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Writer's pictureDr. Jana Lee

Crafting Clear Success Criteria: Supporting Targeted Teacher Growth

As an education leader, you understand the importance of supporting teacher growth. But simply identifying areas for improvement isn't enough. To empower teachers, truly track progress, and make your walkthroughs efficient and less time-consuming, clear and measurable success criteria are crucial.


Here are five essential steps for crafting effective success criteria:


1. Leverage Your Data to Develop a Focus Area

A strong foundation for success criteria lies in your school's data. This data will help you determine specific areas of improvement, from which success criteria will stem. Here are valuable sources to mine:

  • Walkthrough Observations: Use insights from walkthroughs to identify patterns in teacher behaviors and pinpoint areas where specific skills could be strengthened. More on how to do that, here.

  • Student Performance Data: Analyze student data to identify trends in student learning across classrooms. Look for areas where teachers might need to adjust their instructional strategies to address specific learning gaps. I share out how to analyze student performance data in this article. 

  • Teacher Self-Assessments: Encourage teachers to identify areas where they feel they can grow. Use their self-reflections as a starting point for conversations about targeted development. For example, my freebie, the Data Insight Survey, is a tool that leaders administer to teachers to learn about their own competence and confidence with data. It’s a great starting point for leaders who want to focus on data-driven instruction as a skill to grow in.

2. Research & Standards - Your Guiding Lights

Once you've identified a specific skill for growth, look to research and existing standards for guidance.

  • National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS): These standards outline crucial skills and knowledge for effective teaching. Search for specific competencies relevant to the target skill.

  • Education Content Standards: Your state or subject-specific content standards define what students should learn. Use these to frame your success criteria around how well teachers are facilitating learning aligned with these standards.

  • Peer-Reviewed Research: Dive into research focused on the targeted skill. Studies often highlight specific teacher behaviors linked to positive student outcomes.

  • Observation Frameworks: Observation frameworks, like Danielson and Marzano, offer a structured approach to evaluating teachers by outlining specific criteria across various teaching domains, allowing for targeted feedback.


3. Tailoring for Your Context:

Don't simply copy-paste research. Also consider your school's unique context.

  • Strategic Plan and Goals: What are the goals of your school community? How does your school approach teaching and learning? Align your success criteria with the schools overall philosophy, vision, mission, strategic plan, and goals.

  • Grade Levels & Curriculum: The needs of a kindergarten class differ from those of a high school class. Success Criteria should not have to change based on grade-level or subjecti. However, the evidence or teacher behaviors and strategies that support the Success Criteria will (and should) be different.


4. From Vague to Measurable

Success criteria should be clear and observable. Instead of generic statements like "improve classroom management," focus on behaviors you can see:

  • Example: Walkthrough data, parent survey results, and an uptick in students being referred to the office for their behavior, has led Springfield School to focus on positive responsive practices during Instructional Rounds. Plentiful research indicates that ongoing opportunities for students to engage in meaningful conversations with each other helps build a responsive classroom. Therefore, an observable success criteria for this skill is: Teacher facilitates opportunities for all peers to contribute and interact with each other.


5. Collaboration is Key:

Involve teachers in the process. Solicit their feedback on the clarity, relevance, and feasibility of the criteria. This fosters a sense of ownership and increases the likelihood of successful implementation.


Remember: Success criteria are not meant to be a "gotcha" tool. They provide a roadmap for teacher growth and a way to track progress. Regularly assess teacher performance against these criteria and utilize feedback to refine your approach.


By crafting clear and data-driven success criteria, you empower teachers to target specific areas for growth, leading to a more effective and impactful learning environment.


One of my most popular Success Criteria can be found on The Principal Exchange.


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