TPS officer instrumental in assessing teachers
By RANDY KREHBIEL World Staff Writer on Jan 1, 2013, at 2:22 AM Updated on 1/01/13 at 6:46 AM
Talia Shaull is Tulsa Public Schools' chief human capital officer. JAMES GIBBARD / Tulsa World
Talia Shaull says her job as Tulsa Public Schools' chief human capital officer is to assure effective teachers and staff members in every classroom.
When she says that, Shaull is talking specifically about TPS. But she could be talking about almost every school in Oklahoma. The teacher assessment and development program Shaull helped create for TPS is now used by more than 500 districts in the state.
"She brings a real commitment ... for excellence," Tulsa Superintendent Keith Ballard said.
Shaull does not come from a traditional education background. She worked in the business world for several years after graduating from Oral Roberts University, then at the Community Services Council, where she was in charge of programs for Hispanic students.
A native of Peru, Shaull had moved to Seattle with her family while in high school.
"I spoke no English," she said. "I was the only Hispanic student in an 850-student high school."
Shaull came to TPS three years ago as the result of a recommendation from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that the district bring in administrators from outside the usual education circles. Her first assignment was reorganizing the English as a Second Language program.
Next, she was given responsibilities for developing a teacher assessment program.
"Our task was to implement a program to assess the effectiveness of teachers and how to provide training to improve them where there were gaps," Shaull said.
"I am a product of ... public school. I know what schools can do to help or to hurt."
