For Teachers

Performance Pay - Skill Blocks Program

Overview

The goal of the skill blocks is to provide incentives for teachers who acquire, apply and demonstrate skills which support the goals of the school district. Skill blocks are practical and/or innovative skills that teachers acquire and demonstrate in their classrooms. They are not intended to replace professional development activities, but, instead, to augment those programs.

The Skill Blocks program will be governed by the Skill Blocks Advisory Committee which will consist of three teachers appointed by the Union, two administrators, and one community member chosen by the District, and a liaison from the Staff Development Department.

A. Skill Blocks Types

District Selected Skill Blocks
The Skill Blocks Advisory Committee will identify skills which support the goals of the district through regularly conducted teacher needs assessments and a review of current educational research. Assessments will be developed by the district which define the required standards for demonstration of the skills. Training will be provided to support acquisition of the skills.

Skills blocks which are currently available to teachers are:

Assessment Skill Blocks I - Performance Assessment
Assessment Skills Block 2 - Bodies of Evidence

Skills blocks to be added in January, 1998:

Differentiation of Instruction
Internet
Honoring Diversity

Open Skill Blocks
An individual teacher, team or school could write a proposal identifying skill blocks which will enhance performance in an area other than those identified by the district. The skill level attained must represent ones not possessed at the time of the proposal, that is, it represents a significant new acquisition. The supervisor and staff development department will approve or disapprove the proposal; the Professional Growth Committee (see negotiated agreement) will serve as an appeals board.

The person or group submitting the proposal must include a performance assessment with the proposal which defines the standard and the criteria for assessment.

B. Implementation of the Skill Blocks

Acquisition of Skills
The District will provide training to support the acquisition of skills. Any source of the skills acquisition identified in the skill blocks is acceptable. Teachers may also acquire the skill through professional reading, District in-service, college course work, observation and coaching with a colleague, or any other avenue of their choosing.

Assessment of Skills
Rubrics will be developed by the District which define the required standard for demonstration of the skills. The successful demonstration of the skill will be in accordance with criteria developed by the District. The rubrics will define specific standards so teachers will be informed of the acceptable performance criteria.

C. Payment

Upon successful demonstration of the skill as certified by the Staff Development Department, the teacher will be paid a one-time payment. The payment amount will be determined jointly by the Union and the District for the attainment of the skill block based on the nature and complexity of the skill block.

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