, Health, and Social and Emotional Needs

Does not develop consistent procedures for student discipline; district disciplinary practice varies from school to school; often tolerates discipline violations and/or enforces district policies or procedures inconsistently.

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Standards and Indicators of Effective Administrative Leadership Superintendent Rubric

Indicator II-B.
II-B. Elements II-B-1. Recruitment and Hiring Strategies

Human Resources Management and Development: Implements a cohesive approach to recruitment, hiring, induction, development, and career growth that promotes high-quality and effective practice.
Unsatisfactory Does not successfully lead the recruitment and hiring process. Needs Improvement Leads the recruitment and hiring process but does not consistently identify effective administrators and educators. Proficient Leads the districts recruitment and hiring process and, through it, consistently identifies effective administrators and educators who share the districts mission. Exemplary Consistently identifies effective administrators and educators who share the districts mission. Empowers administrators and faculty members to share in a structured, consistent interview process. Is able to model this element. Facilitates the administrator-led design and implementation of induction support, job-embedded professional development, and career growth support all of which are aligned with district goals; are consistently viewed by professional personnel as effective and helpful, and provide multiple opportunities for administrator and educator growth and learning. Leads the administrator team in developing district criteria for the awarding of professional status. Is able to model this element.

II-B-2. Induction, Professional Development, and Career Growth Strategies

Does not support new administrators, provide guidance to them to support educators, organize high-quality jobembedded professional development, and/or support the career growth of effective educators.

Develops only a limited district-wide induction program for new administrators and teachers and/or inconsistently implements the districts induction strategy; organizes jobembedded professional development that is not consistently high quality or aligned with goals; and/or does not consistently support effective administrators and educators career growth. Does not establish criteria for the awarding of professional status.

Develops district-wide induction support for new administrators and teachers and/or faithfully implements the districts induction strategy; organizes high-quality job-embedded professional development aligned with district goals; and supports the career growth of effective professional personnel by distributing leadership tasks, developing criteria for the awarding of professional status, and monitoring progress and development.

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Standards and Indicators of Effective Administrative Leadership Superintendent Rubric

Indicator II-C. Scheduling and Management Information Systems: Uses systems to ensure optimal use of data and time for teaching, learning, and collaboration, minimizing disruptions and distractions for school-level staff.
II-C. Elements II-C-1. Time for Teaching and Learning Unsatisfactory Does little to minimize disruptions to instructional time and minimize disruptions and distractions for school-level staff, including principals. Needs Improvement Generally acts to minimize disruptions to instructional time and minimize disruptions and distractions for school-level staff, including principals. Proficient Creates schedules, procedures and related systems that maximize instructional time and minimize school day disruptions and distractions for school-level staff, including principals; and consistently monitors the extent to which these systems are effective Sets expectations for administrator team meetings and creates a schedule that provides sufficient meeting time for all team meetings. Prevents or deflects activities that interfere with administrators ability to focus on the agenda during team time. Establishes norms for effective team behavior. Exemplary Empowers administrators and teams to contribute to the design and monitoring of district systems that maximize instructional time and minimize disruptions and distractions for all school-level staff. Is able to model this element.

II-C-2. Time for Collaboration

Sets unrealistic expectations for administrator team meetings if at all and/or does not create a schedule that provides adequate meeting time for teams. Does not work to prevent or deflect time-wasting activities. Does not establish norms for the administrator team meetings.

Sets inconsistent expectations for administrator team meetings and/or creates a schedule that only provides adequate meeting time for some team meetings. Works to prevent or deflect activities with limited success. Norms for team behavior are unclear and/or not consistently practiced.

Is transparent and forthcoming about expectations for all administrator team meetings; creates and implements a schedule that maximizes meeting time for all team members. Collaborates with team members to develop team norms. Is able to model this element.

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Standards and Indicators of Effective Administrative Leadership Superintendent Rubric

Indicator II-D. Laws, Ethics, and Policies: Understands and complies with state and federal laws and mandates, school committee policies, collective bargaining agreements, and ethical guidelines.
II-D. Elements II-D-1. Laws and Policies Unsatisfactory Demonstrates lack of awareness or consistent non-compliance with some or all state and federal laws and mandates, school committee policies, or collective bargaining agreements. Needs Improvement May know state and federal laws and mandates, school committee policies, and collective bargaining agreements, but inconsistently complies with some laws or policies. Proficient Understands and complies with state and federal laws and mandates, school committee policies, and collective bargaining agreements. Provides the resources and support to ensure district-wide compliance. Reliably demonstrates sound judgment reflecting integrity and fairness; protects administrator, student, family, and staff confidentiality appropriately; and expects all district personnel to reflect this practice. Exemplary Provides the resources and support for all school personnel to understand and comply with state and federal laws and mandates, school committee policies, and collective bargaining agreements. Is able to model this element. Reliably demonstrates sound judgment reflecting integrity and fairness; protects administrator, student, family, and staff confidentiality appropriately. Effectively supports all staff to do both as well. Is able to model this element.

II-D-2. Ethical Behavior

Demonstrates lack of sound judgment reflecting integrity and fairness and/or does not adequately protect administrator, student, family, and/or staff confidentiality.

Generally demonstrates sound judgment reflecting integrity and fairness with occasional lapses in judgment and/or does not always protect administrator, student, family, and staff confidentiality appropriately.

Indicator II-E. Fiscal Systems: Develops a budget that supports the districts vision, mission, and goals; allocates and manages expenditures consistent with district- and school-level goals and available resources.
II-E. Elements II-E-1. Fiscal Systems Unsatisfactory Builds a budget that does not align with the districts goals or mismanages available resources. Needs Improvement Develops a budget that loosely aligns with the districts vision, mission, and goals or inconsistently manages expenditures and available resources. Proficient Develops a budget that aligns with the districts vision, mission, and goals. Allocates and manages expenditures consistent with district/school-level goals and available resources. Exemplary Leads the administrator team to develop a district budget that aligns with the districts vision, mission, and goals with supporting rationale; uses budget limitations to create new opportunities for improvement, when possible; allocates and manages expenditures consistent with district/school-level goals; and seeks alternate funding sources as needed. Is able to model this element.

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Standards and Indicators of Effective Administrative Leadership Superintendent Rubric

Standard III: Family and Community Engagement. Promotes the learning and growth of all students and the success of all staff through effective partnerships with families, community organizations, and other stakeholders that support the mission of the school and district.
Indicator III-A. Engagement: Actively ensures that all families are welcome members of the classroom and school community and can contribute to the effectiveness of the classroom, school, district and community.
III-A. Elements III-A-1. Family Engagement Unsatisfactory Does little to welcome families as members of the district, classroom or school community or tolerates an environment that is unwelcoming to some families. Needs Improvement May provide some resources and support and make some attempts to welcome families as members of the district, classroom and school community but does not consistently use culturally sensitive practices and/or work to identify and remove barriers to family involvement. Proficient Provides resources and support for all personnel to use culturally sensitive practices to ensure that all families are welcome and can contribute to the district, classroom, school and communitys effectiveness. Works with administrators to identify and remove barriers to families involvement, including families whose home language is not English. Exemplary Provides resources and support for all personnel to use culturally sensitive practices and successfully engages most families, ensuring that all families are welcome and can contribute to district, classroom, school, and community effectiveness. Works with administrators, families, and organizations to identify and remove barriers to family involvement, including families whose home language is not English. Is able to model this element. Establishes strategic partnerships with community organizations, community members, and businesses that improve district effectiveness. Works to increase the types and number of organizations with whom the district partners in order to deepen relationships and increase partner contribution. Is able to model this element.

III-A-2. Community and Business Engagement

Limits work to the immediate context of the schools. Does not make efforts to reach out to community organizations, community members, or businesses that could otherwise contribute to district effectiveness.

Engages some community organizations, community members, and/or businesses in annual district events but does not make efforts to increase their involvement to maximize community contributions for district effectiveness.

