More Info on the Firing of Ingraham's Principal
It was confirmed to me that Principal Martin Floe was fired (not RIFed).
Some staff were worried this might happen (based on visits by the Ex Director, Bree Dusseault).
Today, the staff passed, unanimously, a resolution of confidence in Martin Floe's leadership.
Principal Floe is appealing this decision, declining to resign. The resolution:
Whereas Martin Floe is a highly respected principal who has built Ingraham into a cohesive, caring and academically challenging high school;
Whereas he sets clear policy direction for an achievement-oriented school;
Whereas he maintains a balanced and holistic vision for the school;
Whereas he maintains a safe and secure learning environment in which students and staff can work without distraction;
Whereas he maintains an open-door policy for all members of the Ingraham community, including staff, students, alumni, and parents;
Whereas he is marked by his excellent listening skills and positive attitude;
Whereas he ensures that staff receives all the support and materials needed to bring
quality instruction to Ingraham’s students;
Whereas he supports staff in their care of students and encourages a collaborative approach in improving classroom instruction;
Whereas he maintains positive and productive relationships with the Ingraham parent community;
Whereas he has recruited and retained an award-winning staff that has gained the respect and gratitude of students and parents alike;
Whereas he has demonstrated a long record of fostering the development of the International Baccalaureate program;
Whereas he has fostered confidence in staff and in the parent community that the new APP Program will achieve success at Ingraham High School;
Whereas he is much beloved as an educator, leader, and colleague;
Be it therefore resolved that the staff of Ingraham High School expresses its confidence in the leadership of Principal Martin Floe.
Some staff were worried this might happen (based on visits by the Ex Director, Bree Dusseault).
Today, the staff passed, unanimously, a resolution of confidence in Martin Floe's leadership.
Principal Floe is appealing this decision, declining to resign. The resolution:
Whereas Martin Floe is a highly respected principal who has built Ingraham into a cohesive, caring and academically challenging high school;
Whereas he sets clear policy direction for an achievement-oriented school;
Whereas he maintains a balanced and holistic vision for the school;
Whereas he maintains a safe and secure learning environment in which students and staff can work without distraction;
Whereas he maintains an open-door policy for all members of the Ingraham community, including staff, students, alumni, and parents;
Whereas he is marked by his excellent listening skills and positive attitude;
Whereas he ensures that staff receives all the support and materials needed to bring
quality instruction to Ingraham’s students;
Whereas he supports staff in their care of students and encourages a collaborative approach in improving classroom instruction;
Whereas he maintains positive and productive relationships with the Ingraham parent community;
Whereas he has recruited and retained an award-winning staff that has gained the respect and gratitude of students and parents alike;
Whereas he has demonstrated a long record of fostering the development of the International Baccalaureate program;
Whereas he has fostered confidence in staff and in the parent community that the new APP Program will achieve success at Ingraham High School;
Whereas he is much beloved as an educator, leader, and colleague;
Be it therefore resolved that the staff of Ingraham High School expresses its confidence in the leadership of Principal Martin Floe.
Comments
But perhaps it could be done a bit earlier, maybe in February. When did open enrollment start?
It's appalling. Bait-and-switch indeed!
I just read this here, and this sounds like bad news for the school and for APP -- and another bait & switch by the district.
I agree that Floe's welcoming attitude towards APP -- as well as other positive things I had heard about him -- contributed greatly to people's confidence in the proposed APP/IB program there.
Has SPS thrown that out the window, conveniently AFTER open enrollment is done?
Seems to me that nothing has changed at SPS since Pottergate except the face of the supt. Business as usual.
Why was Floe fired?
His staff has issued a complete statement of CONFIDENCE in him, so this smells like a disruptive, possibly political move by SPS.
By the way, the "executive director" in charge of Ingraham's district is a young former charter school administrator named Bree Dussault, who was hired last year by corporate ed reformist Goodloe-Johnson. I have heard rumblings that she is not popular among school staffers in that district.
If Floe's firing is the result of corporate ed reform bullying, then Ingraham is no longer a desirable option for my kid or APP in my view.
Melissa -- do you have any more info?
--Sue P.
My daughter goes to Ingraham and it has been a non-stop string of positive experiences. Floe has always been approachable and nothing short of awesome from my perspective. Seattle has so many actual problems they could focus their resources on - why pick this?
I had some optimism that Enfield might actually follow through with her promise to focus the district on "teaching and learning", but sadly, JSCEE is not listening to their customers. Boo Bree Dussault! May your children be raised under TERC and CMP math!
I understand the need for anonymous comments but just give yourself a moniker; that's our blog policy.
I'm thinking maybe the ASB president at Ingraham might ask that Dr. Enfield not be invited to graduation to speak. I think Principal Floe deserves to see his last graduating class go out without the person who ousted him seated next to him.
Of course, he's such a class act, he would probably act in a gracious manner.
Ben
Ingraham class of 2005
If he's removed from Ingraham, we will probably take our high school kid out of SPS. Is that what the district wants? To send more parents fleeing?
How can this take place in five weeks?
Ms. Enfield: either you believe in community input and process or you don't. This is not a five week process...unless you have already picked the new principal.
Who is this Bree?
Washington Parent
We of the Ingraham staff unanimously signed the resolution that appears in another post on the blog. One staff member on paternity leave even left the hopsital once his wife and baby were in good condition to come in and sign it.
Signature was voluntary, and no-one was looking to see who signed--but at the end of the day, the number of signatures exactly matched the number of staff in the building.
The main charge against him, by the way, is that he 'fails to promote a culture of trust and collaboration in the building.' This, of course, is totally bogus. The building's culture actually one of Mr. Floe's best strengths.
Unfortunately, Ms. Dusseault never took the time to learn Ingraham's culture before she started her work on cutting Mr. Floe's legs out from under him.
Our resolution was drafted, approved, and signed in less than 24 hours. If this response by our staff is representative of a building with a lack of trust and collaboration...I'd like to see what a building that allegedly has a 'culture of trust and collaboration' could do!
Who is this Bree, and why does she have all the power? I didn't vote for her.
Unless something truly disgraceful is lurking in Floe's personnel files, this is a fat public misstep for Enfield and hopefully an SPS career-limiting mistake by Dusseault.
I hope Floe doesn't go quietly and that both of them have to defend their decision publicly every step of the way.
Not a Newbie
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Well clearly since Sundquist and Enfield are all about promoting increased trust in the district.... this was a great decision. Surely a principal failing to promote a culture of trust needs to go.
{So what have Enfield and Sundquist done to build trust other than talk about building trust?}
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It does not need to make any sense it is Educational Decision-making in Seattle=>
Seattle-- where words so often do not correspond with actions or connect to reality.
Speechless
The policy is clear and easy to find. It is posted directly between the words Leave your comment and the box where you type your comment.
It is the policy and practice of this blog to delete unsigned anonymous comments.
Upset parent
So far, all I can see is Melissa's comment that she heard that the reason was "he did not give 'adequate' support to staff for student achievement" and was not "toeing the curriculum alignment line." Is that all we know?
What is the district's explanation for the firing? Honestly, I don't know enough about Martin Floe to have an opinion, but what I find outrageous is that the district appears to feel no need to explain the firing at all. Anyone have any more information on the reason for the firing?
But this principal apparently rubbed the new ( as opposed to a principal who was tied to his school) director the wrong way & so he is immediately fired?
Public Disclosure Act (RCW 42.56) gives the right to request pubic records concerning school employee discipline.
To file, send written request to:
Office of General Counsel
Attn: Public Records Request
SPS: MS 32-151
PO Box 34165
Seattle, WA 98124
What is public, and what is protected by union rules/contracts?
Curious
So there's got to be more to the story. Perhaps this was not a surprise to Floe, if indeed normal channels were followed? If normal channels weren't followed, seems like Floe has a winnable legal case against the district (which is certainly not what we need from a PR or financial standpoint).
Here's a link to the Friends of Martin Floe Facebook page (you'll have to sign in).
In the building where I teach the principal has forced out at least six teachers in the last three years-more than in all my 20+ years experience combined.
Principals have been given quotas of teachers and charged with harassing them into leaving. This is done by inventing problems and documenting lies.
Since this is the culture that has been created in SPS I would not be surprised that this is what happened to Mr. Floe. Perhaps he didn't buy into that culture. It doesn't sound as if he did. Maybe he didn't meet his quota of trying to force teachers into accepting district schemes. Maybe he wasn't a lackey like Tolly and the others. If so I can see why it would profit the district to make an example of him.
I would never rise to my principal's defense. I don't know many teachers who would rise to their's. This means Floe must be exceptional.
What am I missing here? Seems like the IHS principal should be assigned to RBHS and that principal should have been let go.
But then again, they may be closing RBHS?
Guess the lull is over and the chaos begins, again.
Aargh! Why does this have to be behind a facebook-wall?!
As much as I value Mr. Floe (and I will continue to speak up on his behalf), I will not join the ranks of a vile and unethical company like facebook to do so.
Why not put this out on an *open* site, like a pubic wiki, or what's wrong with using this blog as a support forum??
-- feeling dirty just thinking about fb
Also, parents on the northend, Shoreline has lots of room and takes a lot of Seattle students at its high schools.
Susan
Mr Floe has been a great Leader. The school has grown and become great under his leadership. This is why we need to get rid of all upper management and let the Principals run the school District. Including the Board. They are worthless and costly.
In the building where I teach the principal has forced out at least six teachers in the last three years-more than in all my 20+ years experience combined.
