2015-16 Public Education in Tennessee: A Policymaker’s Guide | Page 17

Performance on
Administering
Evaluations of
Teachers

Principal Evaluations (Example)

15%

Measures of
Student Learning
(TVAAS, TCAP, etc.)

50%

Performance on
TILS Rubric
(Observations)

35%

The 50 percent qualitative portion includes an assessment of
the administrator’s implementation of the teacher evaluation
process (15 percent). The remaining 35 percent is based on
additional sections of the principal evaluation rubric, which
is based upon the Tennessee Instructional Leadership
Standards (TILS).34 This rubric is designed to measure the
knowledge, skills, and competencies of school leaders based
upon observations and other measures.

TOPIC TIMELINE
Here are key events in the development of principal evaluation in
Tennessee:

January 2010: Tennessee passed the “First to the Top

Act of 2010” that required annual teacher and principal
evaluations. This legislation created the Teacher Evaluation
Advisory Committee (TEAC) to develop teacher and principal
evaluations.

2011-12: New principal evaluations were implemented in
Tennessee.

2013: The Tennessee Instructional Leadership Standards
(TILS) were updated. The TILS were revised to reflect the
changing nature of the principal from “building manager” to
“instructional leader.” As such, the TILS were revised to focus
more on the principal’s role in instructional leadership in a
school.

new principal evaluation system using evaluation coaches
in each CORE region and through trainings on the principal
evaluation system throughout the year.
In an introductory letter to the 2004 report “How Leadership
Influences Student Learning” former Wallace Foundation
President, M. Christine DeVita, states that effective
principals do three primary things to set schools on a path
to success:
•

Establish clear direction. Effective principals chart a clear course
that everyone understands, establishing high expectations and
using data to track progress and performance.

•

Develop people. Principals provide teachers and other staff with
the necessary support and training to succeed.

•

Ensure the organization works. Principals must be skilled in

making sure that the entire range of conditions exist to support,
rather than inhibit, student learning.

In short, school leaders play a critical role in the success or
failure of schools. In order to improve student access to highquality school leaders, it is essential for current principals to
receive actionable feedback that allows them to develop as
instructional leaders throughout their career.

2013-14: Ten districts piloted a new administrator rubric

based upon revised TILS. Information learned from pilot
districts was used to revise and finalize the rubric which will
be utilized by all Tennessee districts in 2014-15.

2014-15: The TDOE will assist school districts in rolling out a

Public Education in Tennesee | 17