The essential purpose of the Excellence in Teaching (EIT) program at Ursuline High School is to provide a framework or common language with which we can discuss, assess, and improve our teaching. To this end, we at Ursuline have identified essential characteristics of excellent teaching, organized within six general categories. You can download a one-page graphic summary of these characteristics, as well as a two-page overview of the program that includes a description of each category and its essential characteristics. You can also learn more about these characteristics by downloading any of the six category files listed below, which include key descriptors for each characteristic and corresponding rubrics.

A team of Ursuline High School administrators and faculty incorporated the Excellence in Teaching program in the summer of 2010. The program began with a model developed and used by Research for Better Teaching in Acton, Massachusetts. A number of other resources have been integrated into the program as well, including the work of Catholic educators.

Evaluation Procedures

Program Documents

• EIT Characteristics & Individual Rubrics
• EIT Summary Sheet

Observation Forms

• Collegial Observation Form(pdf)
• Standard Observation Form(pdf)

Reflection Documents

• Student Questionaire Reflection Sheet(pdf)
• Professional Growth Self-Reflection Tool(pdf)