I have seen this in our children's school, but there haven't been firings. Whatever the reasons for leaving, teachers have opted to retire or leave the District.
Perhaps some were encouraged or pressured to retire rather than be fired and have their employment record tarnished...which makes the situation with Ingraham seem odd.
Me thinks the honeymoon is over for Enfield.
Who is Bree Dusseault?
________________________________________________
Another facet of this story is the reported role of new Executive Director Brianna "Bree" Dusseault in the summary dismissal of Floe. She is one of former Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson's hires from last year. She came from the New Orleans Charter Middle School where she was principal for two years. She taught for a few years before that. Her husband, a former Teach for America, Inc. trainee, teaches in a middle school here. Dusseault is also affiliated with the Center on Reinventing Public Education, where she has written papers on charter school management. (The Gates Foundation has funded a study of charter school management by CRPE.) She is also a former resident of the Gates-funded New Leaders for New Schools, an enterprise that trains principals.
There have been reports in the blogs that Dusseault has not made a good impression on the school communities in the region she oversees, including Ingraham. In light of Dusseault's background in privatized public education, her connection to Teach for America, CRPE, and her hiring by Broad Foundation trained corporate ed reformer, Goodloe-Johnson, it's possible that Dusseault has brought with her the top-down, autocratic management style that Goodloe-Johnson was cited for, and is the hallmark of the corporate ed reform mindset.
--Sue p.
You what else will bite it from this? Garfield and its crowding problems. What APPers will want to voluntarily go to a school with bad blood boiling as undoubtedly will happen with a new leader entering in these circumstances.
And speaking of Garfield, how laughable that their principal retains his job in the face of clear academic "tampering" to keep an athlete eligible...yet Floe loses his.
Not impressed with Enfield's direction here. And the story is now on the front page of the Seattle Times, just like Garfield's debacle. More bad pr for our battered district.
Signed, with a nod to Dan Savage, No It Doesn't Get Better
Most families will just have to accept this for the coming year. It could easily hurt enrollement the following year. If the new principal is ok, then it might not.
Not saying this is fair (it doesn't sound like it is), just that the way the calendar is set up really encourages bait-and-switch moves after open enrollment. What can we do about that?
Frustrated parent of IHS student
http://www.truthout.org/koch-brother-buys-right-interfere-faculty-hiring-florida-state-university/1305128548
the influence of the billonaire boys' club can not be ignored...even in our own district and with the admins who run it like their own fiefdom...
-JC
Charlie, do you know for certain that APP students who signed up at Ingraham this year can switch back to Garfield for 10th grade?
We decided to go with a private high school for next year, do you happen know if an APP student can come back to Garfield in 10th grade if the private school doesn't work out?
Mandy
While APP students who chose Ingraham for high school during Open Enrollment for the 2011-2012 school year may not have the opportunity to switch it to Garfield, they will ALL have the opportunity to choose Garfield for their 10th grade year (2012-2013) during Open Enrollment and they will be assured of access.
Ol' Rufus here would not bet on this if we're looking at the past 3 years of SAP's and the yearly changes as a history of "How to Make and Keep Promises, Author: SPS". It would not shock me one bit if the "all pathways lead to Garfield" guaranteed APP access is eliminated at some point during the next two years. I suspect that was the plan before they shot themselves in the foot w/ this little Ingraham incident. But that's just me.
Rufus X
The better teachers you have, the higher your graduation rate -- so perhaps his vote of confidence comes from under-performing teachers who enjoy a level of protection (or perceived protection) from working with an under-performing principal?
While we don't attend Ingraham, we did start SPS this year (and ended up pulling our child out of Kindergarten in March).
I care about our schools and how be back in SPS next year. I highly recommend the book, "The Schools Our Children Deserve" by Alfie Kohn as well as finding a screening of "Race to Nowhere" (there is one at Coe Elementary on May 31st.)
Amy in Ballard
I think only APP students who live in the Garfield reference area could switch back to Garfield; others would have to be admitted on a "space available" basis (good luck with that).
The district is forever pointing out that APP at Garfield isn't a program but a cohort - it's the district's rationale for not allowing kids to join APP in 9th grade: technically, there's no program to enter.
I suspect that this technical issue would mean that kids who signed up for accelerated IB but don't live in the Garfield reference area will be S.O.L. if Mr. Floe's firing has them rethinking their decision.
The district has plenty of bad and blah principals - why fire one who appears to have been good? I am regularly perplexed by the way SPS administration ignores real problems and instead screws up things that were of real benefit to SPS students.
I was afraid of this, so I copied out the text from a wonderful post by a Garfield->Ingraham student. It deserves to be here, so here it is, unedited:
Anyone who sees this and knows me will recognize this, but I'm proud to be saying what I have to say. I attended Garfield for my freshman and sophomore years (longtime APP student) and transferred to Ingraham for my junior and senior years. It wasn't that I was a struggling student, or a miserable one, but I was a very anonymous student in a school with a terribly negative atmosphere and serious student-administration tension. For instance, the widely-respected teacher Steve Miranda resigned at the end of the year that I had him (you can read his blog at stevemiranda.blogspot.com) and several classes in a row declared themselves as the "last good class at Garfield" since they had had the privilege of experiencing Garfield in its pre-crackdown days. The end of my sophomore year, nearly all the seniors skipped the end-of-year assembly and walked in halfway, dressed in black, with a coffin that read RIP Garfield. While I realize those reforms had benefits, they created an atmosphere of power-hungry administrators and awful bureaucracy, the polar opposite of what I found at Ingraham. To shadow at Garfield, you needed to be registered to attend Garfield next year (so why does shadowing help?) and fill out tons of paperwork. A simple email from anyone to Mr. Floe would suffice to get him to bend over backwards to set up a suitable shadow. Mr. Floe personally called me into his office after he happened to notice my (very low, but only because of a few missing assignments) math grade. At Ingraham, I know basically the entirety of the administration by name and I know that they actually care about me (which they have demonstrated, since I can definitely be a trying student). I'm now reevaluating the amazing words that I spoke of Ingraham to prospective APP students: without Mr. Floe, I fear it will quickly become Garfield. And while we've all seen the stories about Tony Wroten and other scandals, I hear near-daily stories from my sibling and friends at the school of constant hassles and a really trying school and administration. The fact that my brags are along the lines of "look! I had a problem! And our vice principal personally helped me!" actually make friends jealous really says something, and I really think that was due to Mr. Floe. His fondness for Diet Coke may be overlarge, but I'll always treasure memories like his spontaneous explanation of the science behind lasik when he stopped by our math class and the subject came up. I know students who aren't proud of Ingraham (more because of a lack of school spirit than anything) but I don't know any students who actively dislike Mr. Floe (or other friendly characters like vice principal David Hookfin). This is so different from Garfield, where there was almost universal hatred for the administration that it's hard to imagine that the schools coexist and people actually choose Garfield.
I graduated from Ingraham in 1972 and I watched as Ingraham deteriorated for 30 years to an extremely poor school whose name to fame was as the "gang school" known for poor grades and racial issues. It was this mess that Martin took over.
Martin led Ingraham from a school with gang and racial issues to a totally safe and diverse school where students embrace their differences and bullying isn't an issue. Martin developed the IB program and hired some of the wonderful IB teachers that are still there to this day. We all know that Newsweek Magazine picked Ingraham as one of the best schools in the country, more amazing when one knows that Ingraham is not a "wealthy suburb" school but a school where a majority of kids are eligible for free lunches.
When Martin took over the orchestra had 8 members and the band had less than 25. Today both programs are thriving and are regional award winners.
Closing thought. In 1954 when Thurgood Marshal and others helped argue Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, their dream of what one day an integrated school would look like and become (all races and economic groups learning together and sharing and growing from their diverse cultures and backgrounds in a healthy and safe environment)is what Ingraham is today. No matter what happens to Martin this is his legacy and he can be proud he helped achieve this when not long ago this was just some wild dream.
Bernie H.
I noticed that Wikipedia has been updated concerning Martin. Here is the link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingraham_High_School
Since you don't have kids at Ingraham, and are barely starting into the school system (!), how could you have any opinion like this?! Unless you're privy to information that none of the rest of us (who have been deeply involved for years) have, it's seems the most negative rational opinion would be neutral.
the school has a near 60% on-time graduation rate (state average is 70%) and has an 11% drop out rate (average is 5%). So, whether his staff like him or not, nearly 40 percent of his students are not thriving.
What you're completely ignoring is that the natural demographics of any high school play a huge role (perhaps the largest role) in the academic success of its students. If Rainier Beach HS had an 11% drop out rate, would anyone be in favor of firing its principal?
Schools are all different, and by every account I've heard, Floe has been a positive influence in the building and the community. If you're going to advocate for his dismissal you're going to have to come up with something more meaningful to back it up.
Enfield's reason for firing this principal better be really good or the honeymoon period will have quickly concluded for our interim superintendent.
From HIMs regarding the replacement of the Asst Principal:
"HIMS has begun the process of identifying a new assistant principal. This process will include both HIMS staff and parents/guardians."
From Enfield regarding the replacement of the principal:
"I want to assure the Ingraham staff and families that we will work with you to collect desired attributes and qualifications for the next principal. We will start the process of interviewing principal candidates, and hope to name a new principal by the end of the school year."
Why is the Ingraham community being shut of out the replacement process? Why no hiring committee that includes parents or even students for that matter?
Signed, Wondering?
Reader
My son is a freshman at Ingraham and has been in SPS since K, 4 schools, Ingraham has the most positive atmosphere and team feeling of any of them and this is because of Mr. Floe's leadership.
