Washington County School District in Florida Selects Teachscape to Help Improve Instructional Delivery and Teaching Effectiveness

District builds a culture of professional development for administrators and teachers by starting with fair and reliable teacher evaluations

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 10, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To help achieve its goal of improving teachers' instructional delivery and effectiveness, and in turn to increase student achievement, Washington County School District (WCSD) in Chipley, FL has selected Teachscape, the leader in delivering Web-based solutions and expert services to improve teaching practice. Teachscape will help the district's administrators and teachers collaborate on data-driven professional learning based on fair and reliable teacher evaluations using Charlotte Danielson's Framework for Teaching (FFT).

"We recognize that high-impact instructional practices greatly improve student achievement," said Bill Lee, director of school leadership and management at Washington County School District. "And our work with Teachscape will allow us to make sure we are implementing effective teaching practices across all grade levels."

Teachscape is providing WCSD with a comprehensive set of tools – the Teachscape Focus observation training and assessment system and the Teachscape Reflect evaluation and observation system – based on the FFT. Through the use of these tools, district and building administrators will be skilled in conducting and managing fair and reliable evaluations and teachers will understand the framework by which they are being evaluated. This process leads to a common understanding of effective teaching and establishes a foundation for a collaborative approach to diagnosing and improving teaching practice.  

"Our approach to evaluations is not to be punitive, it is to help teachers improve," said Lee. "This research-based, proven framework and methodology supports the professional learning needed for our district to continually improve."

Washington County School District is the latest district to choose Teachscape to help improve teaching effectiveness.  Teachscape is currently being used in states throughout the country, including Pennsylvania, Illinois, Kentucky, and Rhode Island, in addition to well-respected Florida school districts such as Duval County Public Schools, Escambia County School District, Hillsborough County Public Schools, Liberty County School District, Sumter County School District and others nationwide.

To learn more about Teachscape, visit www.teachscape.com.

About Teachscape
Teachscape uniquely combines innovative technology, engaging content and expert services to develop great teachers. From its classroom observation training and technology to its powerful web-based content delivery platform, Teachscape's award-winning products and services have been inspired by its dedication to sparking transformative change in teaching practice.  Since 1999, Teachscape has worked with schools and school districts, charter networks, archdioceses, universities and state education departments to measurably and continuously improve the effectiveness of educators to produce gains in student achievement. Teachscape's partners include Charlotte Danielson, ETS, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Stanford University, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching to help shape its vision, its products, and its strategies. To learn more about Teachscape and its complete collection of professional development offerings, go to http://www.teachscape.com.

SOURCE Teachscape