Texas Teacher Evaluation & Support System

T-TESS is designed to reflect the dynamic relationship between teaching and learning. Effective instruction involves a continuous feedback loop between teachers and students, and evaluating teaching practices requires close attention to how students respond to instruction. For this reason, the observable domains within T-TESS intentionally focus on both teacher actions and student engagement rather than treating them as separate components.

At its core, T-TESS promotes habits of continuous improvement through ongoing reflection, evidence-based feedback, and professional dialogue between teachers and appraisers. The Leadership Playbook supports this process by providing principals and leadership teams with a structured, month-by-month framework to implement key components of the evaluation system. Through aligned actions such as instructional walkthroughs, professional learning, data analysis, and coaching conversations, the Playbook helps campuses translate T-TESS expectations into consistent instructional leadership practices that strengthen teaching and learning.