- a frustrated IHS parent
Reader
Have you taken a look at Ingraham's demographics? It's a very diverse school both ethnically and socio economically. For many years Ingraham had a reputation of poor performance and gang violence, and as a consequence it was under enrolled. Because it was under enrolled it had space for anyone who wanted in, and so many south end minority students escaping RBHS and Cleveland, chose Ingraham and bused all the way across town every day to attend.
Floe turned the school around. He did away with the gang violence and racial tension, added IB, and APP, and at the same time managed to keep the school diverse and welcoming to all.
I don't have time to research data but I'd bet if you compared Ingraham's performance to other inner city, urban, schools, their performance would be above average.
You can't compare a school like Ingraham to an upper middle class, white, suburban school. That's not apples to apples. Disaggregate the data and I'm confident you will find that Ingraham above average.
Students who are not enrolled in an advanced learning program lose their APP eligibility. Historically, any APP-eligible high school student who enrolled at any school other than Garfield lost their eligibility with that enrollment.
The Ingraham APP IB program is not just a good path for APP students (like NOVA, STEM, Chief Sealth IB, and Ingraham IB) it is a DESIGNATED APP PATHWAY. Consequently, students who are enrolled in that program retain their APP eligibility.
Any APP-eligible high school student who requests enrollment at Garfield will be assured of a seat in the school.
Check out the governing document: The Transition Plan for 2011-2012 adopted by the Board on January 19, 2011. Go to the bottom of page 10, where you will see this paragraph:
"Students who apply for and receive an early assignment to Ingraham APP will forfeit their Garfield assignment. (If they reapply for Garfield, assignment will depend on space available; tiebreakers apply during Open Enrollment.)"
The Open Enrollment tiebreakers for enrollment at Garfield give first priority to APP students.
Also, there is the rule that says that students who enroll from
another public school district and can document comparable eligibility and participation in that district's similar program for gifted students are granted entry to APP and are assured of access to Garfield on demand.
Please support Mr. Floe and Ingraham!
A parent
@Amy in Ballard - I'm not sure where you got your data, but the rate of students graduating in 4 years or less is 70% according to SPS annual report. That's slightly higher than the district average. 69% go to higher education within the year. It's true that if you look at that report, many of the Ingraham measurements have declined, but so have ALL the district measurements. Could be that has something to do with district policies, not so much Ingraham.
If you look at Garfield's measurements, everything has declined except the performance of white students and advanced learning students. Garfield's numbers are propped up by the fact that 26% of the school is APP (Advanced Learning) Ingraham has 2 times as many English language learners, twice as many special education students and more than half the school is free and reduced lunch. And then you have to keep in mind the new testing, MAP, which hasn't proven to be a great measure for many students.
I can see that a kindergarten parent would want to feel that someone is coming in and setting things to rights. Where I stand after 11 years as an SPS parent, I think that a school is more than a report; parents', students' and teachers' opinions do count, and the way decisions are made does make a difference.
I very much like Mr. Floe. I'm the parent of an Ingraham 10th grader and a APP middle school student, and I thought both of my students would do IB at Ingraham with Mr. Floe as principal.
I really do wonder why the district is doing this when it seems to me that Garfielt and Rainier Beach have much more pressing problems.
Guess what we're NOT talking about anymore, what's NOT on the front page?. . . Ted Howard and the favorite son of the district, Garfield's, situation. Damage Control 101 would say "create a diversion" so people forget about the real issue. Also, notice that Enfield appointed a Deputy Superintendent today as well -- Noel Treat. At what cost to the district? And where's the coverage of that? Pretty smart . . .
I smell a rat -- actually, multiple rats. And each of them needs to be chased out of their holes.
Enfield and Dusseault must go immediately. Their tragic inexperience, bumbling, and egoism is hurting truly dedicated professionals who have devoted their lives to helping Seattle school children.
This is no way to run a district. Can anyone say "no confidence vote?"
Dear incoming APP families - give us a chance to get our feet back under us. We are a great community and will weather this and welcome you! Let's do our best to keep Floe (he's appealing) and think about negatives later!
Bree Dussault and Susan Enfield are not elected. School Board hires Enfield, and Superintendent hires Bree.
Enfield is an "Interim" Super - take note - how the heck she can take such critical actions as firing a principal when her job is temporary I don't know. That's like letting the nanny sell your house! That's my thinking anyway.
Our job, dear community, is to make sure our elected School Board knows we have no confidence in Enfield and will not support her as Superintendent come next year. (My mind is made up.)
The last time we demonstrated no confidence in the Superintendent - last year? - was for Goodloe-Johnson, and SBoard blew us off, they had so much confidence in her they extended her contract EARLY! Then this year - fired her! Can they not learn a lesson from that to hear the people? Ask them who they represent - it will be interesting to hear what they say.
BTW - Has Peter Maier, come out and said anything to anyone? Out of town? He's the board member representing Ingraham's District I?
Interim superintendent's decision angers parents; PTSA plans to protest
http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-longtime-principal-of-seattles-ingraham-hs-to-be-replaced-20110511,0,6250778.story
"Wipple said Floe was notified of the decision Monday. Ingraham staff and families were notified Tuesday. She also said that because this was a personnel matter, the district would not say more about the reasons behind Enfield's decision."
"In an email sent to parents, Enfield wrote: "I want to personally assure you that there are no discussions about closing Rainier Beach High School for the 2011-2012 school year. I apologize for any confusion about this, and reassure you that improving student achievement at Rainier Beach High School continues to be a top priority for Seattle Public Schools."
Enfield and Dusseault are the worst kind of pretenders -- they stay in one place maybe only a year or two, create havoc, fire experienced educational leaders, build resumes, then hop off to their next promotion.
Dusseault was principal for a FEW MONTHS, for goodness' sake, before planning her "transition" out of the job, and of a SMALL CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL -- what in the WORLD does she know about being a principal of a large urban high school??? Absolutely nothing -- and two minutes with her in any public forum exposes this fact VERY quickly. How in the world did she get her high-paid job in our district in the first place?
I'm sorry, Mr. Floe, that you are having to put up this.
"The better teachers you have, the higher your graduation rate"
Ummmm...no. Good teachers are crucial, but socio-economic status plays an enormous role, as does school culture and a whole slew of other factors.
I worked my butt off for years in a struggling school. I was a dedicated, effective teacher. I know I reached my students, and I know they were learning a great deal in my class. But I had no illusions about my presence somehow improving the school's graduation rate.
The "cult of teachers" thing is great when you're watching "Stand and Deliver," etc. - but it comes back to bite you when everyone thinks teachers can do it all and save everyone. We can't.
And I can't speak to the issue at Ingraham, but I can tell you that a principal who enjoys the support of his/her staff and students is probably doing something right. Teachers are a critical lot when it comes to administration. :)
"While I realize those reforms had benefits, they created an atmosphere of power-hungry administrators and awful bureaucracy, the polar opposite of what I found at Ingraham."
So unless Mr. Floe is an embezzler or pedophile, it seems his real offense is being the polar opposite of what the Seattle Central Office desires. The current fascist direction of USA school reform is all in favor of top down solutions.
Mr. Floe and most parents need to just get over it and put on "Jack Boots" and fall in line with the "Leaders".
The line is easy to find. It extends from big money of Gates, Broad, Walton, et al... to Arne Duncan's Race to the Top and Common Core State Standards ... right through the WA State Legislature and OSPI ... right to Dr. Enfield. (Who does Martin Floe think he is by breaking the chain?)
Remember Betty Patu was the only Director to vote against Dr. Enfield as interim Supe ....saying we need a clean break from MGJ.
"The "cult of teachers" thing is great when you're watching "Stand and Deliver," etc."
About Stand and Deliver ... Jaime Escalante was at Garfield in East LA for 7 years before offering AP Calc. He recruited math teachers and assisted math teachers at the feeder Junior Highs as Garfield was a 10, 11. 12 high school. He had Cal State LA assisting him with summer programs for "Garfield Kids".
Jaime selected math books and instructional practices that worked.
Escalante was a very harsh critic of reform math ... he believed in building from a solid foundation. He stated that a lot of what he did happened because his principal allowed him to do it. ... It all went South when the principal went to get his PhD and a year later the LAUSD leaders did not allow the principal to return to Garfield. Eventually Escalante left Garfield.
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The SPS practices would never have allowed a program like Escalante's to even begin; yet the teacher needs to held accountable ... The Value Added Model for teacher evaluation has more holes than Swiss Cheese.
and the senior bureaucracy got rid of the squeaky wheel?
whatever the scenario, if you assume the worst about downtown, you're probably close to the truth.
Time To Watch T.V. - I'm Bored
Ingraham Instructional Assistant
"I'm wondering if Teach for America Corps Members will be hired to work at Ingraham by Mr. Floe's replacement."
This reminds me of some recent posts from Dora and Seattle Citizen regarding a TFA alum and Ingraham teacher named Kristin Bailey-Fogarty. If I recall correctly, Kristin called Dora an idiot regarding a comment about the impending wedding of Bree and fiance Chris Eide, both TFA alums.
A teacher calling a parent an idiot? This doesn't make sense, but then neither does TFA.
I don't like speculating about something this painful and divisive, but something isn't right. Either Floe did something very wrong or it's MG-J's dirty pool all over again. You can't hope that Dr. Enfield will be better than Dr. MGJ. Enfield is going to carry forward everything MGJ put into motion, and that includes things that don't make sense, like TFA.
