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What is PAR?
PAR stands for “Peer Assistance and Review.” It is a nationally recognized program designed to improve teacher quality, increase teacher retention, and ultimately increase student achievement. This program consists of 30 highly-qualified and highly-skilled Consulting Teachers (CTs) who provide student-centered coaching and support to their client teachers. The PAR program is a collaborative partnership among the Teachers Association of Baltimore County (TABCO), the Council of Administrators and Supervisory Employees (CASE), and the Baltimore County Public School system (BCPS).
What is the PAR Program's Mission?
The mission of the PAR program is to empower teachers to become reflective practitioners who foster a safe and supportive learning environment where all students have equitable access to high-quality, culturally responsive instruction that disrupts dominant narratives and maximizes student achievement.
What do Consulting Teacher's do?
Consulting Teachers (CTs) utilize the coaching cycle to identify growth opportunities, reflect on instruction with teachers, and plan for individualized professional learning experiences. CTs observe classroom instruction and provide client teachers with information about strategies for teaching and improving student achievement. Suggestions for resources are made based upon BCPS’ philosophy and initiatives. CTs conduct frequent classroom visits and facilitate coaching conversations aligned with the components of the BCPS Framework for Teaching and Learning. CTs also offer informal feedback, peer observations, co-teaching, co-planning, and other supports as appropriate.
Who is supported by PAR?
PAR provides a structure and personnel to support teachers who are new to the profession, some second year teachers, and tenured teachers who have been referred to PAR as a result of the Tenured Teacher Review Process.
How long has the PAR program been in BCPS?
The Peer Assistance and Review program is in its 12th year in BCPS. The program started in the 2013-2014 school year and has supported over 6,970 teachers!
What is the impact of the program?
Each year during the fall and the spring client teachers are invited to complete a survey in order to provide feedback regarding their work with CTs and for the improvement of the PAR program. The data is an indicator of the success of the program. Recent data showed that 99% of client teachers agreed or strongly agreed that their CT provided useful data-driven feedback, 99% agreed or strongly agreed that their CT set data aligned goals to help them improve practice, and 97% agreed that their CT directed them to or provided them with resources to enhance skills around planning and implementation of curriculum.
If you have any questions, please reach out to Frank Soda, Resource Teacher, for more information.