The Alberta Teachers’ Association

Question: I have received a request from central office to rate and comment on the work of substitute teachers in the school where I teach. What should I do?

Answer: The Alberta Teachers’ Association cautions members not to participate in this form of evaluation. Substitute teachers are our professional colleagues. After their first day of substitute teaching, they are active members of the Association throughout the school year. As members, ­substitute teachers are subject to and governed by the Code of Professional Conduct.

Any discussion about or report on a substitute teacher must respect the Code of Professional Conduct. Likewise, a substitute teacher must follow the code in his or her relationship with a teacher colleague. Section 13 of the code states that a “teacher criticizes the professional competence or professional reputation of another teacher only in confidence to proper officials and after the other teacher has been informed of the criticism, subject only to Section 24 of the Teaching Profession Act” (Section 24 refers to “Making a complaint”).

Section 14 states: “The teacher, when making a report on the professional performance of another teacher, does so in good faith and, prior to submitting the report, provides the teacher with a copy of the report, subject only to Section 24 of the Teaching ­Profession Act.”

The evaluation of a substitute teacher is the obligation of the principal or the superintendent, not school staff. Anonymous questionnaires are unprofessional and are a quick-and-dirty method of evaluation. As mentioned, the ATA cautions members not to participate in this form of ­evaluation.

Two ethical ways to handle questionnaires are as follows:

1. Refuse to participate.
2. Complete the questionnaire, sign it and return it to the substitute teacher. A substitute teacher who chooses to forward the completed questionnaire(s) to the superintendent can attach his or her own comments.

The Association endorses evaluation programs and procedures that satisfy reasonable criteria. Do not be party to an unethical procedure. Please urge your superintendent to contact the ATA for advice and assistance in establishing a sound and ethical evaluation policy and process.

For advice or information, please contact Member Services. Call 780-447-9400 (Edmonton and area), 403-265-2672 (Calgary and area) or 1-800-232-7208 (toll free from elsewhere in Alberta).

Questions for consideration in this column are welcome. Please address them to Gordon Thomas at Barnett House (gordon.thomas@ata.ab.ca).