District teaching standards include, but are not limited to:

Standard #1: Content Knowledge and Perspectives Aligned with Appropriate Instruction

The teacher understands the central concepts, structures and tools of inquiry of the discipline(s) and creates learning experiences that make these aspects of subject matter meaningful and engaging for all students.

Standard #2: Understanding and Encouraging Student Learning, Growth and Development

The teacher understands how students learn, develop and differ in their approaches to learning. The teacher provides learning opportunities that are adapted to diverse learners and support the intellectual, social and personal development of all students.

Standard #3: Implementing the Curriculum

The teacher recognizes the importance of long-range planning and curriculum development. The teacher develops, implements, and evaluates curriculum based upon standards and student needs.

Standard #4: Teaching for Critical Thinking

The teacher uses a variety of instructional strategies to encourage students’ critical thinking, problem solving and performance skills including instructional resources.

Standard #5: Creating a Positive Classroom Learning Environment

The teacher uses an understanding of individual and group motivation and behavior to create a learning environment that encourages active engagement in learning, positive social interaction and self-motivation.

Standard #6: Utilizing Effective Communication

The teacher models effective verbal, nonverbal and media communication techniques with students and parents to foster active inquiry, collaboration and supportive interaction in the classroom.

Standard #7: Use of Student Assessment Data to Analyze and Modify Instruction

The teacher understands and uses formative and summative assessment strategies to assess the learner’s progress, uses assessment data to plan ongoing instruction, monitors the performance of each student, and devises instruction to enable students to grow and develop.

Standard #8: Professional Practice

The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually assesses the effects of choices and actions on others. The teacher actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally in order to improve learning for all students.

Standard #9: Professional Collaboration

The teacher has effective working relationships with students, parents, school colleagues and community members.