Introduction

INTRODUCTION

The aim of the professional growth and evaluation process at American International School Chennai (AISC) is to support professionals in the process of continual improvement. This improvement positively impacts student learning. As educators, we strive to improve our instruction in order to meet the learning needs of students in a complex and changing world. To achieve this aim, we need to engage in substantive and reflective dialogue about teaching, learning and professional growth. As a community of learners, we need to make important decisions on how to allocate sufficient time and resources to support on-going learning and growth. The AISC Professional Growth and Evaluation Process is based upon the assumptions that standards provide a structure for professionalism and growth and that on-going improvement is best guided through reflection, data, dialogue, inquiry, and goal-setting. This process is designed to provide the framework, time, and resources for effective professional growth and evaluation.

The cornerstone of the Professional Growth and Evaluation Process is the 9 Professional Standards that reflect the talents, knowledge, and skills identified as necessary to be a fulfilled and successful professional at AISC. Guided by their supervisor, professionals engage with the standards annually, by identifying indicators of success, gathering evidence, and reflecting on three standards. The approach allows for personalization to meet the needs of new and veteran professionals alike. Should a professional find a particular standard challenging, it can be repeated for consecutive years with approval of the supervisor. Further, a supervisor can request that a standard be repeated if adequate progress toward success indicators was not made. Finally, should a supervisor have a specific ongoing concern about performance in one or more standards, the professional may be moved to the Professional Improvement Pathway for more intensive support.