SAI news via emailIowa Evaluator Training Program Information
For the last two years, the Iowa Evaluator Approval Training Program state advisory committee has worked on the structure and focus of Level III renewal of the evaluator’s license. This work has been based on experience and input from practicing administrators who have been involved with the training for Level I and Level II renewal and their experience applying the previous training at the local school level. The following is available to anyone who needs renewal:
- Four credit hours are needed for renewal of the administrator license at Level III.
- Everyone will need to take the Assessing Academic Rigor course, which is available in all of the AEAs. This option will count for two of the four credits needed.
- In addition:
a. In-state administrators may take another course for credit with researched-based content that aligns with the work of their district or their own individual professional development. This course must be an Area Education Agency (AEA) licensure renewal credit or a semester credit from a regionally accredited institution, or,
b. They may take the Fierce Conversations course, which is a two-credit course offered through each of the AEAs.
c. Individuals coming from out of state will be required to take the I-Evaluate online class for full administrative licensure. Please contact Fred Kinne 515-281-3587 or fred.kinne@iowa.gov for further information.
Given new leadership at the Iowa Department of Education, the Iowa Evaluator Approval Training Program advisory committee and others will be working to review the direction and focus of the plans beyond what is currently established. This review will be conducted over the next six months to a year.
Those who need to renew at Level III before July 2012 are advised to participate in the arrangement as described above. Administrators who do not need to renew at Level III for another year or more may decide to wait and determine if any changes in the training for evaluator approval Level III would be more appropriate for their work.
An FAQ is included below to help address more specific questions. Please submit any additional questions to Matt Ludwig at matt.ludwig@iowa.gov or Connie Maxson at connie.maxson@iowa.gov. Those questions will be addressed in future updates and FAQ documents that will be shared with all administrators across the state.
Iowa Evaluator Approval Training Program III
Frequently Asked Questions
(July 2011-2012)
Participants — Course Registration and Responsibilities
What is Evaluator Approval Level III?
Answer: A third level of Evaluator Renewal that includes a common learning module Assessing Academic Rigor. In addition, a module entitled Fierce Conversations is available through the Area Education Agencies.
Who is eligible for completing courses in Evaluator Approval Level III?
Answer: This course is for any individual who has completed and submitted Evaluator I or Evaluator II.
What are the modules that a participant may take to complete the requirement for Evaluator Approval Level III?
Answer: Each participant must complete four credits for renewal of his/her evaluator approval. The courses must come from the approved list:
Assessing Academic Rigor (2 credits) – Required
AND
Two additional credits, two of which may be Fierce Conversations (2 credits)
After completing Level II renewal I have already completed two additional credits, may I use those two additional credits and the Assessing Academic Rigor course for renewal?
Answer: Yes, the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners (BoEE) does understand that some professionals have already completed two additional hours and were awaiting information from the DE about future evaluator training to complete the necessary four renewal credits. To accommodate those individuals, the DE will allow a professional to use credits accumulated prior to June 30, 2012, plus the Assessing Academic Rigor module for renewal purposes.
If I obtain my Level III renewal and after that the requirements for Level III renewal change, will I have to obtain a second version of Level III renewal?
Answer: To be determined.
How do participants register for the courses related to Evaluator Approval Level III?
Answer: Each participant will register through an AEA offering the desired course.
What is the charge for participation in each course?
Answer: Each course fee qualifying for Evaluator Approval Level III is $275.00 plus any potential resource/book charge.
Who is responsible for paying for the $275 for each course?
Answer: The administrator completing each course is responsible for either paying for each course or arranging for payment of the course.
What additional costs will a participant have for each course?
Answer: Each participant is responsible for the resource/book needed for the course and any travel expenses.
Are there pre-assignments for Assessing Academic Rigor?
Answer: This will vary from course to course.
What if a participant misses a class? What are the attendance requirements?
Answer: Please check your schedule. The AEAs will not be offering these courses simultaneously, so it will be difficult to make up course time and work. A participant MUST complete all 30 hours of the course to receive the credits. An attendance policy/procedure will be provided with each course.
