KickUp

?? "I think we need to get away from the notion of best practices. There isn't any such thing. What we have is teachers who are really effective." - Evaluating Professional Learning, with Dr. Thomas Guskey On this episode of The Best of Us, we’re honored to talk with Dr. Thomas Guskey, author of Instructional Feedback: The Power, the Promise, the Practice and nationally-renowned expert on education measurement and evaluation. Dr. Guskey’s evaluation framework is an adapted version of the Kirkpatrick four-level model of evaluation used in business fields. Early attempts to apply this model to teacher PD were unsuccessful, leading him to create a model specifically for education settings that considers systemic support and change. Dr. Guskey takes us through the whys and hows of professional learning evaluation, plus what the research says about PD’s impact on students. We also talk about managing learning versus managing learners, overcoming organizational barriers to PD success, and the surprising lessons Pac-Man can bring to the classroom. ?? Listen to the full podcast: https://hubs.li/Q02WGlhD0

It's a crucial aspect of their careers, yet over half of all teachers are frustrated with their current evaluation process. Tomorrow, November 13th at 12pm CT we're sharing more on KickUp Growth, an evaluation process that builds trust and that everyone can rally behind, including HR leaders, instructional leaders, principals, and teachers, with: ?? Unlimited evaluation rubrics for all staff types ??Real-time evaluation tracking ?????? Custom evaluator access ?? Versatile data reporting Link the comments to register!

We’ve all seen what happens when professional learning communities (PLCs) lack structure. Without clear purpose and goals, they can devolve into unproductive venting sessions that waste time and resources, create disillusionment, and decrease teacher morale. So how do districts set their PLCs up for success? Instructional coaching. Coaches can be a powerful asset to get a PLC off the ground and provide ongoing support for its practice, just like they would an individual teacher. Let’s explore how just one coach might help a whole PLC group reach its full potential: https://hubs.li/Q02TWpgJ0

Join us Wednesday, November 13th for a live demo of KickUp Growth, an evaluation process that builds trust and that everyone can rally behind, including HR leaders, instructional leaders, principals, and teachers, with: ?? Unlimited evaluation rubrics for all staff types ??Real-time evaluation tracking ?????? Custom evaluator access ?? Versatile data reporting We'll also get the on-the-ground perspective from Jonathan Tucker, Assistant Director of Technology at Perry County School District. Link in the comments to register!

Lots of activity on the KickUp blog! Here are a few of our favorites (and who should read each): ?6 Questions for Effective Professional Learning Directors of Professional Learning who need a way to determine whether any given PL event is appropriate, intentional, and aligned with larger goals. Link: https://hubs.li/Q02WGp6-0 ?????? Research to Practice: 3 Principles for New-Teacher Mentoring Programs Director of Innovation / Teacher Growth / Professional Learning who needs a clear guide to creating rigorous, coordinated NTI programming that supports teachers during their critical first years of practice. Link: https://hubs.li/Q02WGlhG0 4?? Four Ways to Guarantee an Effective PLC PD Coordinator or Director of Professional Learning who needs clear instructions on how to set PLCs up for success and prove their impact. Link: https://hubs.li/Q02WGjZK0 ?? Evaluations and Educator Growth: Four Critical Questions for Supporting Teachers For the leader managing educator evaluation and performance reviews who needs a more growth-driven process that provides actionable insights with opportunities for dialogue between educators and evaluators. Link: https://hubs.li/Q02WGnRk0

You already know that educator orientation and ongoing support programs are critical to keeping new teachers in the classroom. But how do you ensure these efforts are working across your district? The districts we work with use strong data practices to keep administrators informed, coaches aligned, and educators clear on their next steps. ?? Today's Deep Dive: How Keller Independent School District uses data structures for new teacher programming, lowers the pressure for classroom observations, and much more. Ready to better support early-career teachers? https://hubs.li/Q02TY4sp0

It’s a familiar scene: an out-of-district consultant lectures a roomful of teachers on the cutting-edge new strategies they should be using in their classrooms. But when every year brings "innovative" changes in direction, it's frustrating to teachers and administrators alike. The trick? Understanding where innovation can inform and improve the best practices we already know work. We sat down with Diane Lauer, Chief Academic Officer at St. Vrain Valley Schools, for a chat on the next steps for the professional learning sector — and how they connect to what we’ve been doing all along. Get the 8 Takeaways: https://hubs.li/Q02TY8L_0

Join us to see how KickUp + Canvas LMS help districts streamline every aspect of their professional learning program. Coordinate PD in KickUp, complete it in Canvas LMS, enjoy the ? benefits of both! ?

?? New integration partnership ?? KickUp's?new integration?with Red Rover lets users seamlessly request substitutes to attend professional learning — so teachers and students don’t miss a beat. What’s in it for school leaders??No more scrambling to organize classroom coverage so teachers can attend PL. What's in it for educators??The freedom to select the PL they need without having to worry about coverage bottlenecks. Check out the official press release?here: https://lnkd.in/eGQbgyTq