I really hope Floe doesn't disappoint his students with something damning, but even if his firing is pure politics, it's a tragedy.
Principal Floe's fb page has 763 members.
The district MUST provide a response.
Maybe it is time for the Executive Director to pack her bags.
Anyone wondering if she played a part?
Not surprisingly, she is featured on LEV's web site. (http://www.educationvoters.org/2011/04/13/teacher-evaluations-a-teachers-perspective/) LEV, of course, is also a corporate ed reform front organization funded by Gates.
Here Bailey-Fogerty makes some comments about her "colleagues" that are less than collegial, shall we say. But perfectly in keeping with the TFA,Inc. dogma.
She apparently assumes that a teacher will not be motivated to do her/his best work without a pay incentive or threat of job loss.
In fact, the research contradicts this supposition. Vanderbilt University has twice done studies that show that merit/performance pay does not lead to better teaching or learning.
Arguably -- and obviously -- most people go into teaching because they are motivated not by cash, but by the intangible rewards of helping and inspiring children.
Also, Bailey-Fogerty supports the thrice-yearly MAP test as a teacher evaluation tool. Yet the MAP test manufacturer itself (NWEA) says its product should not be used to evaluate teachers.
Anyway, if Bailey-Fogerty is publicly grandstanding like this, singling herself out from the rest of her "colleagues" at Ingraham, while her fellow TFA sympathizer Bree Dusseault has been gunning for Floe, I can imagine that there is an ugly backstory to the firing of Martin Floe that has more to do with a triangulating ed reform agenda than Floe's qualities as a principal.
The Floe/Ingraham story also implies that, while Seattle may have fired its Broad trained superintendent, it remains infected by the corporate ed reform doctrines of the Broad and Gates foundations.
(I am not looking forward to the strange (hostile?) dynamic that will likely ensue when/if more TFA-ers are placed in our schools, with attitudes like this.)
--Sue p.
I'm sure everything will come out during the deposition! I'm hoping for a front row seat. The district is going to get killed on this one.
APP mom
And sorry for my rushed & unstructured post last night! I guess my point was that Mr. Floe is awesome and the welling of support (on facebook, etc.) is incredible and no matter what happens, I hope it is made clear to him that Ingraham students and teachers obviously care about him and don't agree, at all. I saw a bunch of teachers leaving a lunch meeting that (I now know) was about this and the attitude was definitely somber and grim. Nobody's happy.
Reposted from Kathy from a different thread:
Sorry, this is a bit off topic.
It appears TfA has partnered with University of Washington.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015029322_teachforamerica12m.html
-- sp.
5/11/11 10:39 PM
Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho.
Dusseault hits the road.
Not Floe.
There's a variation with Enfield's name.
'Completely Outraged and You Should Be Too.'
As an Ingraham student, I appreciate your dedication to getting to the bottom of this situation and finding answers. It's really great to see so much community support for Floe coming out tonight.
However, as someone who has taken classes taught by Ms. Bailey for two years now (English and Journalism), I can assert that your suspicions are totally bogus. Ms. Bailey is by far one of the most dedicated teachers at Ingraham, and her popularity and skill alike rank below no other. To accuse her of currying favor with Bree and playing a role in Floe's dismissal is as ludicrous as Floe's dismissal itself.
The article you linked to reflects her opinions on the seniority system in schools, a dated priority-ranking system that has forced me to endure many incompetent teachers in my SPS career. Her willingness to put herself up for evaluation is not a sign of her being an "insider," but of her her readiness to prove her teaching capability, as all teachers should. Furthermore, during a lull in class today, she gave me, friend to friend, an opinion of her's concerning Bree that I should probably not quote in full on a public forum - but it wasn't flattering by any means. Ms. Bailey is on our side, without a doubt.
The whole Floe situation is, of course, a complete mistake, and is an unnecessary mess for the students, teachers, administration, parents, and district alike to have to deal with. I came to Ingraham for the IB program, a Floe-inspired and monitored curriculum that has given me a fantastic, free education. Ingraham's environment is one of the safest, nicest, and most supportive in Seattle, and Floe definitely plays a large role in maintaining that unique climate. Ingraham would not be the same without him.
I'll certainly be attending the rally tomorrow at 5:15, and the others planned after that. SPS shouldn't be allowed to get away with this without repercussions.
And again, please forget about Kristen Bailey-Fogarty; while conspiracy theories are all very fun, we really have to make sure that no false rumors stick in the next few days.
It's hard being a teacher or administrator in today's climate. While we may love educating kids it feels like we can't win for losing no matter how hard we work being students' teachers, social worker, nurse, counselor, and even sometimes the only parent figure they have. My colleagues and i were just talking about that this week!
Oh, and I'd name the school and the principal but thought the post might be deleted if I did. You can check the school reports of the Ingraham feeder schools to find out which one.
That stranger was Bree Dusseault. Both she and her husband are friends of mine. I have a lot of respect for them personally and professionally.
These are difficult times in public education, but have we gotten to the point where I'm going to be told who I can and can't be friends with?
It's been a difficult year at Ingraham for me because I consider Bree my friend. And all I'm going to say on the Martin Floe matter is that I played no part in his firing, despite the many conjectures out there that a teacher who's friends with Bree "leaked" information. I am friends with Bree. The rest is angry, unsupported gossip.
And I am on the board of the League of Education Voters Foundation. One thing I love about that foundation? They hosted a fundraiser earlier this year to raise money for an after school reading program at Northgate Elementary. To me, that merging of community, families, and schools is powerful. I'm proud to be a part of LEV.
And my opinions on seniority-based firings, the need to ensure there's a skilled teacher in every classroom, and my frustration with our current problems in education are no secret. Being opnionated and outspoken has gotten me in trouble, but my opinions have been formed by fifteen years in a public school classroom, seeing excuses made, seeing incompetent teachers fail to teach kids. And most teachers are great, it's true. I think all teachers should be great.
My post on the LEV blog is not at all uncollegial, unless you consider expecting the best from my colleagues uncollegial. I'm a teacher, but I also have a child (and soon two) in the public schools. I have no tolerance for teachers who can't teach, and the people I work with will tell you that, though that's an unattractive quality, I back it up by teaching as well as I can, putting myself out there for students, and holding myself to higher expectations than anyone else.
Testing? I'm for it, and I think we should get it right so it's a useful measurement.
Evaluating teachers? I'm for it. that's no secret, and doesn't mean I think I'm better than anyone.
And Shmebber, bless you. I think I know who you are and I love you, but I know I didn't say anything unflattering about Bree. I think I can be on the side of my students and still be friends with Bree Dusseault, and I hope that the people in my community are able to understand that.
Like I said a few posts earlier, it is unfortunate that individuals use blogs to hide behind and spew hateful and many times uninformed opinions.
Talking about someone's personal life should not enter into the conversation unless that personal life does direct harm to students. It's good you were strong enough to state your opinion, hopefully without fear of reprisal.
By the way, I agree with you -if you don't want trollers or anyone else seeing your information keep it private. All an employer or potential employer need do is google a person's name.
Here's one of mine that was lost, plus a link to a piece I did on this at the Seattle Ed blog. This seems like a pretty big misstep for Enfield very early on in her interimship. --sp.
Seattle-Ed2010 said...
This may be relevant to this story:
Who is Bree Dusseault?
__________________________________
Another facet of this story is the reported role of new Executive Director Brianna "Bree" Dusseault in the summary dismissal of Floe. She is one of former Superintendent Goodloe-Johnson's hires from last year. She came from the New Orleans Charter Middle School where she was principal for two years. She taught for a few years before that. Her husband, a former Teach for America, Inc. trainee, teaches in a middle school here. Dusseault is also affiliated with the Center on Reinventing Public Education, where she has written papers on charter school management. (The Gates Foundation has funded a study of charter school management by CRPE.) She is also a former resident of the Gates-funded New Leaders for New Schools, an enterprise that trains principals.
There have been reports in the blogs that Dusseault has not made a good impression on the school communities in the region she oversees, including Ingraham. In light of Dusseault's background in privatized public education, her connection to Teach for America, CRPE, and her hiring by Broad Foundation trained corporate ed reformer, Goodloe-Johnson, it's possible that Dusseault has brought with her the top-down, autocratic management style that Goodloe-Johnson was cited for, and is the hallmark of the corporate ed reform mindset.
--Sue p.
5/11/11 1:20 PM
New Scandal for Seattle Public Schools: Popular Principal Fired by Interim Supt. Enfield, Protests Planned
http://seattleducation2010.wordpress.com/2011/05/11/new-scandal-for-seattle-public-schools-popular-principal-fired-by-interim-supt-enfield-protests-planned/
So I will repost the text, although I make no promises as to how it will look. I'll start with a few here:
Maureen said...
Wasn't there a poster who compared MGJ to Sauron? This reminds me of when Frodo and Sam get back to Hobbiton thinking all the drama is over and find that Saruman is destroying the Shire. (I believe that scene didn't make it into the movie.)
5/11/11 1:33 PM
Anonymous said...
What the hell is Dusseault doing? Too busy slicing and dicing testing scores to look up and see a high school culture actually working? That's the kind of leadership I can do without. With a new program entering Ingraham, and families choosing it in great part because of Floe's outreach, why would they do a principal replacement post-open enrollment?
You what else will bite it from this? Garfield and its crowding problems. What APPers will want to voluntarily go to a school with bad blood boiling as undoubtedly will happen with a new leader entering in these circumstances.
