In The Learning Leader: Reflecting, Modeling, and Sharing, principals, principals-in-training, and other school leaders get practical, easy-to-implement strategies for professional growth, strengthening relationships with faculty and staff, and making the necessary changes to improve K-12 learning environments. WIth the tip below, authorsJacqueline E. Jacobs and Kevin L. O'Gorman provide insight about using data to positively influence how teachers teach.

Most principals go through the practice of observing classrooms at random, using a standard observation form. They check off a list of items on the form and then leave it with the teacher. Too often principals do not follow up on their observations to provide specific feedback, but more importantly they’re not looking for something specific when they walk into the classroom. If principals know that rapidly alternating between teaching and questioning is a strategy that works for successful teachers, then why aren’t we looking for that specific behavior when we do classroom observations? If we know that a lack of engagement (making sure there’s a clear understanding of that concept in a school) is a problem, then why aren’t we observing for engagement specifically—and nothing else—when we do classroom observations?

Just as annual test scores supply information about students, summative assessment data about teachers will provide you with a starting point—but that’s about it. This information will show you where you have strengths and weaknesses in your building. It will tell you where to look for the teaching strategies that work and it may indicate some curriculum weaknesses and strengths. Most of the schools in this nation have at least one master teacher whom you can observe in order to find out what strategies are working. The most effective use of your time is observing great teachers to determine what they’re doing that’s different from what less successful teachers are doing. From there, your job is to create an observation form to target those specific behaviors. This task can be done most effectively when you include teachers and a leadership team in sharing and modeling exactly what those teaching strategies are.
 

Regardless of the way in which you collect data, it is valuable to remember that no one person is capable of identifying everything that is needed to ensure a positive, productive learning environment. A new approach has teachers observe each other on targeted strategies and discuss their problems and successes. Likewise, administrators have a view of the school and its needs, but so do students and teachers. If you are aware of your own strengths and weaknesses in leading and developing others, you can draw on the strengths of others to help lead various initiatives.