By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The School Committee gave Superintendent Kristen Vogel a positive job performance review during a Sept. 27 meeting.
As part of the state-mandated educator evaluation, School Committee Chair Rich Sjoberg distributed evaluation forms for committee members to use to evaluate Vogel. After collecting each member’s evaluation, Sjoberg created an evaluation instrument that gave an overview of Vogel’s job performance.
The school board decided to hold off on evaluating Vogel’s first year serving as the district’s chief educational officer due to the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the 2020-2021 academic year. Vogel’s evaluation focused on her second year leading the district.
Summative evaluation
In the summative component of the job review, the School Committee gave Vogel a “proficient” rating.
“There was consensus amongst the School Committee that as we exited the COVID-19 restrictions and protocols, the 2021-2022 school year was a good year for the Lynnfield Public Schools and that Superintendent Vogel demonstrated a consistent level of moving the district forward,” the evaluation instrument stated. “This is reflected in the fact that throughout the evaluation, all responses reflected that she ‘met’ or ‘exceeded’ her goals, and all proficiency ratings were either ‘proficient’ or ‘exemplary.’”
School Committee member Jamie Hayman, who read the evaluation at last week’s meeting because Sjoberg had a work commitment, said the proficient ratings Vogel received were a “good score.”
“That is what we are striving for,” said Hayman. “It shows you are doing a good job. Exemplary is a goal we should be aiming for.”
Goals
Vogel developed three for the 2021-2022 academic year pertaining to professional practice, student learning and district improvement. According to the evaluation instrument, a superintendent can exceed, meet, show significant progress, show some progress or did not meet established goals.
The district improvement goal Vogel established involved having the superintendent work with the Administrative Leadership Team (ALT) and educators as part of an effort to “strengthen instructional practices with a focus on equity, social justice and diversity.”
Vogel’s professional practice goal involved building “strong relationships with the School Committee and the teachers’ union while developing a high-functioning leadership team of district administrators and principals.”
The student learning goal Vogel established pertained to evaluating administrators and teachers during classroom visits to make sure “effective instructional practices” are being taught in all four schools.
According to the evaluation instrument, the School Committee determined that Vogel “met” all three goals.
Standards
In addition to evaluating Vogel’s three goals, the School Committee reviewed her performance on four standards that are required by the state-mandated evaluation system. The standards pertain to the areas of instructional leadership, management and operations, family and community engagement, and professional culture. The standards component of the evaluation included quotes from all five committee members, but the quotes were not identified.
“All of the standards were created by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education,” said Hayman. “These were not our creation.”
Hayman noted that each School Committee member’s individual evaluation will become a public record after the committee approves the evaluation instrument during its next meeting on Oct. 25.
Vogel received a “proficient” rating on the instructional leadership and professional culture standards.
“The School Committee noted Superintendent Vogel’s strengths in instructional leadership and professional culture as shown through examples of her commitment to being student-centered focused with our updated Core Values within the Lynnfield Public Schools,” the evaluation instrument stated. “The district’s ability to handle the ever-changing social-emotional needs of students, while continuing to hold a high bar for academic rigor and high standards, is a balance that the School Committee expects.”
Vogel was given a “proficient” rating on the management and operations standard.
“Superintendent Vogel and her team have retained and hired quality educators in these particularly challenging times to do both,” a School Committee member wrote. “High quality equity and data-driven professional development have been front and foremost throughout the entire district. Vertical alignment between all levels is improving, yet there is still room for growth in this area. Superintendent Vogel’s leadership style is collaborative and inclusive, and supports growth of all educators in the Lynnfield Public Schools.”
Vogel received a “proficient” rating on the family and community engagement standard.
“The School Committee recognized family and community engagement, which includes communication, as an area that is proficient and have seen areas of success,” the evaluation instrument stated. “Every member of the School Committee acknowledged the effort that has gone into improving communication and family engagement within the district. We appreciate Superintendent Vogel’s commitment to continuous improvement and sees this as an area of continued focus.”
In conclusion, the evaluation instrument stated that, “The School Committee recognizes that Superintendent Vogel has done an excellent job leading the Lynnfield School District during the 2021-2022 school year.”
“The School Committee views Superintendent Vogel as a passionate and excellent educational leader who leads with students, families and the faculty and staff’s best interests in mind,” the evaluation instrument stated. “This is evidenced by the work that is done by continuing to build a high-functioning Administrative Leadership Team, excellent and focused professional development opportunities for teachers and staff, as well as increased opportunities for student voice, choice, representation and advocacy as she is continuously looking for ways to improve the district.”
Reaction
After Hayman finished giving an overview of the evaluation, he thanked Sjoberg for compiling it as well as the rest of the committee for completing individual evaluations.
School Committee member Kate DePrizio noted that this year marked the first time she has evaluated a superintendent.
“I want to thank Kristen,” said DePrizio. “I appreciate all of our thoroughness as well. We really took the time to hone in on things that are important to each of us and the district as a whole.”
School Committee member Phil McQueen called the proficient ratings Vogel received “really, really good.”
“Exemplary requires superintendents to model behaviors both statewide and even nationally,” said McQueen. “That is a growth area for the future.”
School Committee Vice Chair Stacy Dahlstedt said evaluating a superintendent’s job performance is one of the most important initiatives a school board undertakes.
“It warranted the time and dedication you put in,” said Dahlstedt. “You often say that our students are your true north and they guide your compass. I really think that you base every decision around that belief. You have worked to make sure all of our students and families are safe, welcomed, included, and their academic and social-emotional skills are being met. You do all of that and so much more. It’s a pleasure to work with you, and I am confident you will continue to move the district forward.”
Vogel thanked the School Committee for giving her a positive review.
“It was incredibly thoughtful,” said Vogel. “It’s always good to get feedback. I don’t know if I will ever be exemplary. It’s always good to be continually growing. That is how I have always been as an educator. I don’t do this alone, and I am only as good as the people around me. I have a good team.”