And speaking of Garfield, how laughable that their principal retains his job in the face of clear academic "tampering" to keep an athlete eligible...yet Floe loses his.
Not impressed with Enfield's direction here. And the story is now on the front page of the Seattle Times, just like Garfield's debacle. More bad pr for our battered district.
Signed, with a nod to Dan Savage, No It Doesn't Get Better
5/11/11 1:38 PM
Vaneetap said...
I hope that this decision is overruled and Martin Floe is reinstated as Principal. I graduated from IHS in 2002 and was there when he became Principal. Since he took that role, there were significant changes that were extremely positive. It went from a school that students did not want to be placed to one that now has a waiting list. The academic program became more sophisticated and challenging with the IB program and accelerated science programes including the Rocket club. Because of Martin Floe, students at Ingraham are doing exceptionally well, excited about their curriculum and proud to be a Ram.
5/11/11 1:42 PM
TechyMom said...
APP kids who signed up for Ingraham during open enrollemnt can't switch back to Garfield now, can they? They've given up their guarenteed seat... Wouldn't they go to the end of the wait list? It's also months too late to apply to most private schools.
Most families will just have to accept this for the coming year. It could easily hurt enrollement the following year. If the new principal is ok, then it might not.
Not saying this is fair (it doesn't sound like it is), just that the way the calendar is set up really encourages bait-and-switch moves after open enrollment. What can we do about that?
5/11/11 1:48 PM
Charlie Mas said...
While APP students who chose Ingraham for high school during Open Enrollment for the 2011-2012 school year may not have the opportunity to switch it to Garfield, they will ALL have the opportunity to choose Garfield for their 10th grade year (2012-2013) during Open Enrollment and they will be assured of access.
5/11/11 2:22 PM
Charlie Mas said...
If the Ingraham community wants an effective demonstration against the firing of a beloved principal, I can heartily recommend a MAP boycott.
5/11/11 2:23 PM
Anonymous said...
Charlie, can you explain a MAP boycott? Would the kids just refuse to take the test?
Frustrated parent of IHS student
5/11/11 2:29 PM
Anonymous said...
off topic - how to buy a school -
http://www.truthout.org/koch-brother-buys-right-interfere-faculty-hiring-florida-state-university/1305128548
the influence of the billonaire boys' club can not be ignored...even in our own district and with the admins who run it like their own fiefdom...
-JC
5/11/11 2:31 PM
Anonymous said...
I met Mr. Floe at one of the APP IB meetings and found him to be a very supportive and engaged principal who really cared about his school. I feel sorry for the current Ingraham families that have lost a much admired leader. I hope they can get him reinstated.
Charlie, do you know for certain that APP students who signed up at Ingraham this year can switch back to Garfield for 10th grade?
We decided to go with a private high school for next year, do you happen know if an APP student can come back to Garfield in 10th grade if the private school doesn't work out?
Mandy
5/11/11 2:44 PM
Rufus X said...
Charlie Mas said...
While APP students who chose Ingraham for high school during Open Enrollment for the 2011-2012 school year may not have the opportunity to switch it to Garfield, they will ALL have the opportunity to choose Garfield for their 10th grade year (2012-2013) during Open Enrollment and they will be assured of access.
Ol' Rufus here would not bet on this if we're looking at the past 3 years of SAP's and the yearly changes as a history of "How to Make and Keep Promises, Author: SPS". It would not shock me one bit if the "all pathways lead to Garfield" guaranteed APP access is eliminated at some point during the next two years. I suspect that was the plan before they shot themselves in the foot w/ this little Ingraham incident. But that's just me.
Rufus X
5/11/11 2:54 PM
Anonymous said...
I'm actually in favor of this termination. Depending at which years of data you review, the school has a near 60% on-time graduation rate (state average is 70%) and has an 11% drop out rate (average is 5%). So, whether his staff like him or not, nearly 40 percent of his students are not thriving.
The better teachers you have, the higher your graduation rate -- so perhaps his vote of confidence comes from under-performing teachers who enjoy a level of protection (or perceived protection) from working with an under-performing principal?
While we don't attend Ingraham, we did start SPS this year (and ended up pulling our child out of Kindergarten in March).
I care about our schools and how be back in SPS next year. I highly recommend the book, "The Schools Our Children Deserve" by Alfie Kohn as well as finding a screening of "Race to Nowhere" (there is one at Coe Elementary on May 31st.)
Amy in Ballard
5/11/11 2:57 PM
Meg said...
I'm under a different impression than Charlie.
I think only APP students who live in the Garfield reference area could switch back to Garfield; others would have to be admitted on a "space available" basis (good luck with that).
The district is forever pointing out that APP at Garfield isn't a program but a cohort - it's the district's rationale for not allowing kids to join APP in 9th grade: technically, there's no program to enter.
I suspect that this technical issue would mean that kids who signed up for accelerated IB but don't live in the Garfield reference area will be S.O.L. if Mr. Floe's firing has them rethinking their decision.
The district has plenty of bad and blah principals - why fire one who appears to have been good? I am regularly perplexed by the way SPS administration ignores real problems and instead screws up things that were of real benefit to SPS students.
5/11/11 2:58 PM
none1111 said...
I just had to delete a whole mess of comments, including some very good ones, because they did not comply with our comment policy.
I was afraid of this, so I copied out the text from a wonderful post by a Garfield->Ingraham student. It deserves to be here, so here it is, unedited:
Anyone who sees this and knows me will recognize this, but I'm proud to be saying what I have to say. I attended Garfield for my freshman and sophomore years (longtime APP student) and transferred to Ingraham for my junior and senior years. It wasn't that I was a struggling student, or a miserable one, but I was a very anonymous student in a school with a terribly negative atmosphere and serious student-administration tension. For instance, the widely-respected teacher Steve Miranda resigned at the end of the year that I had him (you can read his blog at stevemiranda.blogspot.com) and several classes in a row declared themselves as the "last good class at Garfield" since they had had the privilege of experiencing Garfield in its pre-crackdown days. The end of my sophomore year, nearly all the seniors skipped the end-of-year assembly and walked in halfway, dressed in black, with a coffin that read RIP Garfield. While I realize those reforms had benefits, they created an atmosphere of power-hungry administrators and awful bureaucracy, the polar opposite of what I found at Ingraham. To shadow at Garfield, you needed to be registered to attend Garfield next year (so why does shadowing help?) and fill out tons of paperwork. A simple email from anyone to Mr. Floe would suffice to get him to bend over backwards to set up a suitable shadow. Mr. Floe personally called me into his office after he happened to notice my (very low, but only because of a few missing assignments) math grade. At Ingraham, I know basically the entirety of the administration by name and I know that they actually care about me (which they have demonstrated, since I can definitely be a trying student). I'm now reevaluating the amazing words that I spoke of Ingraham to prospective APP students: without Mr. Floe, I fear it will quickly become Garfield. And while we've all seen the stories about Tony Wroten and other scandals, I hear near-daily stories from my sibling and friends at the school of constant hassles and a really trying school and administration. The fact that my brags are along the lines of "look! I had a problem! And our vice principal personally helped me!" actually make friends jealous really says something, and I really think that was due to Mr. Floe. His fondness for Diet Coke may be overlarge, but I'll always treasure memories like his spontaneous explanation of the science behind lasik when he stopped by our math class and the subject came up. I know students who aren't proud of Ingraham (more because of a lack of school spirit than anything) but I don't know any students who actively dislike Mr. Floe (or other friendly characters like vice principal David Hookfin). This is so different from Garfield, where there was almost universal hatred for the administration that it's hard to imagine that the schools coexist and people actually choose Garfield.
5/11/11 3:02 PM
Bernie H. said...
Susan Enfield and Bree Dusseault are relative newcomers to Seattle and therefore while they may be competent administrators I doubt they have the history or perspective of what Martin Floe has done for Ingraham over the past decade and without this I doubt they can make a truly informed decision.
I graduated from Ingraham in 1972 and I watched as Ingraham deteriorated for 30 years to an extremely poor school whose name to fame was as the "gang school" known for poor grades and racial issues. It was this mess that Martin took over.
Martin led Ingraham from a school with gang and racial issues to a totally safe and diverse school where students embrace their differences and bullying isn't an issue. Martin developed the IB program and hired some of the wonderful IB teachers that are still there to this day. We all know that Newsweek Magazine picked Ingraham as one of the best schools in the country, more amazing when one knows that Ingraham is not a "wealthy suburb" school but a school where a majority of kids are eligible for free lunches.
When Martin took over the orchestra had 8 members and the band had less than 25. Today both programs are thriving and are regional award winners.
Closing thought. In 1954 when Thurgood Marshal and others helped argue Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, their dream of what one day an integrated school would look like and become (all races and economic groups learning together and sharing and growing from their diverse cultures and backgrounds in a healthy and safe environment)is what Ingraham is today. No matter what happens to Martin this is his legacy and he can be proud he helped achieve this when not long ago this was just some wild dream.
Bernie H.
I noticed that Wikipedia has been updated concerning Martin. Here is the link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ingraham_High_School
5/11/11 3:08 PM
none1111 said...
Amy in Ballard said: "I'm actually in favor of this termination."
Since you don't have kids at Ingraham, and are barely starting into the school system (!), how could you have any opinion like this?! Unless you're privy to information that none of the rest of us (who have been deeply involved for years) have, it's seems the most negative rational opinion would be neutral.
the school has a near 60% on-time graduation rate (state average is 70%) and has an 11% drop out rate (average is 5%). So, whether his staff like him or not, nearly 40 percent of his students are not thriving.
