Sumter County School District, FL Selects Teachscape to Strategically Build Upon their Teaching Effectiveness Success

District to further enhance its culture of continuous improvement through ongoing PD based on fair and reliable teacher evaluations

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To build upon its success, and maintain its designation by the Florida Department of Education as an academically high-performing school district, Sumter County School District (SCSD) in Bushnell, FL has chosen Teachscape to help them drive teacher effectiveness and promote a culture of continuous professional improvement. SCSD will implement the Teachscape Effectiveness Platform based on Charlotte Danielson's 2011 Framework for Teaching Evaluation Instrument (FFT), with plans of implementing the 2013 Edition of the FFT in the 2014-15 school year.

"Using the Framework for Teaching as the foundation for our teacher evaluation and professional learning processes has been key to our district's success," said Allison Nave, Coordinator of Professional Accountability at Sumter County School District. "With the new enhancements to the 2013 Framework, Teachscape offers the best solution to provide our staff with the tools, training and services we need to ensure consistent evaluations across the district and continued professional growth for all of our teachers."

Teachscape will help the district advance their teaching effectiveness initiatives with the ultimate goal to increase student achievement. The district will implement the Teachscape Focus observation training and assessment system to train and assess administrators on the latest edition of the FFT, including the instructional implications of the Common Core State Standards, and apply them to the assessment of classroom practice.

SCSD will use Teachscape Learn, a video-rich professional learning system, to support teachers with targeted professional learning based on evaluation feedback. The system gives teachers tools to plan and track their professional growth through individual learning plans, and access to online learning communities, video channels, and more than 160 multi-media courses spanning pre-kindergarten through 12^th grade.

Teachscape is also providing the district with product training and support services, including workshops on the FFT and creating learning-focused conversations. "Teachscape shares our vision for improving and strengthening teaching practice and has been a true partner throughout the process," added Nave.

As part of a multi-phased implementation, SCSD will also use Teachscape Focus with its teachers next school year to help them better understand the FFT.

SCSD is the latest district to choose Teachscape to help improve teaching effectiveness.  Teachscape is currently being used in states throughout the country, including Pennsylvania, Illinois, Kentucky, and Rhode Island, in addition to well-respected Florida school districts such as Duval County Public Schools, Escambia County School District, Flagler County Public Schools, Hillsborough County Public Schools, Liberty County School District, Washington County School District and others nationwide.

To learn more about Teachscape, visit www.teachscape.com.

About Teachscape
Teachscape uniquely combines innovative technology, engaging content and expert services to develop great teachers. From its classroom observation training and technology to its powerful web-based content delivery platform, Teachscape's award-winning products and services have been inspired by its dedication to sparking transformative change in teaching practice.  Since 1999, Teachscape has worked with schools and school districts, charter networks, archdioceses, universities and state education departments to measurably and continuously improve the effectiveness of educators to produce gains in student achievement. Teachscape's partners include Charlotte Danielson, ETS, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Stanford University, and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching to help shape its vision, its products, and its strategies. To learn more about Teachscape and its complete collection of professional development offerings, go to http://www.teachscape.com.

SOURCE Teachscape