Seattle Schools Community Forum

This is going to be a difficult post to write because it is sad to see what looks like a norm now at JSCEE. The norm I speak of is largely an occurrence with principals as well as JSCEE senior staff. I also know that this is not going to surprise most who works at JSCEE. The norm I'm referring to is the one where some personnel have personal connections within the district that sees them moving between jobs and even getting promoted based on those relationships. In short, nepotism.  This district is risk-adverse when it comes to personnel. They are deathly afraid of being sued for any kind of "wrongful termination" and tend to crumble if challenged. You do that enough and employees realize they can do almost anything and not fear any repercussions.  I would also venture to say that if people are employed at JSCEE long enough, they tend to see many damning occurrences. Meaning, if their job gets threatened, they know where bodies are buried and use that info to protect...

 The latest evidence? The story in yesterday's Seattle Times about the district " auditing partnerships after program manager arrest." Background The proposed audit comes after a program manager with City Year, a nonprofit that provides extra staff such as tutors to help teachers, was arrested in December. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office charged Gregory Ward with rape of a child in the second degree and communication with a minor for immoral purposes last month. Bail was set at $250,000. After Ward’s arrest, the district suspended City Year’s services at the two schools and terminated the contracts Feb. 3 “for the convenience of the district.” SPS did not have to provide a specific reason for parting ways, according to the district.  So the district takes the program out of the two schools where this guy worked but allows the program at three other schools. If you are doing a review, should you hit the pause button until you are sure? What does the...

In advance of a very serious story about personnel in Seattle Schools, I did want to talk about principals and in specific, high school principals.  Currently, there are two schools with interim principals - Chief Sealth and Hale. Now I have learned that the wonderful Martin Floe at Ingraham High will be retiring soon (probably by the end of this school year).  I have to wonder what the district will do with Joe Powell who was principal at Alan T. Sugiyama High and was recently removed after an athletic tuition scandal. I would hope that he would not be placed at any of these larger high schools.  Then you have the installation of Principal Anitra Jones at Rainier Beach High School as an assistant principal. They already have two assistant principals and only the larger high schools have three. I'm not sure how the district can justify the expense of three for a smaller high school. But maybe, the district will pull an assistant principal from one of the larger high ...

Here's today's story in this morning's Seattle Times about the appointment of the former Rainier View Elementary principal, Anitra Jones, to Rainier Beach High School as an assistant principal.  (It appears they already have two assistant principals per their webpage but maybe one has left? SPS Communications doesn't answer my questions any longer and it does not appear that anyone at the Times thought to check this out before they published the article. Also, there is no mention in the article of having asked PASS (Principals' Association of Seattle Schools) for a comment. Jones was removed from Rainier View and assigned to the central administrative office in April amid complaints from parents and staff alleging that she had created a “toxic” learning and working environment at the school. Seattle Education Association President Meesh Vecchio said the union has communicated its concerns about Jones’ placement at Rainier Beach High. The union filed unfair lab...

As you are likely well aware, there is a hurricane going through our federal government. It's really no way to audit or judge the efficacy of any given department but here we are. The Department of Education is one such place. Clearly, the Republican administration literally hates this department, wants to destroy it, and favors "choice" education.   If I had a disabled child in K-12, I would be very worried.    As one university dean says: “I don’t think there’s an upside to the chaos and uncertainty that is being experienced in real time.” The GOP administration has nominated billionaire Linda McMahon of WWE fame as Secretary of Education.  From The 74 : After weeks of closure rumors and President Donald Trump pushing to shutter the U.S. Department of Education “immediately,” his education secretary nominee Thursday offered the strongest statement so far that the fate of the agency rests with Congress. “It clearly cannot be shut down without it,” L...

Seattle Schools had this to say: Dear Chief Sealth International families and staff, We are writing to share some important personnel information with you. At approximately 3 a.m. Sunday, Principal Ray Garcia-Morales was arrested by the Seattle Police Department for driving under the influence and reckless endangerment. He was immediately placed on administrative leave until further notice. According to court records, no charges were filed, and the case has been closed. As this is a personnel issue, further details are confidential to protect privacy rights. Assistant Principal Hope Perry will be stepping in to serve in his absence. Please feel free to reach out to her with school-related questions. As other questions arise concerning this sensitive matter, please send them to publicaffairs@seattleschools.org. Sincerely, Bev Redmond Chief of Staff Seattle Public Schools It is being reported that Principal Garcia-Morales resigned his post as principal.  Coverage...