Administrators Face New "Metrics"
The 2008-09 cadre of school administrators will be subject to rigorous review to make sure they are doing their jobs.
The idea sounds simple enough, but new Schools Superintendent Steve Gallon III said he wants to establish an ongoing process of accountability instead of the usual "one-moment-in-time" event of an annual evaluation. The first step is for each administrator to develop a plan for their work, then assessments will take place throughout the year before the evaluation.
Garnell Bailey, the new assistant superintendent for Administrative Services, began a brief overview of the new process by quoting the late management visionary Peter Drucker: "There is nothing as useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all."
Gallon will make a full presentation of the new system at Tuesday's business meeting, 7 p.m. at Washington Community School. Parking for the Darrow Avenue school is available on the Spooner Avenue side.
The purpose of the new system is "to comply with state statutes and board rules, to provide direction, coordination and accountability for all administrators and to ensure alignment and link performance, assessment and evaluation to the district's strategic plan." Administrators will be asked to state their own performance goals in writing and will receive quarterly assessments. Those faltering in meeting goals will receive performance improvement plans.
The system will promote "tangible and measurable" evaluation criteria. It follows establishment of new titles for about 30 administrative functions and the creation of assistant superintendent posts for Administrative Services and Educational Services. Administrative staff formerly housed at 504 Madison Avenue and 1200 Myrtle Avenue will be consolidated at the Myrtle Avenue location.
The new system appears to reflect another Drucker saying: "What is measured improves."
--Bernice Paglia
The idea sounds simple enough, but new Schools Superintendent Steve Gallon III said he wants to establish an ongoing process of accountability instead of the usual "one-moment-in-time" event of an annual evaluation. The first step is for each administrator to develop a plan for their work, then assessments will take place throughout the year before the evaluation.
Garnell Bailey, the new assistant superintendent for Administrative Services, began a brief overview of the new process by quoting the late management visionary Peter Drucker: "There is nothing as useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all."
Gallon will make a full presentation of the new system at Tuesday's business meeting, 7 p.m. at Washington Community School. Parking for the Darrow Avenue school is available on the Spooner Avenue side.
The purpose of the new system is "to comply with state statutes and board rules, to provide direction, coordination and accountability for all administrators and to ensure alignment and link performance, assessment and evaluation to the district's strategic plan." Administrators will be asked to state their own performance goals in writing and will receive quarterly assessments. Those faltering in meeting goals will receive performance improvement plans.
The system will promote "tangible and measurable" evaluation criteria. It follows establishment of new titles for about 30 administrative functions and the creation of assistant superintendent posts for Administrative Services and Educational Services. Administrative staff formerly housed at 504 Madison Avenue and 1200 Myrtle Avenue will be consolidated at the Myrtle Avenue location.
The new system appears to reflect another Drucker saying: "What is measured improves."
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 4:08 AM
10 Comments:
..Or more to Drucker's point -- What gets measured -- GETS DONE!!!
It is clear that Dr. Gallon is strategically addressing the issues that have placed Plainfield in its current state. It is no secret that administrators were NEVER evaluated under the Howard administration. Accountability for administrators apparently has blew into Plainfield from Miami.As a teacher, I welcome it.
Hi,...Next You should talk about how Yvonne Breaxsaus(Former Principal of Jefferson School) Has transfered Jim Malkmus to Washington. The jefferson School Leadership Project has only one Mentor now. Mr. Malkmus is a father figure to the students at Jefferson and he is very good Physical Education Teacher.
Please Make a difference.
Jefferson School Leadership Project
Many of us community members have questioned and asked for a job description for each of the newly created positions. While I don't see those descriptions have yet been published, the evaluation process is long overdue. I have to wonder if this will be an "awakening" for all of our high-priced administrators. In my mind there are still too many nebulous objectives for some of the positions.
Dr. Gallon needs to establish some tangible goals for each of the affected people to achieve. There will be nothing tangible to measure unless he sets the bar. To let everyone set their own performance goals is simply "lip service".
To me, unless Dr. Gallon actually tells us what everyone's job entails and what his performance goals are for them, he has a dream but not a plan. Don't look for too much change if the person in charge doesn't have a clue about what each of his people are supposed to do; or worse, they don't know what to do.
I have been thinking about the comments similar to the one about Dr. Gallon "having a dream but not a plan". Its apparent that although Dr. Gallon is moving swifly through PlainfieldSchools system-Courier News article-he is clearly moving with a purpose, focus and strategy. One would be a fool to think he is one. I agree with the writer that stated that he is quietly and strategically addressing the issues that have plagued Plainfield for the pass several years. Word has it that the technology department has now been placed under scutiny by Gallon. If this is the case, this guy is no joke and Mr. Payne had better watch out. A slick suit and smile wont save you, Mr. Payne. Althoug he rarely smiles, the super is very well dressed himself.
Accountability should be held from the beginning of one's tenure starting with the qualifications of an individual for positions they are to assume.
It has been said that our new Assistant Super was an Assistant Principal in Florida. Is this true? If so, Plainfield, when are we going to stop allowing THEM to make a mockery of our district?!!
Sounds like another Paula/ Angie story to me. How do we find out if this is true because if it is that is a disgrace to our community.
I believe it is true. But based on the job description and qualifications, Ms. Kemp is "qualified" for the job. I am still going to take a "wait and see" approach, and give this administration an opportunity. As an insider, I can tell you that Dr. Gallon is NO PAULA HOWARD!With what we have allowed over the past several years, we have already been disgraced. I have met Ms. Kemp and she is very experienced and knowledgeable. Maybe the job should have gone to Dr. Ebler? Give me a break. Having worked with Dr. Ebler and interacted with Ms. Kemp, it is no contest.
Who is "them" referred to in the previous post? Dr. Gallon? Floridians? Outsiders? It is easy to point a finger and blame others. It is time for Plainfield residents and educators to look at themselves.
Dr. Ebler is a highly skilled educator who has seemingly done a good job for Plainfield. Within a year, she went from being a content supervisor to being considered for the post of Assistant Superintendent. Let's not get ahead of ourselves here. I like Dr. Ebler. But what we now have in the district is a knowldgeable educator in Dr. Gallon and a team of highly dedicated and qualified veterans, from Dr. Bailey, Mr. Ottman, and Ms. Kemp, to Mr. Jones who has done a whirlwind job in the area of PR and marketing for PPS. Our new high school principal Dr. Bilal and Director for Guidance Ms. Clark are also bringing in a new persepctive for moving PPS forward. My point is that we have a lot of capable and highly qualified educators on this team. I hope Dr. Ebler will join them and help the district move forward.
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