From Paperwork to Purpose: How GAT Revolutionizes Teacher Growth and Appraisal

In today’s complex international education landscape, effective teacher development is more critical—and more difficult—than ever. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce TIE’s Growth & Appraisal Tool (GAT): a modern, educator-led platform designed to transform teacher appraisal from a top-down task into a collaborative engine of growth.

Grounded in the Standards of Practice for International School Educators—developed by TIE, the Principals’ Training Center (PTC), and other global partners—GAT empowers educators to take ownership of their professional development while enabling school leaders to guide growth with clarity, flexibility, and less administrative burden.

• goal setting based on personal or school-wide priorities;
• uploading artifacts such as lesson plans, classroom videos, student work, and reflections;
• ongoing self-assessment and peer-supported reflection;
• connecting daily practice with professional standards that truly reflect the complexity of teaching.

This teacher-led approach not only fosters ownership and voice, but also ensures that appraisal becomes a meaningful part of the learning process—not a disconnected requirement.



Building Professional Culture Through Peer Engagement
GAT isn’t just about individual reflection, it’s about community learning. The platform encourages collaboration by making space for educators to:

• share evidence with colleagues;
• engage in peer feedback;
• explore what Standards look like across different roles and classrooms;
• create dialogue around teaching that leads to deeper professional growth.

Instead of chasing observations or generating long reports, leaders can:

• review curated, teacher-submitted evidence through personalized portals;
• engage in reflective, Standards-based conversations;
• support staff with role-specific resources for teachers, counselors, leaders, and Heads
• use GAT data to inform coaching, hiring, and accreditation.

With less time spent on paperwork and more on meaningful dialogue, leaders can focus on what matters most: building a culture where every educator feels seen, supported, and challenged to grow.