tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post1914139369066744045..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: What to Do about the Superintendent Situation?Melissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-7552487631509222052011-12-22T11:00:45.977-08:002011-12-22T11:00:45.977-08:00Before we initiate a search for a new Supe, we hav...Before we initiate a search for a new Supe, we have to initiate a search for the headhunters who are going to conduct a search? <br /><br />The reason I ask is because I just started a company. My new company, Cummings and Associates, specializes in superintendent recruitment. What follows is a description of our process. I copied it from our web-site (Cummingsandassociates.com), which is currently off-line until the update is completed.<br /> <br />At Cummings and Associates a highly trained Recruitment Consultant will meet with you personally, to help you develop a Superintendent Profile specific to your District. Using this Superintendent Profile your Recruitment Consultant will conduct a national search for that one individual out there who will be the perfect 'fit' as your new Superintendent. Furthermore we charge less than some of those other reruiters and unlike them, we guarantee our results. <br /><br />Give Cummings and Associates a call today at (206) @&!-#$%^. <br /><br />Cummings and Associates- We do the work so you can rest easy.johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14096140304848557937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2517548610647387872011-12-21T02:18:58.792-08:002011-12-21T02:18:58.792-08:00Reminder:
Enfield became Super on 22 hours notice...Reminder:<br /><br />Enfield became Super on 22 hours notice. Only Betty Patu believed a clean full break from MGJ was needed at that time and said so. ....<br /><br />So now we know from Brewster that the Reform Bloc Four was running the show for Raikes et al. No wonder a clean break from MGJ's de facto policies was NOT allowed.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77830033890010488602011-12-21T01:17:08.202-08:002011-12-21T01:17:08.202-08:00Brewster self-publishes because nobody else will p...Brewster self-publishes because nobody else will print what he has to say. <br /><br />Woo? I'd like to see Enfield pay back some of her salary. She didn't earn it. What has she accomplished? How has she earned the trust of the teachers? Anyone tapped to fill this role should be a teacher. Conduct a local search without any conflicts of interest. Look at what each superintendent has accomplished, the good and the bad over the past 20 years. That's a generation. Decide what to scrub and what to keep. <br /><br />Mr. WhiteAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-46750864447529861302011-12-20T22:17:21.183-08:002011-12-20T22:17:21.183-08:00I'm not down with another interim. I think we ...I'm not down with another interim. I think we need to buckle down and find someone that is a good fit and will stay. There has been so much churn in leadership, I'm not sure another interim supe would be good for the culture or morale. I also think the new hire needs to feel that they are wanted by Seattle and that they have a mandate from the board so they are comfortable taking the risks necessary for real culture change downtown. <br /><br />I might be able to be swayed, but I'd rather they go straight to a search. We have to finish out SE's contract anyway, right? <br /><br />SE was not a good fit for the job, obviously. I'm grateful she figured that out and has stopped wasting the taxpayer's money and time. If she wanted the job she would have fought for it (and truthfully, she wouldn't have had to fight too hard). She didn't want it and that's awesome for us in the long term.Erinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55605644690613363812011-12-20T21:39:20.824-08:002011-12-20T21:39:20.824-08:00No more Bobble head board, and more of the same S...No more Bobble head board, and more of the same Superintendent.<br /><br />No way!!!!<br /><br />Good riddance Enfiels.<br /><br />Good luck over centralizing the next district you land in and <br />hurting students.KGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14120359550438503094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-51698552638169054222011-12-20T21:18:55.773-08:002011-12-20T21:18:55.773-08:00Get a Superintendent from local region. Then the B...Get a Superintendent from local region. Then the Board needs to over see them properly and make super answer to them.<br /><br />The last Board was pathetic.<br /><br />If the new one fails then out with them.<br /><br />Thw Board cannot let them fail.KGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14120359550438503094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-509774941275469592011-12-20T20:56:16.470-08:002011-12-20T20:56:16.470-08:00Well, he has as much or more experience than Enfie...Well, he has as much or more experience than Enfield ever had. He was Senior PA and Section head at the KC Prosecuting attorney's office, and former chief of staff for KC Executive Kurt Triplett.<br /><br />His initial read of the Ninth Circuit court decision re: HQT and TFA was bunk, but he has carried himself admirably since then. His people skills exceed slick Susan and I can't really see him blithely spouting talking points ad nauseum.<br /><br />He would need to be able to make the tough calls though. I think Charlie should be his hatchetman (and first to go, current hatchetman Ron English - but that's just me).<br /><br />He's worthy of consideration.StopTFAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08605108615707039386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-89784738555895990112011-12-20T20:20:54.195-08:002011-12-20T20:20:54.195-08:00...Treat has the Board's trust but will need a...