A T.E.A.M. Approach for Evaluating School Counselors

Educational reform has turned its focus on professional educator evaluation systems that require multiple data sources. In 2012, the Tennessee Educator Acceleration Model (TEAM) School Services Personnel Rubric was developed to evaluate school counselors. In response, a study was conducted during the first year of TEAM use to investigate school counselors’ experiences using this assessment and to explore their perceptions of its alignment with their role and functions. Results indicated that TEAM rubric domains and indicators measure much of what school counselors do, but more revisions are needed. Also, we found that more evaluator training is needed to ensure effective use of the TEAM rubric and counselor confidence in the evaluation system. Implications for counselors and training programs in other states are discussed.