Friday Open Thread
It is to be a good weekend, weatherwise.
We are coming off an exhausting campaign season that saw us retain a President that others thought might be easily defeated. The power of numbers (and Nate Silver's ability to use them - go math!).
Linda Darling-Hammond, a professor Ed at Stanford University and a star in education nationally, is in town and speaking this morning at a UW event. I have not been able to find out if it is open to the public. A source tells me that she is meeting with some members of the School Board at some point. I hope they listen.
What's on your mind?
We are coming off an exhausting campaign season that saw us retain a President that others thought might be easily defeated. The power of numbers (and Nate Silver's ability to use them - go math!).
Linda Darling-Hammond, a professor Ed at Stanford University and a star in education nationally, is in town and speaking this morning at a UW event. I have not been able to find out if it is open to the public. A source tells me that she is meeting with some members of the School Board at some point. I hope they listen.
What's on your mind?
Comments
Steve
Thanks!
(Note that the old Alt schools often don't have PTSAs so, if you want a comprehensive list, you would have to contact them separately.)
Duncan is the very worst piece of Obama's team. Loves the spotlight. Loves his marketing shtick - Race to the Top - . Loves the business community. Doesn't love listening to actual public school employees and parents.
If anybody wants to do a recap of the success of his Chicago policies when he was "CEO" of the public schools, they will see that now that he is out of town those left behind call them abysmal failures that did not move the needle a whit on addressing the education of the poor.
Not Buying What Education Reform Is Selling
MAP Testing Evaluation
In the end, the writer concludes that the only clear benefit is "teachers received help determining the knowledge and skill levels of the lowest performing students."
- a parent
Inqiurer
So what is Mr. Banda's plan here? Does he have a plan? The Education Directors seem to be disengaged even more than ever if that's even possible. There is an absence of open communication. After all the press, Banda should say something about expectations he is setting, shouldn't he? It can't all be about the BIG HIRE he has in his evaluation come next June. Families and teachers need help now.
Wondering in West Seattle
Nathan Hale is not happy about the proposed changes of putting a separate school on the lower or upper field of Jane Addams. The fields are in high demand and used extensively by Jane Addams and by Nathan Hale athletics. In the summer, the fields are full of community sports programs.
HP
Harium Martin-Morris Community Meeting:
Sat, 11/10, 9:30-11:30 AM
Diva Espresso (LC Way and 85th)
Kay Smith-Blum Community Meeting:
Sat, 11/10, 10:00-11:30 AM
Capitol Hill Library
Sharon Peaslee Community Meeting:
Monday, 11/12, 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Lake City Library
-North End Mom
I understand Banda is meeting with building staff, teachers, IAs to hear what they say they need to serve our kids. I applaud that effort.
He should be periodically touching base with families on the vision thing. For example, what has he decided will be the minimum and desired qualifications for the BIG hire on his eval. How does he intende to solve the "principal problem" (vetoing IEPs). Will he have a district-wide foundation philosophy for SpEd in place before he directs his staff on PASS and SEA CBA negos. Has he decided to cut some of the legal battles (as he has expressed) etc.
But we can always hope ...
Didn't he stand up at the Town Hall Debate and tell us that he didn't support charter schools?
He is another snake in the grass.
I imagine that Peter Maier, disingenuous in just the same way as Steve Sundquist, was "against" charter schools while holding a position on the school board - then had a magical transformation in which he "saw the light" as soon as he lost his seat.
Oompah
waiting parent
If so it needs to be distributed widely. ALL current board members. ALL of last year's board members and ALL of the candidates from 2011 school board races are on public record as against charters.
The duplicity of Maier, if this is true, is breathtaking. He and Sundquist need to be called on it, as well as any of the aforementioned group who suddenly have a change of heart aka thirst for state level position. I add DeBell and Martin-Morris to list of likely post-office suspects.
DistrictWatcher
Caller
I'd just email AL if you want your date though. They must have them.
NEP
Maybe he put them up. Maybe he's picking up post-election litter. I'm feeling uncommonly generous about the human condition today. Funny thing, word verification is "iponder." :)
Not a Maier fan
Yes, Charlie, Peter's name needs to go on the list.
Linda Darling-Hammond was the keynote speaker for the conference celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the U.W. Center for Multicultural Education. The event was free but you had to register with the U.W. CME.
This event has been on my calendar since November 2011!
The HUB South Ballroom was packed with U.W. students, students from other universities, professors from the U.W., S.U., Evergreen and elsewhere along with U.W. alumni and other folks. School Board Director Sharon Peaslee was there.
There were sessions all day.
--Old School Music
We waste a lot of capital dollars this way.
https://kingcounty.everyonecounts.com/page/2073/3705
Public School Parent