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ARTICLE XVIII
PEER ASSISTANCE AND REVIEW
18.1 Purpose
The Pasadena Unified School District and the United Teachers of Pasadena are committed to provide the best quality of education to the students in Pasadena, Sierra Madre, and Altadena. The parties are appreciative of their long-standing mutual support of professional development programs that enhance the teaching skills and abilities of beginning and veteran teachers. The parties believe that support for temporary and probationary teachers through the Pre-Intern, Intern, and Beginning Teachers Support and Assessment Program is exemplary. The addition of the Peer Assistance and Review (PAR) Program with its emphasis on enhancing the skills of permanent teachers adds a significant dimension to the continuum of teacher professional development and improvement. Therefore, the parties agree to cooperate in the design and implementation of PAR as a program to improve the quality of instruction through peer assistance and professional development for permanent teachers.
The PAR Program creates roles for the Joint Panel, Consulting Teacher, Participating Teacher, and the Principal. Teachers referred to the program shall be viewed as professionals who are entitled to have resources available as they strive for performance improvement.
18.2 Joint Panel
18.2.1 The PAR program is implemented and evaluated by a Joint Panel. The Joint Panel shall consist of five (5) members. There shall be two (2) administrators selected by the Superintendent, and three (3) teachers selected by the Association. Site administrator assigned to the Joint Panel shall have been employed in the District for at least three years. Each teacher shall possess permanent status in the District.
18.2.2 Members will serve a three (3) year term. For the first term, one (1) teacher and one (1) administrator will serve a two (2) year term while the other members will serve three (3) year terms. If a member cannot complete his or her term, the replacement appointee shall serve the remainder of that member’s unexpired term.
18.2.3 The Joint Panel shall establish its own meeting schedule. Teacher-members shall be released from their regular duties, without loss of pay or benefits, to attend meetings scheduled during the regular teacher workday.
18.2.4 Members of the Joint Panel shall receive an annual stipend of $4000 in the expectation that 100 hours of additional hours of service will be given beyond the workday/work year. If the member cannot complete his or her term on the Panel, his or her stipend amount shall be prorated accordingly.
18.2.5 A quorum will consist of at least two (2) teachers and one (1) administrator.
18.2.6 The Joint Panel shall:
18.2.6.1 Administer the PAR Program.
18.2.6.2 Use a consensus model for decision making. If the Joint Panel fails to reach consensus, any majority vote must include at least one (1) affirmative vote from both segments of the Committee.
18.2.6.3 Establish its own rules of procedure, including the method for the selection of a Chairperson.
18.2.6.4 Establish operating timelines.
18.2.6.5 Establish operating Rules and Procedures to effect the provisions of this article. The Rules and Procedures shall be consistent with the provisions of this Agreement, and to the extent there is inconsistency, the Agreement shall prevail. A copy of the Rules and Procedures shall be given to each Participating Teacher, and a copy shall be available at each school site.
18.2.6.6 Participate in training required to implement the program.
18.2.6.7 Determine the number of Consulting Teachers and their caseload in any school year, based upon participation in the PAR Program, the budget available, and other relevant considerations.
18.2.6.8 Consistent with State, County, and District requirements, submit for Board approval, a Program budget that shall not exceed the allotted PAR state funding.
18.2.6.9 Utilize appropriate teacher support programs offered by the District.
18.2.6.10 Select and assign Consulting Teachers.
18.2.6.11 Determine training schedule, select training programs and trainers for training of Consulting Teachers.
18.2.6.12 Assess the effectiveness of each Consulting Teacher.
18.2.6.13 Review the final report prepared by the Consulting Teacher and make a recommendation to the Board of Education through the Superintendent regarding the Referred Participating Teacher’s progress in the PAR Program.
18.2.6.14 Evaluate annually the impact of the PAR Program in order to improve the Program. The Joint Panel shall submit recommendations for improvement to the Board of Education through the Superintendent.
18.2.7 All materials related to evaluations, reports, deliberations and other personnel matters shall be strictly confidential. Only the final report of the Consulting Teacher may be used by the District in an employment action.
18.3 Participating Teachers
18.3.1 A Participating Teacher is a teacher with permanent status who receives assistance to improve his or her instructional skills, classroom management, knowledge of subject, and/or related aspects of teaching performance. There are two categories of Participating Teachers.
