High marks for local educators

Teachers in Wantagh, Seaford and Levittown are making the grade, according to the latest evaluation data released by the New York State Education Department.

According to the data, which was based on the 2013-14 school year, all but a handful of teachers received the top ratings under the Annual Professional Performance Review, commonly known as APPR.

In Wantagh, 260 teachers were evaluated, and all were rated effective or highly effective, the two top ratings of a four-tier system. Of those, 86 percent received the highly effective designation.

“The Board of Education, our administrators and myself take great pride in the fact that all of our teachers were rated as either effective or highly effective,” said Superintendent Maureen Goldberg.

Tom Vereline, president of Wantagh United Teachers, said he wasn’t surprised by the numbers, noting the district’s 99 percent graduation rate.

Of Seaford’s 192 teachers, one was rated developing, while more than two-thirds were judged highly effective. “I feel that we have very talented teachers in Seaford,” Superintendent Brian Conboy said.

The previous year, 10 teachers in Seaford were rated developing. Conboy said that teacher improvement plans were put into place, and the numbers show that the work has paid off. Matthew Fields, the president of United Teachers of Seaford, noted that the administration consistently works to support its educators, regardless of their rankings.

Levittown, the largest of the three districts, has 602 teachers, and two were designated as developing. Two-thirds of its educators received the top rating.

“The Levittown School District hires the best and most qualified teachers available,” said Superintendent Dr. Tonie McDonald, “and we are pleased that 99 percent of our teachers were rated either effective or highly effective. Our Board of Education and administration work to support them in becoming master teachers by providing them with meaningful professional development that is backed up by data.”

No teachers in either district were labeled ineffective, the lowest rating.

A changing system?

Currently, 20 percent of a teacher’s evaluation is tied to the performance of his or her students on state tests. Another 20 percent factors in local assessments, with the remaining 60 percent based on observations.