Texas Teacher Evaluation and Support System (T-TESS)
T-TESS strives to capture the holistic nature of teaching – the idea that a constant feedback loop exists between teachers and students, and gauging the effectiveness of teachers requires a consistent focus on how students respond to their teacher’s instructional practices. For those reasons, each of the observable domains in T-TESS focuses on teachers and students rather than separating them out into separate domains. Ultimately, T-TESS is a process that seeks to develop habits of continuous improvement, and the process itself best leads to that outcome when appraisers and teachers focus on evidence-based feedback and professional development decisions based on that feedback through ongoing dialogue and collaboration.
Texas Principal Evaluation and Support System (T-PESS)
The Texas Principal Evaluation and Support System (T-PESS) gives principals the guidance they need to chart their own course for professional growth and development. At the same time, it helps principal appraisers guide that growth using clear appraisal guidelines that nurture ongoing improvement, systematically support performance, identify performance strengths and support gaps, and provide constructive feedback.