HIT: Job evaluations (Long)

[Eisenmann <eisenman@SLS.LIB.IL.US>]

Hi everyone.
        Although it's long overdue, several people have asked me to post
a hit regarding my query about how librarians are evaluated, and so here
it is...
        I received 17 responses. The following comments (edited) are
representative of all responses.
        "I was evaluated exactly the same as the classroom teachers :
four different evaluators (headmaster, principal, and two peer evaluators
- non-dept. chairs have one peer and the dept. chair) observing a
pre-scheduled library skills class..."
        "So far as the rest of my job is concerned, I think they simply
decide it can't be judged by non-librarians. This school is absolutely
wonderful in following through on the theory that if they had enough
confidence in you to hire you, they have enough confidence in you to let
you do your job."

        "I am evaluated in two manners on two separate forms:
                1. Classroom teacher
                2. Educational Media Specialist"

        "I am currently evaluated with the same instrument as the
teachers. The principal just asks when I will be presenting to a class..."

        "We (the librarians in the school district) are evaluated by the
principal. We four, together with our curriculum director and the
principal devised an evaluation instrument just for librarians." NOTE:
The areas evaluated are Planning and Organization, Learning Environment,
Instruction, Interpersonal Relationships, and Professional Growth and
Responsibility.

        "The principals in our system evaluate the librarians. My
principal writes a narrative piece about me every year. If I wasn't on
tenure, he would have to evaluate me 2 x a year."

        "Our schools use a checklist, however, my reading on the topic
has led me to conclude that we simply do too many different things at
irregular intervals for a checklist to be an effective evaluation. If you
accept the idea that evaluation is for improvement, I high recommend
considering either goal setting or portfolios. With goal setting you and
the principal agree on what your goals for the year are and what you will
do to meet them, and how you will decide whether or not you met the
goals. This requires 3 meetings, 1 to start, 1 as a progress report, and
1 at the end."

        "Try http://www.kde.state.ky.us/kde/academic/lms.eval.html.
This is the Kentucky Department of Education website with the recently
developed evaluation for school library and information specialists inthe
state." Note: I have tried it and recommend it highly.

        Again, thanks to all of you who responded. Your replies helped us
a lot.

        Judy Eisenmann
        Librarian
        Trinity High School, River Forest IL
        eisenman@sls.lib.il.us