The Georgia Department of Education is launching a pilot, GaLeads, for a new teacher evaluation system that aims to emphasize growth while elevating the teaching profession. The pilot will involve eleven school districts during the 2023-2024 school year with hopes that this new system will replace the current Teacher Keys Effectiveness System (TKES) and Leader Keys Effectiveness System (LKES).
In a written press release, State School Superintendent, Richard Woods said, “I am fully committed to developing a teacher evaluation model that treats teachers as professionals and helps them succeed throughout their careers, to the benefit of students – rather than a punitive, ‘gotcha’ system. This pilot is an opportunity for proof of concept and will allow us to work with school districts throughout the state to create an evaluation system that’s designed for teacher growth.”
The application to participate in the GaLEADS pilot opened on September 1 with Atlanta Public Schools being the only metro school district selected.
“I am elated that the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) selected APS as one of 12 GaLEADS pilot districts,” said APS Chief Human Resources Officer Nicole Lawson. “GaLEADS was developed in response to the Georgia Department of Education’s 2022 Teacher Burnout Taskforce and the components of the model align with APS’ belief that teacher opinions and well-being matter!”
APS and the other pilot districts are beginning work this fall in anticipation of the pilot launch in August 2023. GaDOE will distribute funds to provide supplements to all teacher and leader pilot participants.
The other participating districts are:
- Brooks County Schools
- Clay County Schools
- Dooly County Schools
- Dougherty County Schools
- Gordon County Schools
- Griffin-Spaulding County Schools
- Liberty Tech Charter School
- Lowndes County Schools
- Jefferson County Schools
- Muscogee County Schools
- Savannah-Chatham Public Schools