As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. 1. “Administrator” means an individual holding a professional administrator license issued under chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3, who is employed in a school district administrative position by a school district or area education agency pursuant to a contract issued by a board of directors under section 279.23 and is engaged in instructional leadership. An administrator may be employed in both an administrative and a nonadministrative position by a board of directors and shall be considered a part-time administrator for the portion of time that the individual is employed in an administrative position.
2. 2. “Beginning administrator” means an individual serving under an administrator license, issued by the board of educational examiners under chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3, who is assuming a position as a school district principal or superintendent for the first time.
3. 3. “Comprehensive evaluation” means a summative evaluation of a beginning administrator conducted by an evaluator in accordance with section 284A.3 for purposes of determining a beginning administrator’s level of competency for recommendation for licensure based on the Iowa standards for school administrators adopted pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 27.
4. 4. “Department” means the department of education.
5. 5. “Director” means the director of the department of education.
6. 6. “Evaluation” means a summative evaluation of an administrator used to determine whether the administrator’s practice meets school district expectations and the Iowa standards for school administrators adopted pursuant to section 256.7, subsection 27.
7. 7. “Mentor” means an individual employed by a school district or area education agency as a school district administrator or a retired administrator who holds a valid license issued under chapter 256, subchapter VII, part 3. The individual must have a record of four years of successful administrative experience and must demonstrate professional commitment to both the improvement of teaching and learning and the development of beginning administrators.
8. 8. “School board” means the board of directors of a school district or a collaboration of boards of directors of school districts.
9. 9. “State board” means the state board of education.

2006 Acts, ch 1182, §28 C2007, §284A.1 2007 Acts, ch 108, §50, 60 CS2007, §284A.2 2009 Acts, ch 177, §43; 2010 Acts, ch 1183, §35; 2014 Acts, ch 1135, §28; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §2596