There has been some confusion this year about the difference between a Learning Walk and a Walk-Thru, so in the November Consultation meeting, the Alliance team brought the issue to the table for discussion. The district began Learning Walks in the 2007-2008 school year as part of a leadership development initiative. Learning Walks are generally 2-4 minute informal observations focused on curricular and instructional decisions and looking for patterns across the campus and within departments, grade levels, etc. The focus is professional growth and development, not evaluation. Walk-thrus are a part of the teacher appraisal process, generally around 15 minutes in length, and can be used as cumulative data in that process. The confusion this year seemed to begin when some principals began sending teachers emails with feedback from the Learning Walks.
There is an easy way to tell whether the classroom visit was a Learning Walk or a Walk-Thru. If the electronic feedback comes via Spry, it is a Learning Walk and is generally not a part of the teacher evaluation process. If the electronic feedback comes from Eduphoria, it is a Walk-Thru, or cumulative data. Under the teacher appraisal guidelines for cumulative data, written documentation that will be used in a teacher’s appraisal must be provided to the teacher within ten working days of the occurrence. The teacher then has the opportunity to write a rebuttal.
Copyright 2010 San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel