OSSTF SIP Visit Advice for Teachers
The Board has informed us that Principals will be making daily 30-minute visits to classrooms in order to report on the success of their School Improvement Plans. Principals do have the right to visit classrooms, even unannounced. Teachers, however, should clarify with Principals that the visit is a SIP visit. If it is, the following applies:
1. Teachers have the right to ask what SMART goals/ 4 pillars are being observed and what the indicators are.
2. Principals should not be asking for any documentation, eg. teacher plans, student work, etc.
3. Principals have been permitted by the Board to take notes. However, these are to be non-evaluative and should be observational only. They should not go into any teacher file. Principals have also been directed to provide you with a copy. All teachers should ensure they get a copy, and if notes are evaluative, they should call the District Office.
4. Observations are to be shared with the individual teacher only, not with others. If this becomes evaluative in any way, and/or a meeting to follow up the visit is called by the Principal, an OSSTF representative must be present with you. Teachers have the right to stop any such dialogue/meeting in order to get OSSTF representation.
5. Teachers should not dialogue about the performance of other colleagues with the Principal.
6. Teachers have the right to consult OSSTF on anything related to their job, and should feel free to do so. In the event that a teacher feels that the process has been in any way evaluative of their performance, they should speak to an OSSTF representative.
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