ABSTRACT
City Schools of Decatur (CSD) is a public school system in metro Atlanta ranking as one of the largest 600 school districts in the United States with approximately 4,250 learners in kindergarten. As school reform models and instructional improvements were implemented through a widespread strategic plan, the lackluster teacher evaluation plan initially remained untouched. New teacher evaluation systems often breed needs for school leaders to calibrate their evaluation ratings across observers. Unique models like cross-school teacher evaluation can greatly accelerate this outcome. The anonymity of the web-based tools assisted with the risk-taking, as did strategic partnering both during professional development sessions and during shared classroom observations in the cross-school teacher evaluation processes. The next professional development session provided the perfect context to test-drive the new Innovation Configuration Map. The same protocol was used in a group of principals who voluntarily meet using the principles and practices of School Reform Initiative critical friendship.
