Dr. Goodloe-Johnson's Q&A
Here is the Q&A from today's on-line Times' forum with Dr. Goodloe-Johnson. I submitted the question about what she said about SPS at an administrators' conference but it didn't make the cut for questions. (I don't know who vetted the questions.)
I thought she did pretty well except for the alternative schools question. I hate it when people don't directly answer the question put to them, namely, has she read the alternative schools policy and committee report? It's a simple question. I think our alternative schools may be quite different from what she has seen in the past and it may just be she hasn't visited enough of them to see the difference. That said, there's information right there at the headquarters.
I thought she did pretty well except for the alternative schools question. I hate it when people don't directly answer the question put to them, namely, has she read the alternative schools policy and committee report? It's a simple question. I think our alternative schools may be quite different from what she has seen in the past and it may just be she hasn't visited enough of them to see the difference. That said, there's information right there at the headquarters.
Comments
As with her KUOW interview, there was actually very little information about what she is going to do revealed. I wonder what she has seen in SPS that she actually would be willing to say she likes.
I would have loved to have seen the answer to your question, Melissa. I was shocked that a new superintendent would say those things to as very public audience. If employees weren't on the defensive already, they will be now.
How is curriculum different the method of teaching? I don't think she means the same outcomes, since curriculum goes far beyond the strict outcomes. Thanks.
For example- in my daughters alternative middle school, there were few field trips and fewer that were related to curriculum ( but widely varied by teacher- she didn't have a teacher that utilized outside the classroom instruction)
However, in her traditional high school, she went on a very hands on marine science overnight field trip,translated recipes in her language class and made a meal,and found that the traditional high school teachers were much more accessible and available for help and support outside the regular school day, than in her "family" oriented alternative school.
I think G-J is on the right track when she says that all schools should be expecting and supporting students to perform at the highest level- site based management- is very very good when it works, but when it doesn't, the kids suffer.