Teacher Evaluation & the Issue of Feedback with Guest Helen Hazi, PHD

This episode features our conversation with long-time friend and colleague, Dr. Helen Hazi, Professor Emerita at West Virginia University. Through extensive reviews of literature on the role of feedback in teacher evaluation, Dr. Hazi challenges the persistent assumption that feedback, when properly given, will lead to the improvement of teaching, and in turn, to improved student outcomes. She contends this is far too simplistic a way of thinking about education with all of its complexity and uncertainty. Through our conversation, we catch glimpses of the scholarly thinking that earned Dr. Hazi the 2019 Distinguished Research Award from the Supervision and Instructional Leadership Special Interest Group of the American Education Research Association. Although she has officially retired from life at the university, she commented, “I now have time to really study the research literature. This is something I enjoy and want to find ways to share the wisdom I’ve accumulated through a professional lifetime.” For us, this exemplifies what we consider to be stewardship of the profession.