TEACHER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (TAP)
The Perrysburg Teacher Assistance Program (TAP) is designed to bring direct, focused help to teachers experiencing problems in the classroom or in professional non-instructional areas. Such problems might include, but not be limited to, one or more of the following: poor classroom management, inadequate preparation, emotional instability or inappropriate teaching methods. It offers straightforward, specific procedures for dealing with classroom teaching problems. The procedures protect students from unsatisfactory teacher performance and teachers from arbitrary action on the part of the school board or administration.
The purpose of this program is to assist teachers in making significant improvements in their performance. In no way will it be construed that the (TAP) will supplant state law procedures for the dismissal of tenured teachers. A step by step description of this program is presented below.
I. Placement into TAP will be made by the principal, with a written letter of notification to the teacher to be signed in acknowledgment. Copies will be sent to the Superintendent, Director of Curriculum & Certificated Personnel and personnel file. Placement in TAP requires that the referred teacher meet with the TAP committee, within ten (10) working days of notification.
II. Development of the TAP plan- TAP committee will develop TAP plan or determine that no further TAP action is appropriate.
A. TAP Committee (meet within ten (10) working days from notification
1) Principal
2) Director of Curriculum & Certificated Personnel
B. Referred teacher will have the opportunity to provide input to the committee and/or to make any formal statement desired.
C. Components of TAP:
1) Specific areas needing improvement
2) Specific suggestions/strategies for improvement
3) Specific expectations of improvement
4) Provisions for formal classroom observation by principal, assistant principal and/or central office administrator
5) As appropriate, provisions for informal observations and discussion by appropriate resource personnel such as university professors or teaching colleagues
6) Resources available for TAP
a. Visit to other classes/schools
b. Teaching colleagues.
c. University professor
d. Professional literature/media
e. Professional workshop/seminars/course work
f. Director of Curriculum & Certificated Personnel
7) Provisions for progress conferences
8) Provisions for written reports of progress conferences
9) A time line for implementation
10) The TAP plan shall be written by the teacher and the superintendent.
11) A summary TAP conference
12) A summary committee report, including signatures of committee members and signature of acknowledgment by the referred teacher
13) Copies of the summary committee report will be sent to the teacher, principal, and the superintendent.
(This list is not necessarily all inclusive.)
III. Continuation or Discontinuation of TAP Plan - Principal's Decision
1) If the problem has been corrected and has improved to a satisfactory level, then the teacher should be removed from the program.
2) If the problem has not been sufficiently corrected and further assistance is judged to be useful, then the teacher should be continued in the program.
3) If the problem has not been corrected and further assistance is judged to be futile, then the teacher should be discontinued from the program, and informed of their employment status.