Establishes ongoing relationships with community organizations, community members, and businesses. Engages them to increase their involvement to maximize community contributions for district effectiveness.

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Standards and Indicators of Effective Administrative Leadership Superintendent Rubric

Indicator III-B.
III-B. Elements III-B-1. Student Support

Sharing Responsibility: Continuously collaborates with families and community stakeholders to support student learning and development at home, school, and in the community.
Unsatisfactory Needs Improvement Asks administrators to identify students struggling academically or behaviorally and/or work with a limited number of families to address student needs, utilizing a limited set of resources. Proficient Provides resources and support to enable administrators and educators to identify each students academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs, including students with disabilities and English learners. Collaborates with administrators to support families to address student needs, utilizing resources within and outside of the district. Exemplary Provides resources and support to enable administrators and educators to identify each students academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs, including students with disabilities and English learners. Collaborates with administrators to support families to effectively address student needs and prevent further challenges, connecting students with a network of resources within and outside the district. Is able to model this element. Sets clear expectations and provides differentiated resources to support administrators to consistently and regularly engage all families in supporting their childrens learning at school and home, including families and children with limited English proficiency and/or children with disabilities. Is able to model this element.

Does not work with administrators to support educators to identify student needs, does not work with administrators to support families to address student needs, and/or does not draw upon internal or external resources.

III-B-2. Family Collaboration

Does not set clear expectations or provide support for administrators to regularly communicate with families on ways to support their childrens learning at home and at school.

Sets general expectations and provides occasional support for administrators to engage families in supporting their childrens learning at school and at home and/or supporting their children with disabilities or limited English proficiency.

Sets clear expectations for and supports administrators to regularly engage families in supporting learning at school and home, including appropriate adaptation for students with disabilities or limited English proficiency.

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Standards and Indicators of Effective Administrative Leadership Superintendent Rubric

Indicator III-C.
III-C. Elements III-C-1. Two-Way Communication

Communication: Engages in regular, two-way, culturally proficient communication with families and community stakeholders about student learning and performance.
Unsatisfactory Needs Improvement May set expectations for and provide limited support to administrators to communicate with families but does not stress the importance of two-way communication channels. District communication regarding student learning and performance primarily occurs through school newsletters and other one-way media. Proficient Sets clear expectations for and provides support to administrators to communicate regularly with families using two-way communication channels, including careful and prompt response to communications from families. Supports administrators to maximize the number of face-toface family/teacher interactions. Sets clear expectations for and provides support to administrators regarding culturally sensitive communication. Ensures that district-wide communication with families is always respectful and demonstrates understanding of and sensitivity to different families home language, culture, and values. Exemplary Sets clear expectations for and provides differentiated support to ensure that all administrators design and implement frequent personalized communications, respond carefully and promptly to communications from families, and solicit feedback from families that informs improvement to communication plans. Is able to model this element. Sets clear expectations for, models, and provides differentiated support regarding culturally sensitive communication. Ensures that districtwide communication with families is always respectful and demonstrates understanding and appreciation of different families home language, culture, and values. Is able to model this element.

Does not set clear expectations for or provide support to administrators to communicate with families. District communication regarding student learning and performance primarily occurs through school report cards.

III-C-2. Culturally Proficient Communication

Does not set clear expectations for or provide support to administrators regarding culturally sensitive communication and/or allows inappropriate disrespectful communication with families that ignores different family cultural norms.

May set expectations for administrators regarding culturally sensitive communication but does not provide support to them; and/or occasionally communicates in ways that are culturally insensitive to some families home language, culture, and values.

Indicator III-D.
III-D. Elements III-D-1. Family Concerns

Family Concerns: Addresses family and community concerns in an equitable, effective, and efficient manner.
Unsatisfactory Needs Improvement May systems and support to address concerns with families as they arise, but agreed-upon solutions are not always in the best interest of students. Proficient Provides systems, and support for administrators to reach out to families as concerns arise and works to reach equitable solutions in the best interest of students. Exemplary Provides system and support for all school personnel to reach out to families proactively, as soon as concerns arise. Effectively reaches equitable solutions that satisfy families, faculty, and staff and are in the best interest of students. Is able to model this element.

