Board Policy GBIA: Teacher Evaluation Appeals

Board Policy GBIA: Teacher Evaluation Appeals

The appeal process described in this policy shall be available to teachers who have accepted a full-time, full school year contract with the Board of Education for the fourth or subsequent consecutive school year. Such teachers may appeal summative performance ratings of "Unsatisfactory" or "Ineffective" contained in personnel evaluations conducted pursuant to Code Section 20-2-210, procedural deficiencies on the part of the school system in conducting an evaluation, and job performance.

No more than (ten) 10 calendar days after the summative evaluation conference, the teacher shall provide a written notice of appeal to the responsible evaluator detailing every factual basis for the appeal. If the principal is the responsible evaluator, the principal shall respond in writing within 10 calendar days after the principal receives the appeal; if the responsible evaluator is not the principal, the appeal shall be forwarded to the principal, who shall conduct the first level of review. In either circumstance, a written response shall be provided to the teacher within (ten) 10 calendar days after the principal receives the appeal. The decision may be hand delivered to the teacher or sent by electronic mail.

If the teacher is dissatisfied with the principal’s response, an appeal may be filed within (ten) 10 calendar days with a certified and TKES (Teacher Keys Evaluation System) trained administrator in the central office to be designated by the Superintendent (or in the discretion of the Superintendent, a qualified third party administrator from outside the District will be appointed). A written response shall be provided to the teacher within (ten) 10 calendar days of the appeal being received by the designated administrator. The decision may be hand delivered to the teacher or sent by electronic mail. The level two decision shall be final.

The appeal at either level must include a review of the complete evaluation record, including all documentation on the electronic platform, the original appeal and the response of the principal. In the discretion of the reviewer, a meeting may be scheduled with the teacher and, in the discretion of the reviewer, with the principal or original evaluator.

A teacher shall not be the subject of any reprisal as a result of filing an appeal under this policy. Any reprisal may be referred to the Professional Standards Commission.