Field Experience I

Going to a middle school in my county of employment was a wonderful experience to learn about the PGPP-T. The PGPP-T is defined as the Professional Growth Performance Plan for teachers. As an assistant principal it was eye opening to learn how teachers who piloted the program really felt. The stated how it was wonderful to have a tool that keeps both administrators and teachers accountable in the evaluation process. We had two perspective doctoral candidates as moderator and scribe for this focus group. The moderator and scribe had to switch positions during the focus group session. It gave each person a different role in the focus group. The experience was intense when we asked in depth questions. We probed deeper to get some teachers who were shy or did not want to speak an opportunity to express their concerns about the PGPP-T. We made sure that we did not ask any leading questions, but the questions we asked allowed us to gain the necessary data that we needed. I felt we both did great jobs as moderators and scribes. As for me, I wanted to get a feel for who these teachers were and was the information given genuine or fluff. The more we dialogued in the focus group the more I learned. It was a great experience and I enjoyed visiting this middle school in the county. The only mistake or glitch in this process was that we taped the focus group session, but we had no sound. We will do a voice over to provide audio. Just Kidding!!!