Dr. Maureen Cassidy

Executive Director of Multilingual Services @School_D15, AASA Aspiring Superintendent Academy for Female Leaders, Adjunct Professor @OlivetNazarene, IACBE Board

[𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐝 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 @DrBradJohnson]

Veteran teachers don’t struggle with feedback because they’re unwilling to grow.
The issue is the system treats a first-year teacher and a 20-year teacher the same. That doesn’t make sense.
A new teacher is building a foundation. They need structure, modeling, and direct feedback. A veteran teacher is in a different place. They’ve taught thousands of lessons, worked with hundreds of students, and refined their craft. They need someone who can challenge them and understand their level.

But the system applies the same rubric, checklist, and process to everyone.

And it’s not working.
Large-scale evaluation reforms haven’t shown meaningful gains in student achievement. In another study, only about one in four teachers said feedback actually improved their teaching.

That should tell us something.
The strongest research points elsewhere. Instructional coaching shows significant improvement in both teaching and student outcomes. Why? It’s ongoing, specific, and grounded in real classrooms. It meets teachers where they are.

That’s the difference.
You can standardize evaluation, but you can’t standardize growth.

We’ve tried to fix weak feedback by making it more standardized. The problem isn’t the form. It’s the fit.
This isn’t about administrators doing something wrong. Most are doing what they’ve been asked to do. The system just doesn’t match the complexity of the work.

A veteran teacher doesn’t need more boxes checked. They need someone who understands what they’re trying to do and can think with them at a high level.
Evaluation should be less about judging and more about helping.
More aspirational. More conversational.

Not “Here’s what to fix,” but:
What are you working on?
What’s been effective?
Where do you want to grow?
Because growth is voluntary. You can require evaluation, but you can’t force improvement.
That comes down to credibility and relevance.
Teachers act on feedback when they believe the person giving it understands their work, content, and students.

That’s why coaching works. It’s ongoing, specific, and built around real practice. It creates ownership, not compliance.

Veteran teachers don’t ignore feedback because they think they know everything. They ignore feedback that doesn’t match their level.

After enough years, you learn to filter what helps from what just checks a box.

Because growth isn’t one-size-fits-all.

And pretending it is doesn’t make it better. It just makes it look more organized.

References:
National Bureau of Economic Research
American Educational Research Association / American Educational Research Journal
Review of Educational Research

[Dr. Maureen Cassidy @drmoeduc8s]

I had the honor of sharing with Senator Craig Wilcox, the impact of our Mentor Mom Program. This partnership with YFC brings parents into classrooms as valued contributors and creates stronger connections between students, teachers, and parents. @School_D15 @edgar_dlm_gtz

[Edgar De La Mora @edgar_dlm_gtz]

Today, our 4th and 5th grade Dual Language teachers spent the day "Buffin' the BUFs" AKA working on developing our biliteracy units even further. Proud of their work and commitment. #ELevateYourTeaching #ELevaTuEnseñanza @drmoeduc8s @School_D15

[Dr. Maureen Cassidy @drmoeduc8s]

Our Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers put in the hard work this week to buff our BUFs! Thankful for such committed educators working with our little learners. @edgar_dlm_gtz @mchenry

[Help A Teacher @HelpATeacher]

Powerful message. 📚

[McHenry School District 15 @School_D15]

Save the Date!

Join us for Kindergarten Kickoff on April 16th from 5:30pm - 7:30 PM!

We can’t wait to welcome our newest learners!

[Dr. Maureen Cassidy @drmoeduc8s]

Today at the ITBE conference, Diep was our keynote speaker. She shared part of her incredible journey as an immigrant in this country. I was fortunate enough to have her as a professor at NIU when I was getting my ESL endorsement. She is so inspiring! @ITBE

[🌍 Dr. Vαℓєηтιηα Gσηzαℓєz ♥️🙌🏽 @ValentinaESL]

Language does not develop in a vacuum.

It grows in relationship.
In conversation.
Through meaningful use.
With real people, for real purposes.
Students don’t “pick up” language just by sitting in a classroom. They develop it when they are:
🧠Talking
🧠Thinking
🧠 Reading
🧠Writing
🧠Problem-solving
🧠Connecting ideas to their lives
If we want strong language development, we have to design learning environments rich with interaction, context, and purpose not silence, worksheets, and isolation,

#languagelearning #bilingual #teaching #ESLteacher

[Dr. Maureen Cassidy @drmoeduc8s]

Still riding the GLAD wave from last week. So proud of these ladies and our students! @OCDEProjectGLAD @School_D15 @edgar_dlm_gtz

[Dr. Maureen Cassidy @drmoeduc8s]

@ValentinaESL Congratulation DR!!! One of my favorite moments of my entire life. So much hard work, dedication and perserverance.

[Dr. Maureen Cassidy @drmoeduc8s]

It was wonderful!!!

[Edgar De La Mora @edgar_dlm_gtz]

Author, Miguel Briones (https://t.co/YGob07Ua8H), presented to all of our Kinder and 1st-grade DL students at @School_D15. He talked about being able to express our emotions and being "Macho" no "Machismo" @drmoeduc8s @HT_Hawks @VV_Voyagers @EB_Roadrunners @RW_Rascals

[Dr. Maureen Cassidy @drmoeduc8s]

I am speaking at ITBE 51st Annual Convention. Please check out my talk if you're attending the event! - via #Whova event app

[McHenry School District 15 @School_D15]

We will be hosting the McHenry County School District Job Fair at the D15 Administration Office on Saturday, March 7th, from 9 am to 12 pm. Join us to learn about career opportunities in education and connect with school districts from across McHenry County!

[Dr. Maureen Cassidy @drmoeduc8s]

Our ACCESS “Directors” (aka ELD gurus) are receiving premiere “swag” prior to the beginning of testing. Lights! Camera! ACCESS! #ACCESS26 #nowshowing #starstudents⭐️

[Dr. Maureen Cassidy @drmoeduc8s]

This year’s ACCESS testing theme is: Lights! Camera! ACCESS! Our students are the STARS! Coming Soon: ACCESS 2026! @edgar_dlm_gtz

[Dr. Maureen Cassidy @drmoeduc8s]

@ValentinaESL You’ve got this!!!

[Dr. Maureen Cassidy @drmoeduc8s]

Some great resources here!

[Kyle Niemis 🔜 #ISTE26 @KyleNiemis]

All of these sheets of free resources have been a huge hit, so I put them together in one sheet to make it easier for everyone😀

https://t.co/9olEwnT2FG

Now the big question is what should I make next?
Taking requests if you have something you really want 😎

@waygroundai #edtech #edchat #teachers #letsfindaway #wayground #quizizz #teachertwitter

[🌍 Dr. Vαℓєηтιηα Gσηzαℓєz ♥️🙌🏽 @ValentinaESL]

MTSS for MLLs…an important question we should ask says Jamie Scripps is, “Are we using appropriate scaffolds for their proficiency level?”

https://t.co/HTl566xK7e

[Dr. Maureen Cassidy @drmoeduc8s]

Massive congratulations to my GLAD rockstars, Alise Gaughan and Megan Waxler! Last night’s BOE presentation was just the beginning. Your dedication is inspiring and I’m honored to work alongside you.
@OCDEProjectGLAD @School_D15 @edgar_dlm_gtz

[Dr. Maureen Cassidy @drmoeduc8s]

I am selling items and donating profits. I must warn you that some of the items are a bit “spicy”, but so am I! Enter if you dare and if you like what you see, please share so I can make a bigger impact. Make sure to click View All https://t.co/qQPhWtQpLI