SLQ Professional Development and Human Resources 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which professional development model involves teachers systematically observing each other's classrooms to gather evidence about a shared instructional problem?
- Instructional rounds (Correct answer)
- Peer tutoring
- Mentoring
- Book study
Correct answer: Instructional rounds
Instructional rounds, adapted from medical rounds, involve teams of educators observing classrooms together to gather evidence about a shared instructional improvement problem of practice.
Question 2: A school leader receives a complaint that a teacher made discriminatory remarks to students. What is the most appropriate first step?
- Publicly address the teacher at the next staff meeting
- Conduct a private, thorough investigation before determining next steps (Correct answer)
- Immediately terminate the teacher
- Ask the teacher's department head to address it
Correct answer: Conduct a private, thorough investigation before determining next steps
A fair and thorough investigation is the required first step before any disciplinary action can be legally and ethically taken in response to a complaint.
Question 3: What is 'growth mindset' as applied to staff development, and why does it matter for school leadership?
- The belief that talent is fixed and some teachers will never improve
- The belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and effective strategies (Correct answer)
- A financial model for pay-for-performance systems
- A scheduling approach that allows teachers to switch grade levels annually
Correct answer: The belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort and effective strategies
Growth mindset, based on Carol Dweck's research, holds that abilities are developable, which is foundational to building a professional culture of continuous improvement.
Question 4: Which of the following is the most legally defensible basis for dismissing a tenured teacher?
- Personal conflicts with the principal
- Documented evidence of persistent instructional ineffectiveness despite substantial support and progressive interventions (Correct answer)
- Low student test scores in a single year
- Parent complaints without supporting documentation
Correct answer: Documented evidence of persistent instructional ineffectiveness despite substantial support and progressive interventions
Legally defensible dismissal of a tenured teacher requires documented evidence of persistent performance deficiencies despite substantial, documented support and progressive interventions.
Question 5: Which professional development model involves teachers examining student work samples together to identify patterns and adjust instruction?
- Classroom walkthrough
- Protocol-based collaborative inquiry / looking at student work (Correct answer)
- Teacher book study
- Lesson observation
Correct answer: Protocol-based collaborative inquiry / looking at student work
Protocol-based collaborative inquiry — using structured protocols to examine student work — focuses teacher learning directly on evidence of student understanding.
Question 6: A school leader notices that a highly effective teacher is becoming disengaged. Which action is most appropriate?
- Do nothing and hope the teacher re-engages independently
- Have a private conversation to understand the teacher's needs and offer new challenges or leadership roles (Correct answer)
- Reduce the teacher's responsibilities to lighten their load
- Move the teacher to a different classroom
Correct answer: Have a private conversation to understand the teacher's needs and offer new challenges or leadership roles
Retaining high-performing teachers requires understanding their individual needs and offering growth opportunities, leadership roles, or challenges that re-ignite their engagement.
SLQ Professional Development and Human Resources 2
Which professional development model involves teachers systematically observing each other's classrooms to gather evidence about a shared instructional problem?