Thomas Guskey

Evaluating Professional Development - $30

In his book Evaluating Professional Development, Guskey (2000) analyzes the use of evaluations for educator growth opportunities. Guskey is a Professor of Educational Policy and Evaluation at the University of Kentucky. He is a regular presenter for the National Staff Development Council (NSDC) and one of the authors of the Standards for Staff Development. The text addresses the basics of professional development, methods for evaluation and how to improve upon the programs in a school or district. The Foreword, written by Dennis Sparks, heavily criticizes the ineffective professional development evaluation that has been and is still being used in educational systems around the world. Sparks also praises professional development as a growth process and compliments Guskey on the methods used in the book, including the suggestions offered to assist staff development planners.

    review by Scott D. Richman, University of South Florida, published in

    Education Review