What you're completely ignoring is that the natural demographics of any high school play a huge role (perhaps the largest role) in the academic success of its students. If Rainier Beach HS had an 11% drop out rate, would anyone be in favor of firing its principal?
Schools are all different, and by every account I've heard, Floe has been a positive influence in the building and the community. If you're going to advocate for his dismissal you're going to have to come up with something more meaningful to back it up.
5/11/11 3:14 PM
Dora Taylor said...
So this trust thing that the board and Enfield swore they were going to develop lasted how long...a month?
Enfield's reason for firing this principal better be really good or the honeymoon period will have quickly concluded for our interim superintendent.
5/11/11 3:24 PM
Anonymous said...
Interesting in the differences in communication.
From HIMs regarding the replacement of the Asst Principal:
"HIMS has begun the process of identifying a new assistant principal. This process will include both HIMS staff and parents/guardians."
From Enfield regarding the replacement of the principal:
"I want to assure the Ingraham staff and families that we will work with you to collect desired attributes and qualifications for the next principal. We will start the process of interviewing principal candidates, and hope to name a new principal by the end of the school year."
Why is the Ingraham community being shut of out the replacement process? Why no hiring committee that includes parents or even students for that matter?
Signed, Wondering?
5/11/11 3:29 PM
Anonymous said...
Hey what a coincidence, Amy in Ballard, saw the same comments you made there @ North Seattle KOMO neighborhood site.
Reader
5/11/11 3:58 PM
MiddleAgedManiac said...
Thanks Bernie. Will you repost your comments on the "Friends of Martin Floe" facebook site? I think the perspective of former alums/now parents at Ingraham are especially important.
5/11/11 4:00 PM
Teresa Holder said...
For Supporters of Martin Floe there will be a demonstration of support at the Stanford Center on Thursday 5/12 at 5:15 p.m. Enfield deigned to give the community one 15 minute face to face meeting with parent and faculty representatives.
My son is a freshman at Ingraham and has been in SPS since K, 4 schools, Ingraham has the most positive atmosphere and team feeling of any of them and this is because of Mr. Floe's leadership.
5/11/11 4:11 PM
Anonymous said...
Thank you so much, None1111, for re-printing the Garfield-Ingraham student's note. The student speaks from the heart. Mr. Floe has been an amazing, accessible principal - and I am sick about his termination. I hope everyone writes to Ms. Enfield and to the board,a nd joins the Facebook page - and speaks out about this! Even if you do not have child at Ingraham, it speaks so poorly of our district and of our superintendant
- a frustrated IHS parent
5/11/11 4:17 PM
Anonymous said...
Just read the article in Seattle Times and the comments section. I have to say the trolls are out with some implying that there is some real dirt on Mr. Floe, but admin can't speak of it as this is a "personnel matter." So supporters, you need to go over on to ST and speak up because this has now become a PR situation for SPS and they won't hesitate to use the local media to make their point.
Reader
5/11/11 4:37 PM
Is anyone reading these? Does anyone care?
I think I'll keep posting in any case because I'd like to see the history of people's reactions kept intact.
Peon said...
"Depending at which years of data you review, the school has a near 60% on-time graduation rate (state average is 70%) and has an 11% drop out rate (average is 5%)."
Have you taken a look at Ingraham's demographics? It's a very diverse school both ethnically and socio economically. For many years Ingraham had a reputation of poor performance and gang violence, and as a consequence it was under enrolled. Because it was under enrolled it had space for anyone who wanted in, and so many south end minority students escaping RBHS and Cleveland, chose Ingraham and bused all the way across town every day to attend.
Floe turned the school around. He did away with the gang violence and racial tension, added IB, and APP, and at the same time managed to keep the school diverse and welcoming to all.
I don't have time to research data but I'd bet if you compared Ingraham's performance to other inner city, urban, schools, their performance would be above average.
You can't compare a school like Ingraham to an upper middle class, white, suburban school. That's not apples to apples. Disaggregate the data and I'm confident you will find that Ingraham above average.
5/11/11 4:43 PM
Charlie Mas said...
The rule for access to Garfield APP is that it is open to every high school student who is APP-eligible. Until now, that has only been those rising 8th grade APP students and current Garfield APP students. Going forward, it will also include Ingraham APP IB students.
Students who are not enrolled in an advanced learning program lose their APP eligibility. Historically, any APP-eligible high school student who enrolled at any school other than Garfield lost their eligibility with that enrollment.
The Ingraham APP IB program is not just a good path for APP students (like NOVA, STEM, Chief Sealth IB, and Ingraham IB) it is a DESIGNATED APP PATHWAY. Consequently, students who are enrolled in that program retain their APP eligibility.
Any APP-eligible high school student who requests enrollment at Garfield will be assured of a seat in the school.
Check out the governing document: The Transition Plan for 2011-2012 adopted by the Board on January 19, 2011. Go to the bottom of page 10, where you will see this paragraph:
"Students who apply for and receive an early assignment to Ingraham APP will forfeit their Garfield assignment. (If they reapply for Garfield, assignment will depend on space available; tiebreakers apply during Open Enrollment.)"
The Open Enrollment tiebreakers for enrollment at Garfield give first priority to APP students.
Also, there is the rule that says that students who enroll from
another public school district and can document comparable eligibility and participation in that district's similar program for gifted students are granted entry to APP and are assured of access to Garfield on demand.
5/11/11 4:45 PM
Anonymous said...
Very negative things are being posted on the comments section in the Seattle Times article - it is pretty upsetting to see this. Much is not true - comments saying no one living int he norht end would pick Ingraham, and that Mr. Floe MUST have done somethign wrong or he would not have been fired. This is not true - we picked Ingraham over Roosevelt, our neighborhood school - and have many friends who have done the same. And we no that you don't have to do anything wrong to be fired by SPS...
Please support Mr. Floe and Ingraham!
A parent
5/11/11 5:03 PM
gavroche said...
This is quickly turning into a PR mess for the District. Nice work, Dr. Enfield.
5/11/11 5:31 PM
Joking! I wouldn't dream of doing that. All posts for better or worse will continue to roll in.
Tami said...
@Wondering - The difference is that the HIMS VP is taking the job of principal at JSIS, and not being moved.
@Amy in Ballard - I'm not sure where you got your data, but the rate of students graduating in 4 years or less is 70% according to SPS annual report. That's slightly higher than the district average. 69% go to higher education within the year. It's true that if you look at that report, many of the Ingraham measurements have declined, but so have ALL the district measurements. Could be that has something to do with district policies, not so much Ingraham.
If you look at Garfield's measurements, everything has declined except the performance of white students and advanced learning students. Garfield's numbers are propped up by the fact that 26% of the school is APP (Advanced Learning) Ingraham has 2 times as many English language learners, twice as many special education students and more than half the school is free and reduced lunch. And then you have to keep in mind the new testing, MAP, which hasn't proven to be a great measure for many students.
I can see that a kindergarten parent would want to feel that someone is coming in and setting things to rights. Where I stand after 11 years as an SPS parent, I think that a school is more than a report; parents', students' and teachers' opinions do count, and the way decisions are made does make a difference.
I very much like Mr. Floe. I'm the parent of an Ingraham 10th grader and a APP middle school student, and I thought both of my students would do IB at Ingraham with Mr. Floe as principal.
I really do wonder why the district is doing this when it seems to me that Garfielt and Rainier Beach have much more pressing problems.
5/11/11 5:47 PM
anotherstudent said...
what good could come out of firing Martin Floe? He's been a positive figure in Ingraham's administration and is well respected. Being a student attending Ingraham High School I find it discomforting not knowing what the outcome of Ingraham will be without Mr. Floe. This could not only damage our education but also alter the entire Ingraham community! It's unfortunate the district would fire him after all he's done for the school.
5/11/11 5:51 PM
whitney said...
Great question, Tami, regarding why the district is doing this now. Here's a theory --
Guess what we're NOT talking about anymore, what's NOT on the front page?. . . Ted Howard and the favorite son of the district, Garfield's, situation. Damage Control 101 would say "create a diversion" so people forget about the real issue. Also, notice that Enfield appointed a Deputy Superintendent today as well -- Noel Treat. At what cost to the district? And where's the coverage of that? Pretty smart . . .
I smell a rat -- actually, multiple rats. And each of them needs to be chased out of their holes.
Enfield and Dusseault must go immediately. Their tragic inexperience, bumbling, and egoism is hurting truly dedicated professionals who have devoted their lives to helping Seattle school children.
This is no way to run a district. Can anyone say "no confidence vote?"
5/11/11 6:00 PM
Sue p.
Nancy said...
Learn what you can do at "Friends of Martin Floe" Facebook page. IHS parents are learning new things like how to make a Facebook page!
Dear incoming APP families - give us a chance to get our feet back under us. We are a great community and will weather this and welcome you! Let's do our best to keep Floe (he's appealing) and think about negatives later!
Bree Dussault and Susan Enfield are not elected. School Board hires Enfield, and Superintendent hires Bree.
Enfield is an "Interim" Super - take note - how the heck she can take such critical actions as firing a principal when her job is temporary I don't know. That's like letting the nanny sell your house! That's my thinking anyway.
Our job, dear community, is to make sure our elected School Board knows we have no confidence in Enfield and will not support her as Superintendent come next year. (My mind is made up.)
The last time we demonstrated no confidence in the Superintendent - last year? - was for Goodloe-Johnson, and SBoard blew us off, they had so much confidence in her they extended her contract EARLY! Then this year - fired her! Can they not learn a lesson from that to hear the people? Ask them who they represent - it will be interesting to hear what they say.