How are participants graded?
Answer: Participants must complete all assignments at a minimum designation of satisfactory based on a rubric and attend all classes to minimum expectations for each course.
How does a participant get his/her certificate to provide to the BoEE (Board of Educational Examiners)?
Answer: The enrolling AEA will provide to SAI a list of individuals who have satisfactorily completed course requirements. SAI will then issue a certificate of completion. The participant is required to submit the SAI certificate to the BoEE when ready to update his/her license.
AEA Responsibilities
Is there an AEA point person for communication with trainers?
Answer: The Evaluator Advisory committee will seek the name/contact information for a point person from each AEA. This information will be shared with each trainer, whose contact information will be shared with the AEA point person. These individuals will work together to establish delivery of the course(s) in each AEA; they will also assure the course(s) offered, including their dates and sites, are noted on the leadership web site, http://www.iowaschoolleadership.org/
What are AEA responsibilities for each course, based on the $275.00 paid to the AEA by each participant?
Answer: The AEA is responsible for the following based on the $275.00 enrollment fee of each participant:
- Registration and communication regarding the training logistics
- SAI Notification: Each AEA will share a list of participants who completed the course, including mailing address and folder number, to SAI in addition to $10 for each participant who completed the course satisfactorily.
- Materials & equipment - Please contact your respective AEA Professional Development Coordinator.
- Printing, with blackline/copy-ready masters available at a designated website available to AEA contact and certified trainers/facilitators
- Fee for facilitators/trainers: $1750 for each of the two trainers/facilitators
- Expenses for facilitators/trainers: travel, lodging of each trainer/facilitator, as needed
- Site costs
Is there a certain number of participants that is a cap for the trainer/facilitator stipend of $1750 for each trainer/facilitator? A minimum number?
Answer: Each facilitator/trainer will be paid $1750 for 20-24 participants. To assure that AEAs do not lose any money providing the course, they should offer the course with a minimum of 20 participants. If, however, they are able to minimize expenses shared above, they could consider a lower number of participants for each course, particularly in some of the smaller AEAs
Additional Information
Who is on the Evaluator Advisory Committee?
Answer: Mike Book (ISU), Jeff Burchfield (principal), Chris Day (consultant), Bill Decker (superintendent), Mary Delagardelle (IASB), Peg Erke (principal), Sharon Kurns (AEA), Jan Norgaard (AEA), Lou Howell (consultant), Kim Huckstadt (superintendent), Carol Lensing (consultant), Matt Ludwig (DE), George Maurer (BoEE), Cathy Molumby (superintendent), Tom Narak (superintendent), Nick Ouellette (principal), Marietta Rives (DE), Mary Beth Schroeder Fracek (DE), Dan Smith (SAI), Ann Sullivan (AEA), Jere Vyverberg (superintendent), Warren Weber (consultant)
Who are the trainers? How were trainers selected for Assessing Academic Rigor?
Answer: Since Assessing Academic Rigor will be required for all, it was the first module developed. Trainer application information was provided through SAI, the DE, and the AEAs. Applications were submitted and reviewed by a sub-committee of the Evaluator Advisory committee. The following criteria were considered: statewide balance across the AEAs, role balance (representatives from within AEAs, as well as individuals with experience as an educational practitioner), recommendations, trainer experience (Evaluator I/II or other courses/experiences with similar expectations).
How many trainers are there for each course?
Answer: The current plan is that each course will have two trainers (one individual with district leadership experience and one with professional development experience) unless there are extenuating circumstances.
If a trainer is an employee and is on contract with an agency when the training is offered, where does the money for the facilitators/trainers charges go?
Answer: If the employee is being paid his/her per diem through the organization’s contract, then the stipend portion of the fee would remain with the organization.
How do we assure consistency in delivery and content across the state in each of the courses provided?
Answer: The Iowa Department of Education will provide an approved syllabus and common training and materials for all trainers. All participants will be asked to complete an online evaluation upon completion of each course.