18.3.1.1 Referred Teacher Participants
18.3.1.1.1 The purpose of participation in the PAR Program is to assist the permanent teacher in improving performance. Permanent teachers who receive an unsatisfactory evaluation on their Certificated Teacher Summative Evaluation shall be required to participate in the PAR Program.
18.3.1.1.2 The Consulting Teacher shall provide assistance to the Referred Participant. An assistance plan to meet performance goals will be developed collaboratively among the Referred Participant, Consulting Teacher, and principal or designated evaluator.
18.3.1.1.3 Within thirty days of the assignment, Referred Participants may request from the Joint Panel consideration for a change of assigned Consulting Teacher.
18.3.1.1.4 The Consulting Teacher shall prepare at least two peer review reports per school year on each Referred Participant he or she assists. These reports shall be submitted to the Referred Participant, the Joint Panel, and the Referred Participant’s principal or designated evaluator. The first report will be submitted no later than December 15 and the final report by April 1. The Referred Participant shall have the right to submit a written response to the Consulting Teacher’s reports, the right to request a meeting of the Joint Panel, and the right to be represented at this meeting. The final report, with the written response, shall be made available for placement in the Referred Participant’s personnel file, and may be used in the evaluation of the Referred Participant.
18.3.1.1.5 By April 15, the Joint Panel shall review reports submitted by the Consulting Teacher and shall make a recommendation to the Board of Education through the Superintendent regarding the results of the Referred Participant’s progress in the PAR Program.
18.3.1.1.6 The Referred Participant may continue in the PAR Program until the Joint Panel determines that he or she no longer benefits from participation, or receives a satisfactory evaluation from his or her principal or designated evaluator. By June 1, the Referred Participant will be notified regarding his or her continued participation in the PAR Program.
18.3.1.1.7 Notwithstanding the timeline provisions of items 18.3.1.1.4 through 18.3.1.1.6 above, if a Referred Teacher participates in the Program for a second year, the Consulting Teacher’s report shall be due by December 15 and the Joint Panel’s recommendation by January 15 of the second year.
18.3.1.1.8 Any grievance shall be limited to a claim that procedural provisions of this Article have been violated. The judgment and recommendations of the Joint Panel and Consulting Teacher may not be grieved.
18.4 Volunteer Teacher Participants
18.4.1 The Voluntary Teacher Participant portion of the PAR program shall be referred to as Peer Assistance and Support System (PASS).
18.4.2 PASS is designed to serve the Voluntary Participant who does not qualify for the BTSA program. The purpose of voluntary participation in the PASS program is to assist the teacher who seeks to improve his or her teaching performance through assistance of a Consulting Teacher and/or staff development opportunities.
18.4.3 Volunteers will request the Joint Panel to assign a Consulting Teacher to provide peer assistance. The Voluntary Participant shall indicate area(s) he or she seeks assistance in his or her request. The Voluntary Participant may terminate his or her participation in the PASS program at any time without a requirement to give a reason for the request.
18.4.
18.4.5 It is understood that the purpose of such participation is to provide peer assistance, and that the Consulting Teacher shall play no role in the evaluation of the teaching performance of a Voluntary Participant.
18.4.6 All communication, assessment of participation, and/or reports between the Consulting Teacher and the Voluntary Participant shall be confidential, and without the written consent of the Volunteer, shall not be shared with others, including the site principal, the evaluator, or the Joint Panel.
18.4.7 Any grievance shall be limited to a claim that procedural provisions of this Article have been violated. The judgment and recommendations of the Consulting Teacher may not be grieved.
18.5 Consulting Teachers
18.5.1 A Consulting Teacher is a permanent certificated teacher who provides assistance to a Participating Teacher enrolled in the PAR Program.
18.5.2 Consulting Teachers shall:
18.5.2.1 Possess a clear California teaching credential.
18.5.2.2 Have successfully taught in a full-time position providing classroom instruction for at least five (5) years, the last three (3) years in Pasadena Unified School District. Consulting Teachers must have been employed in at least 60% of a full-time position providing instruction to students, or providing instruction to teachers through the Professional Development Center.
18.5.2.3 Demonstrate exemplary teaching ability.
18.5.2.4 Demonstrate ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
18.5.2.5 Demonstrate ability to work cooperatively and effectively with others.
18.5.2.6 Have extensive knowledge of subject matter and mastery of a range of teaching strategies including classroom management and instructional techniques.
