Certified Staff

The purpose of the Platte County Educator Performance Improvement Cycle (EPIC) model is to provide a collaborative process for teachers and administrators to have meaningful dialogue to enhance professional growth and to ensure student achievement.

The committee that developed the EPIC model examined the nine standards and thirty six indicators provided within the state model. In the end, the committee decided to combine the nine standards into five "Platte County Pillars" that would provide the framework of emphasis within the new system. The Pillars, or themes, that were created were; Classroom Climate, Instructional Design, Instructional Delivery, Student Growth/Data Analysis, and Professionalism. These standards have associated indicators, which provide a clear description of what is expected within each professional pillar. Our committee combined several of the state indicators and reduced the total number to twenty-six, which are spread evenly throughout the five professional pillars (see below).

Educators will be asked to select two indicators to work on throughout a given year. Educators will meet with their building administrator(s) to discuss the purpose of the selected indicators and what data they will be collecting to provide evidence of growth throughout a given year. Planned formal observations have been replaced with four learning walks, performed throughout the year by administrators, in hopes of collecting various pieces of information regarding regular classroom practices to use as feedback for their teachers. This model embraces targeted goal setting, data collection, self-reflection and focuses on the improvement of teaching to positively impact student learning.

EPIC Handbook 2017-18
EPIC Handbook
School Counselor EPIC Handbook
School Counselor EPIC Handbook

Before beginning the EPIC process with your administrator, please familiarize yourself with the evaluation platform hosted by Frontline Education, by viewing the videos below. Best viewed by clicking "full screen."

EPIC Pillars
Pillar Quality Indicators
Pillar 1:
Classroom Climate
  • Diverse social and cultural perspectives
  • Classroom management techniques
  • Management of time, space, transitions, activities and student groupings
  • Classroom, school, and community culture
  • Learner expression in speaking, writing, and other media
Pillar 2:
Instructional Design
  • Content knowledge and academic language
  • Disciplinary research and inquiry methodologies
  • Interdisciplinary instruction
  • Theory of learning
  • Instructional goals and differentiated instructional strategies
  • Student learning, growth, and development
Pillar 3:
Instructional Delivery
  • Student engagement in subject matter
  • Implementation of curriculum standards
  • Appropriate use of instructional resources to enhance student learning
  • Technology and media communication tools
Pillar 4:
Student Growth/Data Analysis
  • Cognitive, social, emotional, and physical development
  • Student goals
  • Effective use of assessments to determine instructional impact on individual and class learning
  • Student-led assessment strategies
  • Communication of student progress and maintaining student data
Pillar 5:
Professionalism
  • Collaborative data analysis
  • Self-assessment and improvement for professional learning
  • Professional commitments responsibilities and ethical practices
  • Induction and collegial activities
  • Collaborating to meet student needs
  • Cooperative partnerships in support of student learning