284.2 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. “Beginning teacher” means an individual serving under an initial or intern license, issued under chapter 272, who is assuming a position as a teacher. “Beginning teacher” includes an individual who is an initial teacher. For purposes of the beginning teacher mentoring and induction program created pursuant to section 284.5, “beginning teacher” also includes preschool teachers who are licensed under chapter 272 and are employed by a school district or area education agency. “Beginning teacher” does not include a teacher whose employment with a school district or area education agency is probationary unless the teacher is serving under an initial or teacher intern license issued under chapter 272.

2. “Comprehensive evaluation” means a summative evaluation of a beginning teacher conducted by an evaluator for purposes of determining a beginning teacher’s level of competency, for recommendation for licensure based upon the Iowa teaching standards, and to determine whether the teacher’s practice meets the school district expectations for a career teacher.

3. “Department” means the department of education.

4. “Director” means the director of the department of education.

5. “Evaluator” means an administrator or other practitioner who successfully completes an evaluator training program pursuant to section 284.10.

6. “Intensive assistance” means the provision of organizational support and technical assistance to teachers, other than beginning teachers, for the remediation of identified teaching and classroom management concerns for a period not to exceed twelve months.

7. “Mentor” means an individual employed by a school district or area education agency as a teacher or a retired teacher who holds a valid license issued under chapter 272. The individual must have a record of three years of successful teaching practice, must be employed on a nonprobationary basis, and must demonstrate professional commitment to both the improvement of teaching and learning and the development of beginning teachers.

8. “Performance review” means a summative evaluation of a teacher other than a beginning teacher that is used to determine whether the teacher’s practice meets school district expectations and the Iowa teaching standards in accordance with section 284.8.

9. “School board” means the board of directors of a school district, a collaboration of boards of directors of school districts, or the board of directors of an area education agency, as the context requires.

10. “State board” means the state board of education.

11. “Teacher” means an individual who holds a practitioner’s license issued under chapter 272, or a statement of professional recognition issued under chapter 272 who is employed in a nonadministrative position by a school district or area education agency pursuant to a contract issued by a board of directors under section 279.13. A teacher may be employed in both an administrative and a nonadministrative position by a board of directors and shall be considered a part-time teacher for the portion of time that the teacher is employed in a nonadministrative position.

2001 Acts, ch 161, §3; 2002 Acts, ch 1152, §7, 8; 2003 Acts, ch 180, §37; 2006 Acts, ch 1182, §7 – 10; 2007 Acts, ch 108, §13, 14; 2008 Acts, ch 1181, §76; 2009 Acts, ch 177, §34; 2013 Acts, ch 121, §58