tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post1154464767075874661..comments2024-03-28T23:38:22.511-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Strategic Plan UpdateMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12207026143315667862009-01-15T12:08:00.000-08:002009-01-15T12:08:00.000-08:00Ach, just found out I misunderstood the coaches cu...Ach, just found out I misunderstood the coaches cuts. Some of the cuts would effect Pathways TEACHERS, who are not specifically coaches, but are in fact teachers teaching such things as the new Read 180 reading program (which the District should keep: developmental reading benefits from consistency across schools, and common strategies, and direct instruction...all of which Read 180 has, and all of which is a stated district goal...)<BR/>and Pathways teachers also teach Collection of Evidence, which is an alternate pathway to WASL (students produce documents that are equivilant to WASL strands, for submittal to state.)<BR/><BR/>Pathways is I-728 funded.<BR/><BR/>So some "coaches" are classroom teachers. Teaching in classrooms serving struggling students.seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33860668513244913932009-01-15T11:16:00.000-08:002009-01-15T11:16:00.000-08:00Absolutely, SPS parent: Coaches help teachers teac...Absolutely, SPS parent: Coaches help teachers teach (sometimes by actually teaching themselves, and by so doing free the teacher to do small-group teaching or do other work, and also allow the teacher to learn how to use strategies.<BR/><BR/>So this is a loss, generally, and also a loss to those students who need their teachers (and coaches) to better use strategies to teach them.seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-84724018018486891772009-01-15T10:36:00.000-08:002009-01-15T10:36:00.000-08:00Many school-based coaches, especially the math coa...Many school-based coaches, especially the math coaches, spend a large portion of their days in classrooms teaching children. It's one of the ways they support the teachers and provide professional development (by modelling and mentoring). I know a math coach in the SE Cluster who, on some days, will teach three different math lessons to three different classes at different grade levels, and who also runs the math clubs for those students who are close to meeting standards.<BR/><BR/>The classroom teachers appreciate the assistance and guidance (mostly) and so do the students.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18988853030762285612009-01-15T10:18:00.000-08:002009-01-15T10:18:00.000-08:00equity issues vis-a-vis loss of staff:Coaches, whi...equity issues vis-a-vis loss of staff:<BR/>Coaches, while often benefiting entire schools, do a lot of work that is remedial, particularly around WASL.<BR/><BR/>Any loss of educators is bad (well, almost any: analysis might reveal efficiencies to be had in some areas, where educators are better utilized, and therefore loss is "right-sizing") but the loss of coaches will, no doubt, disproportionately hit struggling students.<BR/><BR/>This is unfortunate, indeed. ALL students need the right resources; struggling students need more.seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-71660408028619263252009-01-14T19:31:00.000-08:002009-01-14T19:31:00.000-08:00SPS Parent - you're right that it's a reduction, b...SPS Parent - you're right that it's a reduction, but technically it's not a reduction in CLASSROOM teachers. Coaches don't have classes.<BR/><BR/>Of course, the net effect is the same: fewer educators in the building, but it might help to properly identify which resources are which, so that everyone, including the district, can be clear about which resources they are losing.<BR/><BR/>I have heard many good things about coaches. In some buildings they are, evidently, very organized, motivating, many are experts in their fields, and many are especially expert in WASL-type strategies, which are often good strategies, even if the WASL itself isn't the best assessment (or at least the most properly utilized assessment)<BR/>Downtown coaches often are great resources, and offer trainings in "modern" (currently used...) curriculum and assessment.<BR/><BR/>While the loss of any instructional staff is disheartening, I wonder: If we are going to lose coaches, I wonder if it's better to lose "downtown" coaches or building coaches?<BR/><BR/>sigh. This really is hard, ain't it?seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-75008374583338376992009-01-14T16:43:00.000-08:002009-01-14T16:43:00.000-08:00School-based coaches were informed last Friday tha...School-based coaches were informed last Friday that their positions will be eliminated next school year. Central Office coaches will remain. That's definitely a reduction in force of classroom teachers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-6017358896787472009-01-14T11:23:00.000-08:002009-01-14T11:23:00.000-08:00Randy Dorn addressed the House Education Committee...Randy Dorn addressed the House Education Committee yesterday and said that the WASL should measure students academic progress as they progress through the school years.<BR/><BR/>He also said that Algebra II for all is not a reasonable idea as a graduation requirement. Randy has a much better grip on reality than many education administrators.<BR/><BR/>As Charlie Mas has often said "High School graduation has never meant four year college ready". Mr. Dorn said that schools need to do a better job of serving all students.<BR/><BR/>I am thrilled to have a new Superintendent of Public Instruction.<BR/><BR/>I wonder when Mr. Dorn's ideas will impact the Strategic Plan?dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-82078667518127609352009-01-14T10:19:00.000-08:002009-01-14T10:19:00.000-08:00Quite an Update ???Pretty much dodged the ongoing ...Quite an Update ???<BR/>Pretty much dodged the ongoing math fiasco.<BR/><BR/>There will be a focus on math & science at the high school level, whatever that means.<BR/><BR/>No mention of the abdication of the responsibility to follow the strategic plan in regard to k-8 math and state standards. For the Everyday Math pacing plan dictates k-5 math in the SPS ... nothing else matters.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-59070895842417155942009-01-14T09:53:00.000-08:002009-01-14T09:53:00.000-08:00Seattle Citizen reported that:It has the phrase "r...Seattle Citizen reported that:<BR/>It has the phrase "reduction in force" in it, but also says this reduction will come from attrition and retirement, plus the hiring freeze.<BR/><BR/>WOW!!! I believe it will take more than attrition and retirement to reduce the central administration to a realistic size.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-80563789154376023692009-01-14T08:46:00.000-08:002009-01-14T08:46:00.000-08:00Again, that hiring freeze is only on the general s...Again, that hiring freeze is only on the general side; Facilities is spending on new hires ($500,000 over 3 years for 2 people). Mr. Kennedy should at least be honest about it.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-745595950166502812009-01-14T08:40:00.000-08:002009-01-14T08:40:00.000-08:00Here's a quote from Don Kennedy in a recent newsle...Here's a quote from Don Kennedy in a recent newsletter to employees about how the budget might efffect employees. It has the phrase "reduction in force" in it, but also says this reduction will come from attrition and retirement, plus the hiring freeze.<BR/>Some of the lost postions will be in admin and some in such non-classroom I-728 funded things as Pathways; additionally, the 4.2 million reduction in Weighted Student Formula to schools might reduce staff at those schools as their BLTs and principals design next year's budget. 90 schools, 4 million dollar reduction, comes to maybe an average of -50,000 per school.<BR/>It's unclear, still, if closed programs/schools' staff will be able to bump; This might deserve a thread.<BR/><BR/>Quote:<BR/>The size of the budget gap requires us to make reductions in staffing – at central office, in some of the activities funded through I-728 both at central office and at schools, and at schools based on reductions in WSS.<BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>Staffing reductions are always very hard – most especially for those directly affected. My goal is to ensure that every individual who may be impacted by this necessary reduction in force is briefed in advance of information being made public. <BR/><BR/> <BR/><BR/>As you know, we implemented a hiring freeze in December. The reason for that hiring freeze is to protect, as much as possible, our current employees from eventual lay-offs. In addition to the hiring freeze, we will accomplish some reductions via attrition and retirements."seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.com