Fails to provide systems and support for personnel to consistently reach out to families in response to concerns, and agreed-upon solutions are often not in the best interest of students.

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Standards and Indicators of Effective Administrative Leadership Superintendent Rubric

Standard IV: Professional Culture. Promotes success for all students by nurturing and sustaining a school culture of reflective practice, high expectations, and continuous learning for staff.
Indicator IV-A.
IV-A. Elements IV-A-1. Commitment to High Standards

Commitment to High Standards: Fosters a shared commitment to high standards of service, teaching and learning with high expectations for achievement for all.
Unsatisfactory Needs Improvement May ask administrators for commitment to high standards of teaching and learning with high expectations for achievement for all but does not support and/or model it. Proficient Fosters a shared commitment to high standards of teaching and learning, for all administrators, with high expectations for achievement for all. Exemplary Leads administrators in developing a shared commitment to high standards of teaching and learning with high expectations for achievement for all. Revisits and renews commitment with administrator team regularly. Is able to model this element. Leads administrators to develop core values and mission statements, share these statements with families and the school district community, and use them to guide decision making. Is able to model this element. Plans and facilitates engaging administrator team meetings in which small groups of administrators learn together and create solutions to instructional leadership issues. Team has established norms for behavior and consistently adheres to them. Consistently evaluates the effectiveness of the administrator team meetings. Is able to model this element.

Does not encourage high standards of teaching and learning or high expectations for achievement with the administrator team, and/or may demonstrate low expectations for faculty and staff.

IV-A-2. Mission and Core Values

Does not develop core values and mission statements for the school.

May develop core values and mission statements but rarely uses them to guide decision making.

Develops, promotes, and models commitment to core values that guide the development of a succinct, results-oriented mission statement and ongoing decision making. Plans and leads well-run and engaging administrator meetings that have clear purpose, focus on matters of consequence, and engage participants in a thoughtful and productive series of conversations and deliberations. Establishes clear norms for administrator team behavior.

IV-A-3. Meetings

Leads administrator meetings that lack clear purpose and/or are primarily used for one-way informational updates.

May lead administrator meetings that include both one-way informational updates and participatory activities focused on matters of consequence, but does not clearly establish norms.

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Indicator IV-B. Cultural Proficiency: Ensures that policies and practices enable staff members and students to interact effectively in a culturally diverse environment in which students backgrounds, identities, strengths, and challenges are respected.
IV-B. Elements IV-B-1. Policies and Practices Unsatisfactory Develops and implements culturally insensitive or inappropriate policies, does not support administrators and staff in building cultural proficiency, and/or creates a culture that minimizes the importance of individual differences. Needs Improvement Takes pride in having a diverse administration, faculty and/or student body, but some policies are not culturally sensitive; and/or provides limited resources for administrators to support the development of cultural proficiency. Proficient Develops and implements culturally sensitive policies that acknowledge the diverse backgrounds, identities, strengths, and challenges of administrators, students and staff. Provides administrators with relevant resources to support them in building cultural proficiency and promotes a culture that affirms individual differences. Exemplary Leads stakeholders to develop and implement culturally sensitive policies that acknowledge the diverse backgrounds, identities, strengths, and challenges of administrators, students and staff. Empowers administrators with time, resources, and support to build cultural proficiency and collaborates with community members to create a culture that affirms individual differences. Is able to model this element.

Indicator IV-C.
IV-C. Elements IV-C-1. Communication Skills

Communications: Demonstrates strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills.

Unsatisfactory Needs Improvement May demonstrate adequate interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills but sometimes makes grammatical errors or has difficulty expressing ideas to stakeholders. Proficient Demonstrates strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills. Exemplary Demonstrates strong context- and audience-specific interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills. Is able to model this element.

Demonstrates ineffectual interpersonal, written, or verbal communication skills at times.