<i>...Treat has the Board's trust but will need an experienced and highly skilled educator to manage the principals and teachers....</i><br /><br />Does he have experience managing a significant number of people and a large budget? <br /><br />Could the Phil Brockman critic who posts here see Brockman as CAO with Treat as Super?Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18444916440000921599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-48175510877975169842011-12-20T14:44:59.583-08:002011-12-20T14:44:59.583-08:00Stop TFA: of the current "second tier" ...Stop TFA: of the current "second tier" of management, I also like Noel Treat (though it does then seem like an interim position -- as I don't think his long term passion lies in being SSD's superintendent -- who knows, I could be wrong!)<br /><br />I like Peg McEvoy too much in the position she already holds. I worry that Noel may not see the critical need to do something IMMEDIATELY to replace/demote Cathy Thompson -- but I think he is NOT an Ed Reform guy (at least not yet) and is not beholden to that crowd at all for his future career. I agree that Noel would need to get some weight on the ed/curriculum/teaching side -- but he might be a good candidate to finish cleaning out the bad parts of HR, dealing with the intimidation/recrimination stuff, etc.Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09923777229601243321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-20463073364510215942011-12-20T14:38:41.877-08:002011-12-20T14:38:41.877-08:00Stop TFA,
A great big thank you for your tireless...Stop TFA,<br /><br />A great big thank you for your tireless work, which greatly contributed to Susan Enfield's "decision" to move on after not being coronated.<br /><br />When someone is exposed as two-faced in her own words, people don't stay fooled forever (although Charlie sure made some troubling rationalizations). <br /><br />I, too, am in celebration mode.<br /><br />--Dan Dempsey rocks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-52408315618570533052011-12-20T13:55:57.578-08:002011-12-20T13:55:57.578-08:00I would say interim for a year and then see where ...I would say interim for a year and then see where we are. It's entirely possible he/she could do very well and we don't need a search at all. <br /><br />I do not want to woo anyone; I'm just putting out what I hear.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25930350129607404102011-12-20T13:37:08.537-08:002011-12-20T13:37:08.537-08:001. don't let the door hit you on the ass on yo...1. don't let the door hit you on the ass on you're way out.<br /><br />3. NEXT.<br /><br />2. we are NOT inventing warp drive. <br /><br />NO Superintendent Puppy Mill Power Point Pros / Aristocrat Defenders<br /><br />GetOverOurSelvesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18956243054468309252011-12-20T12:02:10.928-08:002011-12-20T12:02:10.928-08:00I'm putting my money on Noel Treat. Yeah, I k...I'm putting my money on Noel Treat. Yeah, I know he's practically family with the reform establishment. Call me naive but I think he has integrity (although I have questioned some of his past actions). For one thing he believes all kids deserve a good education (but not in a reformy "lip service" kind of way). He's a long-term native and knows that, AFTER SPS, he will still need to have a good rep. I believe that he should be credited with our era of "glasnost" more than Enfield. Treat has the Board's trust but will need an experienced and highly skilled educator to manage the principals and teachers.<br /><br />I know, ya'll think I'm high or something. I am kind of. I'm high on us being free of the truth-challenged Enfield. Maybe I need a kick in the head. Jon Bridge, where are you?StopTFAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08605108615707039386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-46584456756911175632011-12-20T11:46:18.126-08:002011-12-20T11:46:18.126-08:00On the Interim Insider as super.
The idea of ha...On the Interim Insider as super. <br /><br />The idea of having an interim with knowledge of the district, and a ready understanding if our key issues is interesting. When you say interim, what period of time are you thinking about? One year, two years? I like the idea of someone who does not have a huge learning curve. And I like that an interim might be a better known entity to the community, allowing a better assessment of what kinds of thinking they might be importing. Ideally, an interim would have a good rep with teachers. <br /><br />If there are good candidates inside, why not save the time, money, and energy by trying them first. I have little faith that Seattle schools will be saved "Deus Ex Machina" style right now in its current state by someone from outside the community. <br /><br />FedMomof2FedMomof2noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-7999126035510769882011-12-20T11:05:14.752-08:002011-12-20T11:05:14.752-08:00Jan, look here for more from Tianna and a lot of o...Jan, look <a href="http://crosscut.com/2011/10/23/elections/21463/Seattle-elections:-still-too-much-bland-leading-the-bland/" rel="nofollow">here for more from Tianna</a> and a lot of other SSS posters as well. She seems to be well informed and certainly articulate. <br /><br />I'm always impressed by the rich discussion and the level of informed posters on this blog as well.<br /><br />northenderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-35311274725199791342011-12-20T07:48:38.759-08:002011-12-20T07:48:38.759-08:00Ed,
Who, me snark? Never.
