The Consulting Teacher will provide assistance to two
Categories of MCPS teachers: new teachers and those
teachers who have been identified as below standard or
underperforming. Consulting Teachers will observe
classroom performance and will provide feedback to
teachers assigned to their caseload, will build the
teacher’s knowledge base and repertoire of teaching
skills, and will support the teacher’s efforts for
improved student achievement. The Consulting Teacher
will work under the direction of the Peer Assistance and
Review Panel, and will collaborate with the principal
and other local school staff to provide maximum
assistance to assigned teachers. The Consulting Teacher
will be responsible for preparing and submitting to the
PAR panel summary documentation regarding future
employment status for each teacher on their caseload.
There are 36 Consulting Teachers working with novice
(new to MCPS and new to teaching) and underperforming
teachers (teachers who have been identified as below
standard) in all MCPS schools. A Consulting Teacher is a
master teacher who provides assistance in a variety of
ways. Consulting Teachers might help plan lessons, do a
model lesson, work on management skills, arrange a peer
observation visit or address any other issues related to
professional growth. This is a rotating position that is
a 5-year commitment: 3 years as a Consulting Teacher and
2 years back in a school based non-administrative
position. Consulting Teachers also have 20 SSE days in
the summer for orientation and training.
Consulting Teachers are visiting teachers, not a part of
the school staff. Through their observations, they are
able to provide specific feedback for improvement to
instruction. The observations follow the model being
taught in Observing and Analyzing Teaching (OAT) 1 and 2
classes. Consulting Teachers must complete these
classes. Based on the support and observation data, a
Consulting Teacher makes a recommendation to the Peer
Assistance and Review (PAR) Panel for a teacher as
either “meets standard” or “below standard.” The PAR
Panel makes the decisions regarding a teacher’s
continued employment with MCPS. Consulting Teachers work
in coordination with the school support team in order to
design the best instructional support program for a
teacher.
Examples of Duties and Responsibilities:
Under the direction of the PAR Panel, the Consulting
Teacher will serve the needs of assigned teachers by:
- Observing and conferring with each underperforming
teacher determined to be “below standard” in the teacher
evaluation process.
- Planning and implementing an intensive program of
intervention for the teacher identified as “below
standard” to include multiple observations, ongoing
communication with the teacher, conferring with the
principal, assisting the teacher in analyzing student
results, and demonstrating lessons.
- Preparing and submitting to the PAR panel interim and
final end-of-year reports regarding future employment
for each teacher on their caseload.
- Assisting new first-year teachers assigned to their
caseload through observations, feedback, analysis of
student results, demonstration lessons, curriculum
implementation, team teaching and instructional best
practices.
- Working with teachers on assigned caseload to build a
knowledge base and repertoire of teaching skills to
improve student achievement, and in acquiring and
applying new skills and abilities.
- Planning and conducting demonstration lessons and
modeling effective teaching and management strategies in
the classroom.
- Assisting teachers on assigned caseload in analyzing
data to determine implications for instruction.
- Reviewing principal’s formal evaluation and
observations to plan and implement intervention
strategies.
- Participating in planning and delivering summer new
teacher training.
This position will have 20 summer days during which
training, working with PAR Cases and the PAR panel will
occur. These days will most likely be scheduled during
the months of June, July and August. Candidates for the
position must be available for scheduled training and
PAR activities. Consulting teachers are released
full-time from their normal teaching duties for a period
of three years. The teacher must then return to a
classroom teaching position for a minimum of two years.
Returning classroom teachers will be returned to their
original location, if an appropriate vacancy exits.
Consulting teachers who previously held RT/IRT positions
will return to a comparable position as vacancies occur
anywhere in MCPS.
Knowledge, Abilities and Skills:
- Ability to demonstrate best practices in a variety of
teaching methods and to model a repertoire of teaching
skills.
- Knowledge of best practices in instructional
strategies for the improvement of classroom instruction.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze student results and
achievement data and to implement appropriate strategies
to meet student needs.
- Excellent communications, interpersonal and leadership
skills.
- Ability to model teaching behavior to adult learners
in a variety of settings.
- Ability to counsel and mentor adults in need of
assistance, both personally and professionally.
- Bachelor’s degree in education, training, subject
field, curriculum or related field-master’s degree
preferred with eligibility for Maryland State teaching
certification.
- Minimum five year of successful teaching experience.
- Experience in modeling teaching behavior to adult
learners in a variety of settings (e.g., workshops,
seminars, courses, etc.)
- Evidence of instructional leadership (e.g. team
leader, resource teacher, interdisciplinary resource
teacher, department chair, Quality Management Council
member, system wide committees, etc.)
- Experience preferred in conflict resolution,
mentoring, counseling or working with adults in
providing professional and personal support.
Certification (or eligibility) as teacher in the State
of Maryland.
Although caseloads vary, it is typical for a CT to have
15 to 17 teachers on his/her caseload. The assignment of
teachers depends on grade level/content area and
geographic location. The time spent with each teacher
will depend on the needs of the teacher, the areas of
need and the availability of resources in the school.
Most of the teachers on the caseload are first year
novice teachers.
A Consulting Teacher formally observes each teacher at
least two times during the year and writes a follow-up
report after each observation. In addition to the
observations, a mid-year summary and end-of-year
summative report are also prepared and reviewed by the
PAR Panel. Consulting Teachers are also required to keep
logs of visits and support for each teacher and other
notes as needed for documentation.
Written reports are shared with the teacher, school
administration and the PAR Panel. This documentation is
used to make the decisions on the teacher’s
instructional progress and employment status. The
teacher may share his/her observation reports with other
staff (mentor, staff development teacher, RT, etc.) if
she/he desires.
Usually a Consulting Teacher is assigned to a teacher
for one school year. In some cases, assignments may be
extended to a second year by the PAR Panel.
The PAR Panel is the official supervisor of the
Consulting Teachers. This panel, made up of 8 teachers
and 8 administrators, facilitates the Professional
Growth System’s work. Each Consulting Teacher is
assigned to a PAR pair (one teacher and one
administrator). This pair is responsible for the
Consulting Teachers’ support, guidance and evaluation.
Every Consulting Teacher is evaluated in their first
year on the job, regardless of where they are in the
evaluation cycle.
The Consulting Teacher Team is officially part of the
Office of Organizational Development, under the
Associate Superintendent, Jamie Virga. Consulting
Teachers are required to take part in monthly meetings
with the PAR Panel, the Consulting Teacher Team and the
Office of Organizational Development.
The Consulting Teachers are located in the Office of
Organizational Development at the Upcounty Regional
Services Center in Germantown. Most of the Consulting
Teachers’ time is spent in schools. They receive mileage
reimbursement for travel between schools at the MCPS
mileage rate. Consulting Teachers must submit weekly
schedules to account for their time and in order to
contact them if needed.
Jim Berry and Jennifer Whitman are the Co-Leads of the
Consulting Teacher Team. They can both be contacted on
Outlook and will be happy to answer any questions.
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