Report: Districts rank most principals effective; Willow Run brands one ineffective
An unspecified principal at Willow Run Community Schools was described as “ineffective,” according to a statewide data report that asked school districts to rank their principals on a three-point scale from “ineffective” to “highly effective.”
Of 3,214 principals evaluated in 2010-11 in the state of Michigan, just 60, less than 2 percent, received the lowest possible ranking, joining Willow Run’s unnamed principal. Most districts, 65.4 percent, gave their principals an “effective” rank, while 32.73 percent of building leaders were said to be “highly effective.”
The data was compiled and released by the Michgian Center for Educational Performance and Information. CEPI intended the data to meet one of the new reporting requirements for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the website says.
For the report, each local public school district and charter academy determined which factors it would use for evaluating the effectiveness of its principals, the website says.
Here is how Washtenaw County’s traditional school districts rated their principals:
Ann Arbor — 33 principals; 14 highly effective and 19 effectiveChelsea — Four principals; all effective
Dexter — Six principals; all effective
Lincoln — Seven principals; all effective
Manchester — Three principals; all effective
Milan — Four principals; all effective
Saline — Eight principals; all effective
Willow Run — Five principals; four effective and one ineffective
Whitmore Lake — Four principals; three highly effective and one effective
Ypsilanti — Seven principals; two highly effective and five effective
Here is how the county’s charter schools rated their principals:
Ann Arbor Learning Community — One principal, highly effectiveCentral Academy — One principal, effective
Fortis Academy — One principal, effective
South Arbor Charter Academy — One principal, highly effective
Victory Academy — One principal, effective
Unavailable — Eastern Washtenaw Multicultural Academy, Honey Creek Community School, New Beginnings Academy and Washtenaw Technical Middle College
According to an MLive.com report, state school superintendents said these first evaluations “were rushed — and in some cases, quickly dispatched to comply with a new state law but (offer) little value to parents or even the principals themselves.”
Read the complete MLive.com article here.
Staff reporter Danielle Arndt covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. Follow her on Twitter @DanielleArndt or email her at daniellearndt@annarbor.com.
Comments
Aquarius
Wed, Jul 25, 2012 : 3:13 a.m.
There is something seriously wrong here! Teachers have pretty much been told that they have to have SUPERPOWERS to warrant a Highly Effective rating and we have 14 highly effective principals in A2? My a--! What a bunch of crap that is and it goes to show how subjective the ratings really are. This is another example of administrators covering each others backsides to keep a leg up on the teachers. AAEA needs to look real hard into this garbage.
Bridgit Johnson
Tue, Jul 24, 2012 : 6:54 p.m.
How did Ypsilanti have ANY effective principals??? They are a FAILING system! Neither of the Ypsi high schools (regular and new tech) have effective folks running things. What a mess!
Wonderin'
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 5:02 p.m.
Let us see the names of the principals and their scores. The community should know who the highly effective principals are.
brian
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 4:21 a.m.
Cut the crap, Ypsilanti and Willow have been going down for years. Thank God my girls went to Ann Arbor schools. Flag me again for speaking the truth.
JRW
Sat, Jul 21, 2012 : 12:26 a.m.
"Ann Arbor — 33 principals; 14 highly effective and 19 effective" This is the problem, not admitting there are several principals who are ineffective. Several ineffective principals who were in the schools when my kids went through AAPS, are still working as principals in the district. If you can't admit there is a problem, it can't be fixed. Not everyone is well-suited for the role of principal, and should move on or go back to the classroom. AAPS needs to start admitting there are several principals who do not meet the measure of "highly effective" or "effective." Let's also see a specific list of the criteria for each of these categories.
SonnyDog09
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 11:55 p.m.
The educational industrial complex is a bit like Lake Woebegone: All the employees are above average.
tom swift jr.
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 8:51 p.m.
Honesty means acknowledging your weakness. Interesting.
DonBee
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 5:57 p.m.
I would give 2 AAPS principals highly effective. There may be one or two more. There are at least 3 that should be ranked ineffective. I think AAPS may have added 1 point (on a 3 point scale) to most of the scores - afterall you can't admit you have ineffective principals when you pay them what they get in AAPS. And of course anything other than good rankings will bring the ire of the AAAA down on the school district.
boo
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 10:41 p.m.
DonBee, you seem to have some quality posts here, but it also seems like you have inside knowledge or contacts of aaps which has caused you some negative feelings about the administration. How is it that two of the 30 or 40 principals in AA are highly effective? What information do you have to support this statement?
Wake Up A2
Fri, Jul 20, 2012 : 5:40 p.m.
This is amazing to think that Ann Arbor has any Highly Effective principals, when the mantra with their teaching staff evaluations is that no one gets Highly Effective.