BTW - Has Peter Maier, come out and said anything to anyone? Out of town? He's the board member representing Ingraham's District I?
5/11/11 6:02 PM
Maureen said...
I'm wondering if Teach for America Corps Members will be hired to work at Ingraham by Mr. Floe's replacement. Wendy Kopp seemed very confident that at least 25 TfA CMs would have jobs in Seattle next year.
5/11/11 6:02 PM
Nancy said...
Longtime principal of Seattle's Ingraham H.S. to be replaced
Interim superintendent's decision angers parents; PTSA plans to protest
http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-longtime-principal-of-seattles-ingraham-hs-to-be-replaced-20110511,0,6250778.story
"Wipple said Floe was notified of the decision Monday. Ingraham staff and families were notified Tuesday. She also said that because this was a personnel matter, the district would not say more about the reasons behind Enfield's decision."
"In an email sent to parents, Enfield wrote: "I want to personally assure you that there are no discussions about closing Rainier Beach High School for the 2011-2012 school year. I apologize for any confusion about this, and reassure you that improving student achievement at Rainier Beach High School continues to be a top priority for Seattle Public Schools."
5/11/11 6:07 PM
whitney said...
NO CONFIDENCE!!!
Enfield and Dusseault are the worst kind of pretenders -- they stay in one place maybe only a year or two, create havoc, fire experienced educational leaders, build resumes, then hop off to their next promotion.
Dusseault was principal for a FEW MONTHS, for goodness' sake, before planning her "transition" out of the job, and of a SMALL CHARTER MIDDLE SCHOOL -- what in the WORLD does she know about being a principal of a large urban high school??? Absolutely nothing -- and two minutes with her in any public forum exposes this fact VERY quickly. How in the world did she get her high-paid job in our district in the first place?
I'm sorry, Mr. Floe, that you are having to put up this.
5/11/11 6:16 PM
Momma Snark said...
@ Amy in Ballard:
"The better teachers you have, the higher your graduation rate"
Ummmm...no. Good teachers are crucial, but socio-economic status plays an enormous role, as does school culture and a whole slew of other factors.
I worked my butt off for years in a struggling school. I was a dedicated, effective teacher. I know I reached my students, and I know they were learning a great deal in my class. But I had no illusions about my presence somehow improving the school's graduation rate.
The "cult of teachers" thing is great when you're watching "Stand and Deliver," etc. - but it comes back to bite you when everyone thinks teachers can do it all and save everyone. We can't.
And I can't speak to the issue at Ingraham, but I can tell you that a principal who enjoys the support of his/her staff and students is probably doing something right. Teachers are a critical lot when it comes to administration. :)
5/11/11 7:03 PM
dan dempsey said...
none1111 said:
"While I realize those reforms had benefits, they created an atmosphere of power-hungry administrators and awful bureaucracy, the polar opposite of what I found at Ingraham."
So unless Mr. Floe is an embezzler or pedophile, it seems his real offense is being the polar opposite of what the Seattle Central Office desires. The current fascist direction of USA school reform is all in favor of top down solutions.
Mr. Floe and most parents need to just get over it and put on "Jack Boots" and fall in line with the "Leaders".
The line is easy to find. It extends from big money of Gates, Broad, Walton, et al... to Arne Duncan's Race to the Top and Common Core State Standards ... right through the WA State Legislature and OSPI ... right to Dr. Enfield. (Who does Martin Floe think he is by breaking the chain?)
Remember Betty Patu was the only Director to vote against Dr. Enfield as interim Supe ....saying we need a clean break from MGJ.
5/11/11 7:10 PM
dan dempsey said...
In regard to:
"The "cult of teachers" thing is great when you're watching "Stand and Deliver," etc."
About Stand and Deliver ... Jaime Escalante was at Garfield in East LA for 7 years before offering AP Calc. He recruited math teachers and assisted math teachers at the feeder Junior Highs as Garfield was a 10, 11. 12 high school. He had Cal State LA assisting him with summer programs for "Garfield Kids".
Jaime selected math books and instructional practices that worked.
Escalante was a very harsh critic of reform math ... he believed in building from a solid foundation. He stated that a lot of what he did happened because his principal allowed him to do it. ... It all went South when the principal went to get his PhD and a year later the LAUSD leaders did not allow the principal to return to Garfield. Eventually Escalante left Garfield.
------------
The SPS practices would never have allowed a program like Escalante's to even begin; yet the teacher needs to held accountable ... The Value Added Model for teacher evaluation has more holes than Swiss Cheese.
5/11/11 7:24 PM
Melissa Westbrook said...
TechyMom, I think I'll write a thread on what to do. I think maybe the Board should pass a policy that no principal can be changed after Open Enrollment unless it is for criminal/fraud issues. Any parent can tell you a BIG part of their decision is who is the principal particularly at schools that are successful or on the rise.
5/11/11 7:39 PM
David said...
Does anyone know why the district fired Martin Floe?
5/11/11 7:44 PM
Momma Snark said...
Melissa, that sounds reasonable, but so many principals get moved after just a few years, even the ones who are doing well. What good does it do to choose a school based on a principal when that person could be shifted elsewhere two years down the line? I guess I'm surprised people choose schools based on this criteria, given the way things have been in SPS for some time now.
5/11/11 7:50 PM
Anonymous said...
Given the public & staff support, what is the chance that he knocked heads with ms. no nuthing over her lack of knowledge beyond spouting right wing talking points
and the senior bureaucracy got rid of the squeaky wheel?
whatever the scenario, if you assume the worst about downtown, you're probably close to the truth.
Time To Watch T.V. - I'm Bored
5/11/11 8:46 PM
Anonymous said...
Bree Dusseault recommended to the superintendent that Floe not have his contract renewed. The supe fell for it. Bree has been terrorizing Ingraham since October. She hasn't even been a high school principal. She is just trying to make a name for herself. Boy, did she screw up.
Ingraham Instructional Assistant
5/11/11 8:52 PM
WenD said...
This post has been removed by the author.
5/11/11 9:50 PM
WenD said...
@Maureen:
"I'm wondering if Teach for America Corps Members will be hired to work at Ingraham by Mr. Floe's replacement."
This reminds me of some recent posts from Dora and Seattle Citizen regarding a TFA alum and Ingraham teacher named Kristin Bailey-Fogarty. If I recall correctly, Kristin called Dora an idiot regarding a comment about the impending wedding of Bree and fiance Chris Eide, both TFA alums.
A teacher calling a parent an idiot? This doesn't make sense, but then neither does TFA.
I don't like speculating about something this painful and divisive, but something isn't right. Either Floe did something very wrong or it's MG-J's dirty pool all over again. You can't hope that Dr. Enfield will be better than Dr. MGJ. Enfield is going to carry forward everything MGJ put into motion, and that includes things that don't make sense, like TFA.
I really hope Floe doesn't disappoint his students with something damning, but even if his firing is pure politics, it's a tragedy.
5/11/11 9:57 PM
Just saying.. said...
Whoa!
Principal Floe's fb page has 763 members.
The district MUST provide a response.
Maybe it is time for the Executive Director to pack her bags.
5/11/11 9:59 PM
Seattle-Ed2010 said...
Speaking of Ingraham teacher, Kristin Bailey-Fogerty (and to connect a few more dots), apparently she has drunk the ed reform, test-obsessed, anti-seniority, 'more effective than thou', Kool-Aid, and seems to intimate that she is the only teacher at Ingraham who wants to be more than "satisfactory."
Not surprisingly, she is featured on LEV's web site. (http://www.educationvoters.org/2011/04/13/teacher-evaluations-a-teachers-perspective/) LEV, of course, is also a corporate ed reform front organization funded by Gates.
Here Bailey-Fogerty makes some comments about her "colleagues" that are less than collegial, shall we say. But perfectly in keeping with the TFA,Inc. dogma.
She apparently assumes that a teacher will not be motivated to do her/his best work without a pay incentive or threat of job loss.
In fact, the research contradicts this supposition. Vanderbilt University has twice done studies that show that merit/performance pay does not lead to better teaching or learning.
Arguably -- and obviously -- most people go into teaching because they are motivated not by cash, but by the intangible rewards of helping and inspiring children.
Also, Bailey-Fogerty supports the thrice-yearly MAP test as a teacher evaluation tool. Yet the MAP test manufacturer itself (NWEA) says its product should not be used to evaluate teachers.
Anyway, if Bailey-Fogerty is publicly grandstanding like this, singling herself out from the rest of her "colleagues" at Ingraham, while her fellow TFA sympathizer Bree Dusseault has been gunning for Floe, I can imagine that there is an ugly backstory to the firing of Martin Floe that has more to do with a triangulating ed reform agenda than Floe's qualities as a principal.
The Floe/Ingraham story also implies that, while Seattle may have fired its Broad trained superintendent, it remains infected by the corporate ed reform doctrines of the Broad and Gates foundations.
(I am not looking forward to the strange (hostile?) dynamic that will likely ensue when/if more TFA-ers are placed in our schools, with attitudes like this.)
--Sue p.
5/11/11 10:43 PM
Just saying.. said...
It appears Ingraham's TfA'er Kristin Baily Fogarty is cozy with the LEV.
Anyone wondering if she played a part?
5/11/11 10:43 PM
Anonymous said...
Seattle Ed. and Just Saying,
I'm sure everything will come out during the deposition! I'm hoping for a front row seat. The district is going to get killed on this one.
