Analysis of the Job Description &

Evaluation Instrument for Principals

I found documents on administrative responsibilities. My principal provided me with the
evaluation tool used by Washington County Public Schools for principals. I believe there is a strong
correlation between these two items.
The superintendent requires that administrators develop a set of measurable performance goals
and objectives for the school year. This information is then reviewed by the evaluator and approved.
These goals must be SMART goals specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
Beyond the goals, the principal has many responsibilities at the school that are listed in the staff
handbook. The principal is responsible for all the special programs at the school. She is also a
collaborator with stakeholders through things like band boosters, School Improvement Team, and PTA.
A principal is in charge of the overall school culture, finance, the hiring and dismissal of employees,
scheduling, and school safety and security. In addition, the principal is an instructional leader in the
school. She attends department meetings, plans professional development, and evaluates and
supervises the personnel.
The evaluation instrument used for principals consists of professional practices and student
growth. The student growth component includes M.S.A./H.S.A performance, District SLO, School SLO,
and the Principal SLO. The professional practices encompasses the following categories: facilitate the
development of a school vision, align all aspects of s school culture to students and adult learning,
monitor the alignment of curriculum, instruction, and assessment, improve instructional practices
through the purposeful observation and evaluation of teachers, ensure the regular integration of
appropriate assessments into daily classroom instruction, use technology and multiple sources of data
to improve classroom instruction, provide staff with focused, sustained, research-based professional
development, engage all community stakeholders in a shared responsibility for students and school
success, manage and administer the school operations and budget in an effective and efficient manner,
communicate effectively in a variety of situations and circumstances with diverse audiences,
understand, respond to, and help influence the political, social, economic, legal and cultural context of
the school community, promote the success of every student and teacher by acting within a framework
of integrity, fairness, and ethics.
I feel that student growth is an appropriate tool to be included within the evaluation instrument
because it is a reflection of the many things a principal does. Mainly, the principals effort to improve
student growth can be seen in the responsibilities of the instructional leader, the evaluation and
supervision process, the professional development selected, as well as, the actions taken through the
SIT team. There are only two professional practices that I feel could use more guidance when looking at
the principals job. The SMART goals are somewhat visions for the school, but I would not consider
that to be the development of a school vision. I think more emphasis needs to be placed on the role of
the principal to develop the schools vision further if this is going to be part of the evaluation
instrument. Also, I feel that the practice of promoting the success of every student and teacher by acting
within a framework of integrity, fairness, and ethics is a great thing to look for in an administrator.
However, I dont think this can be done through one single evaluation. I think the evaluator should visit
the principal more frequently to develop their scoring of this practice. I feel this practice is part of the
principals character and that only be seen through interactions with that person.