Seattle Schools Updates

Editor's note: Given all these changes, I have asked for an organizational chart but have not yet received a reply.

From SPS Communications:  Dr. Concie Pedroza Named Chief of Student Supports
Dr. Concie Pedroza has been named Seattle Public Schools’ Chief of Student Supports. Dr. Pedroza will provide oversight of the district’s Advanced Learning, Special Education, Athletics, and Student Enrollment departments. Dr. Pedroza will report directly to Superintendent Denise Juneau and begins her new position on September 1, 2019.

In response to school feedback, this cabinet-level position will help improve coordination and integration of a continuum of student services. The position has been restructured to better meet the unique needs of our students, their families, and provide a higher level of support to school staff.
Another major appointment: Dr. Mia Williams Appointed Executive Director of the Department of African American Male Achievement
The Department of African American Male Achievement is a new department charged with advancement of African American males and elimination of disparities in educational and social outcomes for students, grades PreK-12.  

“Dr. Mia Williams is a force for students and her unwavering belief in students is contagious. For almost three decades, Dr. Williams has led transformational change in Seattle Public Schools, most recently as the principal at Aki Kurose Middle School. Under Mia's leadership, students’ social, emotional, and academic success have increased dramatically. The school’s student-centered approach and innovative programs focused on African American Male achievement have become a model for others– here in Seattle and nationally. She is the perfect person to lead the new department and I’m excited about what is next for African-American students and their families,” stated Superintendent Denise Juneau.
Mr. Caine Lowery has been chosen as the new principal of Aki Kurose Middle School, effective immediately. He moves into this position after serving as an assistant principal at Aki Kurose. 
Update on STEM by TAF at Washington Middle School
When would this program start?
As of August 2019, no decisions have been made except to be in discussion with each other. If any changes were to occur, the earliest programmatic adjustment would be for school year 2020-21.

Can you commit that a decision about TAF at Washington will be made well before the deadline for school choice for the school year 2020-21?
Yes, the decision will be made in advance of the open enrollment in early February 2020.
Opportunities to learn more:

 August 17, 2019 (Saturday) - Bailey Gatzert Elementary School, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
September 28, 2019 (Saturday) – Washington Middle School, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. 

Update via Twitter from teacher Jesse Hagopian:
I’m truly honored to have won the “Social Justice Teacher of the Year” award from
@SeaPubSchools' Department of Racial Equity!

Comments

Anonymous said…
I am wary of a department being created to focus on a single group of disadvantaged students. Only because, as I saw at an SPS school I worked at, the intense focus on one group often leads to an academic decline in other groups. For instance, in this school, the performance of LatinX and Native students of both genders declined when we were asked to focus our student growth goals on African-American males. While I understand the need for this department, I hope that SPS is careful to focus on the academic improvement for ALL historically disadvantaged children.

Careful
8/10/19, 11:40 PM
Melissa Westbrook said…
Careful, and that's what I have thought as well - one group, one gender to focus on the hope that it will trickle down to others?
8/11/19, 9:54 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday Open Thread

The speaker list is up for the Board meeting tomorrow; not as packed as I thought with just four people on the waitlist. The majority of the speakers are speaking on high school boundaries (with several wanting to talk about Ballard High). There are only three of us speaking about the Green Dot resolution asking the City to not grant the zoning departures that Green Dot has requested.  It's me, long-time watchdog, Chris Jackins, and the head of the Washington State Charter Schools Association, Patrick D'Amelio.  (I knew Mr. D'Amelio when he headed the Alliance for Education and Big Brothers and Big Sisters; he's a stand-up guy.)
Read more

Breaking It Down: Where the District Might Close Schools

Update 2: an absolutely fabulous interactive map made by parent Beth Day (@thebethocracy on Twitter - she covers Board meetings and is fun to read).   end of update    Update 1: Mea culpa, I did indeed get Decatur and Thornton Creek mixed up. Thanks to all for the correction. end of update   I suspect some who read this post will be irate. Why do this? Because the district seems very hellbent on this effort with no oversight skid marks from the Board.    To clearly state - I do not believe that closing 20 schools is a good idea. I think they hit on 20 because they thought it might bring in the most savings. But the jury is still out on the savings because the district has not shown its work nor its data. I suspect closing schools and THEN leasing/renting them is the big plan but that means the district really has to keep the buildings up.   But this district, with its happy talk about "well-resourced schools" is NOT acknowledging the pain and yes, gr...
Read more

Education News Roundup

From the ever-amusing Washington Policy Center : Vouchers are Pell Grants for students under 18.  Vouchers are no different than Pell Grants or GI benefits, except the money goes to the families of students younger than age 18.  Except they are. Pell Grants were created to help needy students and that's not really the goal of the voucher program.  The Pell grant website does have a couple of great studies on why low-income students drop out before finishing their higher ed and what makes a difference.
Read more