Dr. Goodloe-Johnson on KUOW
Dr. Goodloe-Johnson was a guest today on KUOW's Weekday program. I only heard the last 15 minutes but I'm planning on going to their archive to listen.
Tuesday Open Thread
The speaker list is up for the Board meeting tomorrow; not as packed as I thought with just four people on the waitlist. The majority of the speakers are speaking on high school boundaries (with several wanting to talk about Ballard High). There are only three of us speaking about the Green Dot resolution asking the City to not grant the zoning departures that Green Dot has requested. It's me, long-time watchdog, Chris Jackins, and the head of the Washington State Charter Schools Association, Patrick D'Amelio. (I knew Mr. D'Amelio when he headed the Alliance for Education and Big Brothers and Big Sisters; he's a stand-up guy.)
Comments
-RH
Given the fact that the stock and trade of the SPS is the top down autocratic mandate, it would be nice if "I don't know" would lead to more effective decision making in the future. Unfortunately given the NO APPEAL status of the absurd WSHS mandate to go to a 6 period day that looks unlikely.
It looks like now we will be ordered about by someone who at least has the courage to say "I don't know". Not much of an improvement over the Manhas regime but at least different.
Dan
When she got there the first question she got was from someone who'd asked why there were so few children on every bus - to which she almost abruptly said "I don't know" as if "end of story".
I'm glad she says "I don't know" rather than fluff some answer - but I would like it a lot better if she followed up with "I'll find out", and depending on the venue, named a contact to get the answer back to. Not always practical, and she could get bogged down getting answers back to people, but at the meetings or appearances I've heard (CPPS, PTA, View Ridge PTA, KUOW), there weren't that many questions.
She could also say "I'll find out and I'll know next time you ask me" if getting answers to organizations was unworkable.
She needs a driver - it's hard to find your way around a new city where things aren't laid out logically and there is no parking at venues.
I was also concerned about her comments about new teachers and her statement that not everyone can teach. We should not be finding that out once we hire them, but rather working closely with the universities to assist them as they train and counsel those going into the teaching profession. Does a first year teacher at Aki have the same experience as one at Eckstein?
I hope as she settles in she will truly be able to tackle the Seattle specific issues that our district faces. I've had enough of the canned remarks.
One observation: she likes the word "data." It's a trend in education to talk about "the data," and to treat evidence of learning in terms of what is quantifiable.
Like all trends, the pseudoscientific approach to education will pass away and be replaced by other trends.
I find it philosophically naive for so many of these PhD's in education to be putting such faith in numbers. It's indicative of a bad education.
Dr. GJ, it is time you talk to your secretaries. They know everything you need to know and can point you to the people in the district who you should listen to.
"Dr. GJ is trusting too many of the folks already plotting against her"
and
"She is too distracted with hearing what "reality" is from her senior leadership staff who are keeping her terribly uninformed."
Also, right on about talking to the admin assistants, receptionists, etc. They are the front-line people who hear and know a lot. I had been hoping to sit down with Dr. G-J and tell her to listen to EVERYBODY, take it with a grain of salt and read the Moss-Adams report (which she did write down when I mentioned it at a Board meeting).
Inquiring minds want to know.
As far as I can tell, she has brought in her own people to open positions (CFO/COO and High School Director) and other than that, has the same Senior Leadership team as the prior Sup.
I have worked for the district far longer than your ten years, and as far as I can tell from my JSCEE office, no one is hatching a coup de gras or is unhappy, save the deadwood that the rest of us are hoping are finally shown the door.
Dr. GJ is just getting ramped up. We will see the cut of her jib once she's able to wrap her arms around the many audits underway, reorganize central administration and identify the change agents necessary to carry out her vision. Patience, people...
It's disappointing that she's allowed the same communications folks to influence the way she engages with the community. I would have thought that the lack of savvy in that department would have been apparent enough to warrant immediate changes.
RH
"I find it philosophically naive for so many of these PhD's in education to be putting such faith in numbers. It's indicative of a bad education."
I may disagree. What is needed is an understanding of statistics, so that an understanding of what is happening can be gleened.
Unfortunately the current nation-wide rage is for School Central Administrations to say "Data Driven decision making" and have no intention of doing so.
What we've seen in Seattle recently has been a search for some numbers to justify decisions that were made without any statistical judgement.
Mr. Bernatek who understands statistics. Appears to be in a job where he is not allowed to use his expertise. He has to go cherry-picking to find numbers to support the Party Line.
What a city school system.
Dan
From listening and reading, it is apparent that Carla and Michelle are trying to out smart each other while vying for power. So with our most senior leadership distracted with who has the most power, it is no wonder that Dr. GJ is not well informed. She is going to be a fall person and these other two will continue to mislead the district.
If Dr. GJ is going to have a chance of success, she needs to look outside for support and leadership talent.
Said:"....and these other two will continue to mislead the district."
Absolutely correct.
So why does our school board have such little knowledge and lack the ability to recognize what much of the public can recognize?
I still see Dr. G-J as operating out of the correct guide to running a large school district in 2007. It all looks manufactured from what is going on elsewhere.
Dan