18.5.3 Consulting Teachers shall be selected as follows:
18.5.3.1 The Certificated Personnel Services shall post notice of open positions by February 15 at all sites and in the District Office.
18.5.3.2 Applicants shall submit the required application form along with all required supporting documents as listed on the application form to the Certificated Personnel Services. All applications shall be subject to a screening process established by the Joint Panel to ensure that candidates meet minimum qualifications.
18.5.3.3 The Certificated and Classified Personnel Office shall notify all applicants of the disposition of their application by May 31.
18.5.3.4 Consulting Teachers shall be released as needed or may job-share.
18.5.4 In the expectation of spending up to fifty (50) hours in logged training and/or presentation activities, all Consulting Teachers shall receive an annual stipend up to $2000. Consulting Teachers who are assigned Participating Teachers shall receive an additional monthly $210 stipend in the expectation of spending at least an additional five (5) hours per month in consulting teacher activities.
18.5.5 A full-time release Consulting Teacher shall serve no more than ten (10) Participating Teachers; a half-time release or job share Consulting Teacher shall serve no more than five (5) Participating Teachers; a Consulting Teacher who carries more than a fifty percent (50%) teaching load shall not be assigned to work with more than one Participating Teacher.
18.5.6 The Consulting Teacher shall continue to earn his or her annual stipend(s) by providing professional development activities as determined by the District and the Joint Panel if there is no Participating Teacher assigned to the Consulting Teacher in the second or third year of his or her term, or if a Voluntary Participant discontinues participation during the year.
18.5.7 Consulting Teachers shall:
18.5.7.1 Attend all required training.
18.5.7.2 Meet with the Participating Teacher and site principal or designated evaluator to discuss the PAR Program and to establish mutually agreed upon assistance goals.
18.5.7.3 Conduct multiple observations of the Participating Teacher during classroom instruction, and provide specific immediate feedback.
18.5.7.4 Conduct model lessons, staff development, and seek appropriate resources as needed.
18.5.7.5 Maintain a written record of contacts, observations, visitations, meetings, and specific support given to each Participating Teacher.
18.5.7.6 Provide each Participating Teacher bi-monthly written or oral reports, as requested by the Participating Teacher, of his or her progress in the PAR Program.
18.5.7.7 Make periodic oral status reports to the Joint Panel for a Referred Participating Teacher.
18.5.7.8 Continue to provide assistance until the Joint Panel directs the Consulting Teacher to cease support because it has determined that further assistance will not be productive or the teaching performance of the Referred Participating Teacher is satisfactory.
18.5.7.9 Submit the Final Report to the Referred Participating Teacher to receive his or her signature to verify delivery to the Referred Participant and to allow the Referred Participating Teacher the opportunity to submit a written response.
18.5.7.10 Participate in an annual review of the PAR Program with the Joint Panel.
18.5.8 The Consulting Teacher shall have the right to present reasons in writing to the Joint Panel why their assigned Participating Teacher should be reassigned to another Consulting Teacher.
18.5.9 The Consulting Teacher term shall routinely be three (3) years in length. The Joint Panel shall annually review the Consulting Teacher’s effectiveness in dealing with Participating Teachers. After a three (3) year term, a Consulting Teacher must return to the classroom for one (1) year before he or she may reapply a Consulting Teacher position. If, at the annual review, the effectiveness of the Consulting Teacher is found to be deficient, the Joint Panel may remove the Consulting Teacher from this role at that time.
18.5.10 Upon completion of service as a Consulting Teacher, he or she shall have return rights to the position he or she held prior to becoming a Consulting Teacher. If that position no longer exists, he or she shall be provided a similar position that he or she is credentialed to teach.
18.6 General Provisions
18.6.1 Functions performed pursuant to this Article by bargaining unit members shall not constitute either management or supervisory functions. Teacher-members of the Joint Panel and Consulting Teachers shall retain all rights of bargaining unit members.
18.6.2 Expenses for PAR shall not exceed the available PAR revenues received from state funding sources. If PAR income from the State is reduced in future years, the PAR Program’s expenses shall be reduced proportionately.
18.6.3 Indirect/administrative costs shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the total PAR budget and shall be itemized in the District budget documents. In the event the Program is no longer funded, the Program shall be cancelled.
18.6.4 The teacher-members of the Joint Panel and the Consulting Teachers will be covered under the District’s basic liability coverage.
18.6.5 This Article shall be subject to annual reopening in addition to the provisions of Article XXIX. |
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