Teachers — like other professionals — don’t work as sole operators; they are part of a team. While your child’s teacher certainly matters, parents should care at least as much about the whole team their child’s teacher is working with, including the principal. Two teachers, with similar skills and experience but in different school settings, will likely vary in their effectiveness based on the school environment and the level of support available.

So, what other factors should parents look at to determine whether their child has access to effective teaching? What makes for an effective teaching context where teachers can be their best?

  1. Consider the strength & stability of the school’s entire teaching staff.
  2. Look at the strength & stability of the school principal.
  3. Focus on the conditions for teaching and learning in the school.

Read the full article on judging teacher effectiveness by Tara Kini at EdSource