: bEd,<br /><br />Who, me snark? Never.<br /><br />: bmirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3414486737326822932011-12-20T07:28:01.426-08:002011-12-20T07:28:01.426-08:00Hey everybody, lets not forget that lasting legacy...Hey everybody, lets not forget that lasting legacy of "in house" folks to manage the news; Strategies 360.<br /><br />MGJ brought then here along with the rest of the Stand for Children/LEV/charter crowd. They are still managing things.<br /><br />I honestly think they are a major problem because they are controlling what information reaches us and thereby manipulating the whole process.<br /><br />Did Don Neilsen buy in?Wandanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74589499305391136152011-12-20T07:18:55.523-08:002011-12-20T07:18:55.523-08:00Mirmac
I'm not saying anyone has refused to d...Mirmac<br /><br />I'm not saying anyone has refused to do anything.<br /><br />Its just that fellow bloggers sometimes make huge assumptions about individuals and then are stunned when events go differently.<br /><br />If I had worked under MGJ and watched the district become as disfunctional as it did. Then helped Enfield improve things significantly, I would take some personal and professional pride in that accomplishment.<br /><br />The prospect of having all that good work go south again after the alliance picks us another "Queen" figurehead may just be too much for me and I may chose to hang it up or do something else. <br /><br />After a few times up the hill, I bet pushing that rock gets kinda heavy when it lands at the bottom again. <br /><br />If I didn't know you, I would say you "snarked" me.Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40102277774316355332011-12-20T03:19:48.382-08:002011-12-20T03:19:48.382-08:00This is the letter that Dr. Susan Enfield wrote an...This is the letter that Dr. Susan Enfield wrote and sent out to district employees. Here is my response by Nick Esparza:<br /><br />Well Dr. Enfield I am more than please you are resigning as the superintendent at the end of the year. It seems like Christmas and New Years came early. I find it really interesting that you say the district has done a better job with the graduation rate. You said that graduation rate is up from 67 percent to 73 percent. Yes that is an improvement but not by much. You came from being the chief academic officer and pushed to not spend money on Summer School and drop it altogether. So you have not increased the graduation rate but rather decreased it.<br /><br />You of all people should know that when kids do not graduate and get into trouble and become incarcerated that we the people of Seattle pay for it later. Due to the districts faulty budgeting and not finding money for alternative programs and making sure kids graduate, we now have a higher drop out rate. I am now pleased to hear you are hitting the yellow brick road.<br /><br />You spend a lot of time talking about closing the achievement gap in your interim as a superintendent. It does appear that you and your lack of leadership have widened the achievement gap.<br /><br />Some places I think you have failed the taxpayers and students are:<br /><br />1. Not funding summer school<br />2. Trying to make a terrible graduation rate seem like a great thing<br />3. Teach for America and 5 week trainees<br />4. Financial mismanagement and financial stewardship and your inability to run a district effectively<br />5. Lastly, you were never a superintendent in the past, had no experience and did a poor job<br /><br /><br />Basically you argue that our enrollment is on the rise. But you have not found out how to effectively not over enroll students and help to create an effective learning environment. You as an academic individual should know that when schools are over crowded it is hard for teacher to teach and students to learn. Your answer is to hire more administrators and make costs larger. But admins the last time I checked do not instruct or teach classes.<br /><br />You have also gotten rid of school counselors and instructional assistants. Also, you have not provided students with text books. I think that the other screw up was you were not effective in your hiring staff. All the people you hired were new trainees. Nobody is held accountable for mismanagement under your leadership. There is always somebody else to blame it on.<br /><br />However, there will be some people whom will miss you in the Seattle School District. That would be the ineffective leadership of the Seattle Education Association. I am sure Johnathan Knapp will miss you dearly because he will have to cozy up to another superintendent. <br /><br />Lastly, Stand for children and Teach for America will also miss you. But I bid you a fond farewell. Hopefully you have as much fun screwing up the next school. Because you have an impressive resume. <br /><br />Best of luck in your future,<br /><br />Nick EsparzaNick Esparzanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15084331839192538052011-12-20T03:18:38.499-08:002011-12-20T03:18:38.499-08:00Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Another Superintendent ...Tuesday, December 20, 2011<br />Another Superintendent Bites the Dust<br /><br />In March, when I was appointed Interim Superintendent of Seattle Public Schools, the District was in crisis. I was tasked with assembling the very best team of professionals to help lead this District, create transparency, improve communication and restore trust between families, the community and Seattle Public Schools.