The superintendent of a southern New Mexico school district said he supports the state's controversial teacher evaluation system, but has also gone against the state's policy by renewing the license of a teacher who received low ratings.
The testimony from Superintendent Tom Burris of the Roswell Independent School District came Tuesday, the third day of hearings in Santa Fe on a lawsuit filed by teachers and Democratic lawmakers.
The suit calls for a temporary injunction to stop evaluations based on testing.
Burris said he signed the renewed license application of a teacher who wasn't rated effective because his district is struggling with a staff shortage and he can't afford to lose any more teachers.
Burris said the evaluation system overall is a positive step in improving teacher's performance.
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