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Indicator IV-D. Continuous Learning: Develops and nurtures a culture in which staff members are reflective about their practice and use student data, current research, best practices and theory to continuously adapt practice and achieve improved results. Models these behaviors in the administrators own practice.
IV-D. Elements IV-D-1. Continuous Learning of Staff Unsatisfactory Accepts the practice of administrators working largely in isolation, without consideration of data and best practices, and/or discourages reflection among administrators, faculty and staff. Needs Improvement May encourage administrators to reflect on the effectiveness of interactions with faculty and students and to use data and best practices to adapt practice but does not support administrators in these practices. Proficient Leads all administrators and teams to reflect on the effectiveness of interactions with faculty and students. Ensures that administrators use data, research, and best practices to adapt practice to achieve improved results. Exemplary Models for administrators how to reflect on the effectiveness of interactions with faculty and students and uses data, research, and best practices to adapt practice to achieve improved results. Supports all educators to work in teams as often as is feasible and appropriate. Is able to model this element. Demonstrates openness and commitment to learning; reflects on personal practice; and relies on student data, current research, and best practice to improve own leadership. Is able to model this element.

IV-D-2. Continuous Learning of Administrator

Does not reflect on personal practice or demonstrate new ways of thinking about administration and leadership.

Occasionally reflects on personal practice, sets meaningful goals, and/or researches ways to improve efficiency and practice.

Reflects on and improves personal practice, sets meaningful goals, and develops new approaches in order to improve efficiency and practice.

Indicator IV-E. Shared Vision: Continuously engages all stakeholders in the creation of a shared educational vision in which every student is prepared to succeed in postsecondary education and become a responsible citizen and global contributor.
IV-E. Elements IV-E-1. Shared Vision Development Unsatisfactory Does little to engage stakeholders in the creation of a shared educational vision, or the vision is disconnected from college and career readiness, civic engagement, and/or community contributions. Needs Improvement Engages administrators, staff, students, families, and community members in developing a vision focused on some aspects of student preparation for college and career readiness, civic engagement, and community contributions. Proficient At all grade levels, continuously engages administrators, staff, students, families, and community members in developing a vision focused on student preparation for college and career readiness, civic engagement, and community contributions. Exemplary Leads administrators, staff, students of all ages, families, and community members to develop and internalize a shared educational vision around preparation for college and careers and responsible citizenship. Is able to model this element.

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Indicator IV-F.
IV-F. Elements IV-F-1. Response to Disagreement

Managing Conflict: Employs strategies for responding to disagreement and dissent, constructively resolving conflict and building consensus throughout a district or school community.
Unsatisfactory Needs Improvement May respond respectfully to disagreement and dissent, but responds inconsistently and does not always employ a non-confrontational approach Proficient Employs a non-confrontational approach for responding respectfully and appropriately to disagreement and dissent, using both as opportunities for learning. Models this practice for the administrator team. Exemplary Models a variety of strategies for responding respectfully and effectively to disagreement and dissent, using both as opportunities for learning. Provides professional development for the administrator team to build these conflict resolution strategies. Is able to model this element. Consistently employs a variety of strategies to resolve conflicts in a constructive and respectful manner and empowers and supports administrators to use these approaches. Is able to model this element. Employs a variety of strategies to build consensus within the school district community around critical school decisions, while encouraging dialogue and different points of view. Is able to model this element.

Does not respond to disagreement or dissent and/or does not use appropriate, respectful, nonconfrontational approaches.

IV-F-2. Conflict Resolution

Does not address conflicts in a solution-oriented and/or respectful manner.

May attempt to respectfully resolve conflicts as they arise, but employs only a limited range of strategies.

Consistently employs a variety of strategies to resolve conflicts in a constructive and respectful manner. Models this behavior for the administrator team.

IV-F-3. Consensus Building

Does not attempt to build consensus within the district community, or attempts at consensus-building around critical school decisions are unsuccessful.

Employs a limited number of strategies to build consensus within the school district community, with varying degrees of success.

Builds consensus within the school district community around critical school decisions, employing a variety of strategies.

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