In chaos theory, small changes in initial conditions can have big knock-on effects through time.  Also, what’s happening at the macro scale and what’s happening at the micro recur.  Chaos isn’t about disorder. I’m thinking of things like the “law of unintended consequences” as well as the Peter Principle and Murphy’s Law.  Cliches, true, but there may be something to each of these.

For instance, what if a teacher is noted as excellent and well-organized?  Does she then get the toughest students?  Does she get the students with IEPs?  Over time, this can alter the teacher’s stress level as well as her test scores, thereby lowering her ratings?  This is a phenomenon similar to that where “no good deed goes unpunished.”  I’m cringing from all this cliche usage, but there are some good ideas to respond to here.

–IEPs are Individualized Education Plans, dealt with at CSE (Committee on Special Education) meetings. Rather than merely respond with the idealistic “Yes, but shouldn’t those teachers who love learning relish this yearly challenge?”, think through the chronic impact this might have on you as a teacher.