Foundations of Observations: Considerations for Developing a Classroom Observation System That Helps Districts Achieve Consistent and Accurate Scores

Five years ago, Casals Elementary School in Chicago was struggling to produce positive results for their students—so the school began working with the Academy of Urban School Leadership (AUSL) to turnaround their trajectory and improve how they served their students, teachers, and entire school community.

Hear “instructional leadership”, and what comes readily to mind is the vital work of helping educators improve classroom teaching. It is a critical mission, to be sure, a key part of a principal’s job. But instructional leadership has at its foundation something broader.

What makes successful schools tick? We know that great schools need great teachers, and great teachers in turn need skilled school leaders who can create the conditions within a school that enable teachers to help their students learn and achieve.