APP mom
5/11/11 11:02 PM
Student said...
Hey, I'm the Garfield>Ingraham student from earlier (got the alias thing down now, sorry!) and minor correction - that's stevemiranda.wordpress.com. He's now the interim director (or something?) of Puget Sound Commmunity School, and I always find his blog an intriguing read, even if my experience doesn't mesh 100% of the time.
And sorry for my rushed & unstructured post last night! I guess my point was that Mr. Floe is awesome and the welling of support (on facebook, etc.) is incredible and no matter what happens, I hope it is made clear to him that Ingraham students and teachers obviously care about him and don't agree, at all. I saw a bunch of teachers leaving a lunch meeting that (I now know) was about this and the attitude was definitely somber and grim. Nobody's happy.
5/11/11 11:03 PM
Student said...
This picture has been widely adopted as a facebook profile picture by current students, activists-type to getting-suspended-type. http://i53.tinypic.com/2ed9jxh.jpg
5/11/11 11:08 PM
Seattle-Ed2010 said...
Meanwhile, UW is indeed partnering with TFA, Inc.
Reposted from Kathy from a different thread:
Sorry, this is a bit off topic.
It appears TfA has partnered with University of Washington.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015029322_teachforamerica12m.html
-- sp.
5/11/11 10:39 PM
5/11/11 11:42 PM
Anonymous said...
Here's one chant for the JSCEE demonstration. I'm sure people on the awesome Friends of Floe FB page can continue the thought process there...
Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho.
Dusseault hits the road.
Not Floe.
There's a variation with Enfield's name.
'Completely Outraged and You Should Be Too.'
5/11/11 11:52 PM
(btw, I have no idea what the blank spot is between 10:39PM and 11:42PM, it's not my editing, just copying/pasting what's on the page)
Shmebber said...
In response to @Seattle-Ed2010 and @Just saying..
As an Ingraham student, I appreciate your dedication to getting to the bottom of this situation and finding answers. It's really great to see so much community support for Floe coming out tonight.
However, as someone who has taken classes taught by Ms. Bailey for two years now (English and Journalism), I can assert that your suspicions are totally bogus. Ms. Bailey is by far one of the most dedicated teachers at Ingraham, and her popularity and skill alike rank below no other. To accuse her of currying favor with Bree and playing a role in Floe's dismissal is as ludicrous as Floe's dismissal itself.
The article you linked to reflects her opinions on the seniority system in schools, a dated priority-ranking system that has forced me to endure many incompetent teachers in my SPS career. Her willingness to put herself up for evaluation is not a sign of her being an "insider," but of her her readiness to prove her teaching capability, as all teachers should. Furthermore, during a lull in class today, she gave me, friend to friend, an opinion of her's concerning Bree that I should probably not quote in full on a public forum - but it wasn't flattering by any means. Ms. Bailey is on our side, without a doubt.
The whole Floe situation is, of course, a complete mistake, and is an unnecessary mess for the students, teachers, administration, parents, and district alike to have to deal with. I came to Ingraham for the IB program, a Floe-inspired and monitored curriculum that has given me a fantastic, free education. Ingraham's environment is one of the safest, nicest, and most supportive in Seattle, and Floe definitely plays a large role in maintaining that unique climate. Ingraham would not be the same without him.
I'll certainly be attending the rally tomorrow at 5:15, and the others planned after that. SPS shouldn't be allowed to get away with this without repercussions.
And again, please forget about Kristen Bailey-Fogarty; while conspiracy theories are all very fun, we really have to make sure that no false rumors stick in the next few days.
5/12/11 12:08 AM
Just saying... said...
Dan, Melissa, funny thing about blogs....while you both more often than not provide factual info and try to find answers when you make a mistake, and while some use it to voice their support of a position it's too bad others use your blog as a place to spew hatred based on opinion if they don't like someone or if someone doesn't have the same agenda as them. When I see students making sweeping statements about a teacher, admin, etc., yet in the same breath saying their sibling attends the school/admin they hated it sounds like a personal issue...why would their sibling attend a school where admin is so bad and EVERYONE hates the admin? Why would their parents allow that?
It's hard being a teacher or administrator in today's climate. While we may love educating kids it feels like we can't win for losing no matter how hard we work being students' teachers, social worker, nurse, counselor, and even sometimes the only parent figure they have. My colleagues and i were just talking about that this week!
5/12/11 5:33 AM
Still hoping for change at my school... said...
Don't know if Bree D. REALLY had that much power in Principal Flo's firing or if she's the fall guy. A group of staff members met with her and Enfield over month ago about a principal at an Ingraham feeder school right down the road (not N'gate, think "east") Staff and parents have been complaining about the principal's incompetence and lack of academic achievement by majority of the students in the school, yet MGJ and outgoing exec director assigned the "interim" to us WITH NO public or staff input. (In fact the principal slapped the hands of teachers who asked why there was no input.). The documented statistics are there for the school's student achievement, yet our understanding us that Bree did not have the power to get our principal removed, changed, or fired, no matter how hard we tried, the principal still remains because it is Enfields decision as it was MGJ And our union leadership was also involved!!! The principal has been trying to push out every veteran teacher. Even those who raise test scores, while students are not achieving, in classes taught by inexperienced teachers, who the principal leaves alone. To make matters worse the principal creates classes with 12-15 students who are high achieving while the lower achieving students are in classes of 32!!! And in our first school staff meeting, he blamed our AYP status on "free and reduced lunch growth, bilingual growth and sped populations". Bree knows this. If she has so much power AND she does come to our school regularly, why isn't our principal leaving instead of popular and nice Mr. Flo (by the way most students and many staff don't think ours is nice and the principal is DEFINITELY NOT popular with students)?
Oh, and I'd name the school and the principal but thought the post might be deleted if I did. You can check the school reports of the Ingraham feeder schools to find out which one.
5/12/11 6:06 AM
Kristin Bailey-Fogarty said...
Wow. Where do I even begin? I did call Dorothy an idiot. Is she a parent? I didn't know that. I think she was idiotic for snooping around in the wedding website of a stranger and then publicly making fun of that stranger.
That stranger was Bree Dusseault. Both she and her husband are friends of mine. I have a lot of respect for them personally and professionally.
These are difficult times in public education, but have we gotten to the point where I'm going to be told who I can and can't be friends with?
It's been a difficult year at Ingraham for me because I consider Bree my friend. And all I'm going to say on the Martin Floe matter is that I played no part in his firing, despite the many conjectures out there that a teacher who's friends with Bree "leaked" information. I am friends with Bree. The rest is angry, unsupported gossip.
And I am on the board of the League of Education Voters Foundation. One thing I love about that foundation? They hosted a fundraiser earlier this year to raise money for an after school reading program at Northgate Elementary. To me, that merging of community, families, and schools is powerful. I'm proud to be a part of LEV.
And my opinions on seniority-based firings, the need to ensure there's a skilled teacher in every classroom, and my frustration with our current problems in education are no secret. Being opnionated and outspoken has gotten me in trouble, but my opinions have been formed by fifteen years in a public school classroom, seeing excuses made, seeing incompetent teachers fail to teach kids. And most teachers are great, it's true. I think all teachers should be great.
My post on the LEV blog is not at all uncollegial, unless you consider expecting the best from my colleagues uncollegial. I'm a teacher, but I also have a child (and soon two) in the public schools. I have no tolerance for teachers who can't teach, and the people I work with will tell you that, though that's an unattractive quality, I back it up by teaching as well as I can, putting myself out there for students, and holding myself to higher expectations than anyone else.
Testing? I'm for it, and I think we should get it right so it's a useful measurement.
Evaluating teachers? I'm for it. that's no secret, and doesn't mean I think I'm better than anyone.
And Shmebber, bless you. I think I know who you are and I love you, but I know I didn't say anything unflattering about Bree. I think I can be on the side of my students and still be friends with Bree Dusseault, and I hope that the people in my community are able to understand that.
5/12/11 7:46 AM
Just saying... said...
KristIn,
Like I said a few posts earlier, it is unfortunate that individuals use blogs to hide behind and spew hateful and many times uninformed opinions.
Talking about someone's personal life should not enter into the conversation unless that personal life does direct harm to students. It's good you were strong enough to state your opinion, hopefully without fear of reprisal.
5/12/11 8:47 AM
Just saying For Real said...
Oh and Kristen the last two just saying monikers are unrelated to the much earlier one. Some one used mine so I'll go forth being just saying for real. Please read the post right above yours.
5/12/11 8:54 AM
Josh Hayes said...
I'm with Ms. Bailey-Fogarty on this: no witch-hunts, please. No character assassinations, just character celebrations: the aim should be to undo this wrong-headed decision, full stop.
5/12/11 9:12 AM
Chris S. said...
You've got two choices, folks. Privacy settings or big-girl pants.
5/12/11 9:29 AM
Anonymous said...
Chris S. is right. You'd think the website in question would have been taken down or been given restricted access after all that. But no, anyone who's interested can find out the time and location of future events.
5/12/11 9:40 AM
celebrate life said...
Chris S and anon...sheesh people got time to troll around the Internet looking for any info on people's personal life? Must not have much of one themselves.
5/12/11 10:00 AM
Anonymous said...
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.
5/12/11 10:26 AM
another mom said...
Anonymous @ 9:40 and 10:26 -you need a monikerother than anonymous.
By the way, I agree with you -if you don't want trollers or anyone else seeing your information keep it private. All an employer or potential employer need do is google a person's name.
5/12/11 10:36 AM