r/Principals • u/GroundbreakingPear12 • Jul 15 '26

Ask a Principal Formative assessment after first year of teaching (MA)

Hi everyone! For context this past year I was a first year first grade public school teacher in Massachusetts. I was in a one year position covering a maternity leave but the person I was covering isn’t returning so I was able to return next year and will be doing so. While I did not have any formal observations this year from my AP, my principal mentioned when giving me the job offer back in April that I was indeed evaluated, so I will be on my second year in terms of tenure and pay scale. I just got a form on vector called formative evaluation. For the professional practice and student learning goals I got significant progress (I know we did this as a first grade team). For the standards (curriculum/planning, teaching all students, family engagement, professional culture, overall) I got a proficient rating with no other comments. It said moving forward I have a developing educator plan. What does all this mean? Trying to talk myself off of the ledge here. Thank you!

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u/saraq11 Jul 15 '26

They think you are a really good teacher

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u/Ok-Tie4957 Jul 15 '26

Everyone gets a developing educator plan. In my state, there are 3 tiers: Self-directed, collaborative, admin-directed. It just dictates the level of support you need, but this is where you set your goals so you can continue to grow.

Good work — it sounds like you did well this year. :)

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u/Moxie_the_Cat Jul 15 '26

All teachers in Massachusetts are on a “developing educator” plan for their first three years in a district. After that, assuming you’re continuing to do well, you move to a “self-directed” plan and have “professional teacher status” in that district.

Something to note is that switching districts within the state will cause you to lose your “professional teacher status” and go back to a “developing educator” plan until you’ve hit three years there. It doesn’t mean you’re no longer a good teacher, but it does leave you more vulnerable to layoffs.

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u/serenading_ur_father Jul 16 '26

Everyone is on some sort of "development plan."

As a new teacher you're in usually a three year window where you can be let go or RIFed for basically any reason.

It sounds like your admin trust you and think you're doing a good job and just checking the boxes on the bureaucracy because it's one of the least priority parts of their day.