What Gets Measured Gets Improved: The Role of Data in Teacher Development

by Dr. Brad Hunter, Vice President of Operations and Product at Harris Education Solutions & former Assistant Superintendent

“Measurement” can be a loaded word in education. Done poorly, it can feel like a compliance exercise. Done well, it becomes a catalyst for professional growth, stronger instruction, and better student outcomes. The difference isn’t the presence of data—it’s how that data is organized, surfaced, and used in daily practice. 

That’s where eDoctrina’s Accountability Suite stands out. It’s designed less as a scoreboard and more as a coaching system—giving educators timely, trustworthy information they can act on, and giving leaders a clear, coherent picture of progress without burying anyone in paperwork. 

Turning accountability into growth
When teachers can see where they’re thriving and where they can improve—in real time—they can adjust instruction, seek targeted support, and track the impact of changes. eDoctrina’s approach is to put that kind of clarity at educators’ fingertips. Instead of waiting for end-of-year summations, teachers and leaders can engage in ongoing, evidence-based conversations. The most important person to influence student achievement other than teachers is the school principal, through their ability to give teachers quality feedback, whether it be affirmation, or suggestions for improvement and change. This shifts accountability from a once-a-year event to a continuous cycle of feedback, reflection, and improvement.  

Bringing everything into one coherent picture 
In many districts, important evidence lives everywhere: observation notes in one system, student learning goals in another, growth measures in a third. That fragmentation makes it hard to see patterns or build a shared understanding of progress. A core strength of eDoctrina’s Accountability Suite is how it brings the most important pieces together. The result is a single, consistent “source of truth” that reduces guesswork and eliminates the spreadsheet chaos that too often derails meaningful dialogue.

Clarity that builds trust
Data only improves practice when educators trust it. eDoctrina helps build that trust by making expectations visible and evidence easy to understand. Teachers can see how goals connect to daily practice, how observations track against agreed-upon criteria, and how student outcomes relate to instructional decisions. That transparency fosters psychological safety: educators know what’s being measured, why it matters, and how to move the needle.

Consistency that supports equity
One of the quiet challenges in any evaluation system is consistency—ensuring that feedback is fair across classrooms, grade levels, and schools. eDoctrina supports leaders in providing calibrated, consistent feedback so educators are evaluated on the same standards in the same way. That consistency amplifies equity, reduces ambiguity, and makes recognition, growth plans, and decisions feel more defensible and fair.

Real-time insight, real-time course correction
Instruction moves fast. Teachers need to know what’s working now, not months later. With clear views of progress throughout the cycle, educators can adjust strategies midstream, and leaders can pinpoint who needs support and who is ready to stretch further. Professional learning communities, department teams, and instructional coaches all benefit from having a current, shared view of performance. It accelerates improvement because it shortens the feedback loop.

Less friction, more coaching time
The administrative burden of observation, goal-setting, and progress monitoring can sap time and energy from the work that matters most: coaching and teaching. eDoctrina reduces that friction with streamlined workflows and intuitive tracking. When the busywork fades into the background, leaders can spend more time in classrooms, giving targeted feedback and supporting instructional practice. Teachers gain back time for planning and collaboration.

Teacher ownership and agency
Growth sticks when it’s owned by the person doing the growing. eDoctrina is designed to make teachers active participants in their development—setting goals, monitoring progress, reflecting on evidence, and celebrating wins. That sense of ownership transforms data from something done to teachers into something used by teachers. It nurtures a culture where reflection is habitual and improvement feels attainable.

From the classroom to the district office
The same qualities that help individual educators grow also help district leaders steer improvement at scale. Clear, aggregated views of progress make it easier to spot system-wide strengths and gaps, align professional learning, and allocate resources where they’ll have the biggest impact. When leaders can see patterns without losing the nuance of individual classrooms, they’re better positioned to support both equity and excellence. 

A practical scenario
Imagine a teacher starts the year by identifying a student learning goal aligned to local priorities. Early observations surface specific strengths and a couple of growth areas tied to instructional moves. Rather than waiting for a final rating, the teacher and coach review evidence mid-cycle, adjust strategies, and check back a few weeks later to see what changed. By spring, the teacher can point to clear, documented growth—supported by classroom evidence, student outcomes, and aligned feedback. It’s not about chasing points/ratings; it’s about telling a credible story of progress that everyone can see. 

In short, eDoctrina helps districts turn accountability into a lever for professional learning. It’s the difference between measuring for compliance and measuring for growth—and it’s how schools make “what gets measured gets improved” true in practice.

Discover how eDoctrina’s Accountability Suite can transform accountability from a compliance task into a catalyst for growth:

CLICK HERE to schedule a demo today.

With 33 years of education experience, Dr. Brad Hunter has built his expertise from the ground up. Starting as a paraprofessional, he moved through essential roles like teacher, principal, and director for various departments including Federal Programs and Pre-K. He eventually took on the role of Assistant Superintendent for K-12 Operations and Curriculum in Lee County, Alabama. Brad’s academic credentials are a perfect match for this practical experience. He holds a range of degrees, from bachelor’s in psychology and human services to master’s degrees in education and reading, all the way to an Education Specialist in Administration and a Ph.D. in Curriculum Development. His experience has given him firsthand insight into the challenges school systems face every day. As Vice President of Operations and Product at Harris Education Solutions, Brad’s goal is to partner with the HES team to design software that not only addresses these challenges but also empowers educators and students to thrive.