<br /><br />I am incredibly proud of the work our students, teachers, principals and staff have accomplished over the past 10 months. Seattle is fortunate to have such a team of dedicated educational professionals. The progress we have made is significant:<br /><br /> • Seattle Public Schools students outperformed the state average in every tested subject in Grades 3-8;<br /> • Our four-year graduation rate is up from 67 percent to 73 percent in the last year;<br /> • Our overall school performance is increasing, with 27 schools increasing their overall performance level during 2010-11;<br /> • Enrollment is on the rise; and<br /> • Our city passed yet another Families and Education levy that will provide essential supports to our students.<br /><br />While I am proud of what we have accomplished together, today I am announcing my decision to neither seek nor accept the permanent position of superintendent after my contract ends in June. This was not an easy decision for me to make given my commitment to Seattle and to our students. I wish the school board well in their search for a new superintendent, and will work with the new appointee to ensure a smooth transition for our staff, students and families. It is my sincere hope that the board will continue to build on our successes to date and continue the momentum we have built. I believe strongly that losing this momentum would be a disservice to our students and staff.<br /><br />Our work here is far from over. Continuing to improve outcomes for all students and attack our achievement gaps will require great principals, great teachers, connected families and community partners and a central office serving schools by supporting high quality teaching and learning in every classroom. Please know that I remain dedicated to Seattle Public Schools and will continue to partner with, and serve you all to the best of my ability in the months ahead.<br /><br />While we may hold different opinions on how to best serve our students, we must remember they are counting on us to fulfill our mission of ensuring that they are prepared for college, career and life. It is essential that we discipline ourselves to keep this mission—and our students—at the forefront of all we do, and not allow adult issues, egos and politics to stand in the way.<br /><br />I want to thank you for your support. I will be forever grateful for having had the opportunity to serve the students and community of Seattle.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Susan Enfield's Signature<br /><br />Susan<br /><br /><br />Susan Enfield, Ed.D.<br />Interim Superintendent<br />Seattle Public SchoolsNick Esparzanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49734407640474713602011-12-20T00:13:31.795-08:002011-12-20T00:13:31.795-08:00Please! Let Enfield go. After the Ingraham HS de...Please! Let Enfield go. After the Ingraham HS debacle, her refusal to allow decent math curricula in the district, and her unwillingness to be patient with the new board...and a dozen other issues..it is time for her to move on to another position.<br /><br />Cliff MassAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31401764121346049822011-12-19T23:08:40.891-08:002011-12-19T23:08:40.891-08:00A couple of things:
First -- unless I misread M...A couple of things: <br /><br />First -- unless I misread Melissa, I think the idea that SE wants to be "cajoled" into staying is pure conjecture (I realize several people have said it by now -- but certainly not SE (or anyone else who claims to be privy to what is going on in her head). As long as we are in "pure ficticious conjecture land," I think that she has gotten an offer -- or an "all but offered offer" expression of interest from elsewhere, that it may allow her to reorganize her home situation so that she and her spouse do not work in separate cities/states -- and that she has concluded that it is either a better next step, or a "just as good" next step without all the possible hoo rah of one-year extensions, explaining/defending/disowning some of her past positions/actions here -- and thus, she is acting in her own best career interests and taking the "other position," whatever it is.<br /><br />On a (mostly) unrelated note -- "tianna," one of the commenters to David Brewster's article, had some really interesting things to say about David's school board assertions -- he/she finds him only "partly" informed, and in discussing why the other TWO incumbents did not also go down in flames, he/she states: <br />"The other surviving board member and the darling of ed reform on the board is Martin-Morris - who worked with LEVite turned lobbyist Lisa Macfarlane to do a backroom deal to get TFA into town. That gave him substantial behind the scenes boosts from the LEV and Alliance and Stand groups against challenger Buetow. As well, he rode the coattails of his "diversity" which he brought up endlessly in debates. Liberal Seattle voters clearly wanted diversity on the school board (despite the fact that Martin-Morris's credentials at turning his diversity into powerful policy are limited at best.)"<br /><br />I can only attest to the diversity stuff -- because I read/heard some of it myself. But the "darling" of ed reform?" I wonder if that is why he seemed to go sort of "Stepford" on us, shut down his blog, and basically stop engaging (someone commented how the information "flow" seemed to switch from "Harium taking voter's comments to the Board" to "Harium explaining MGJ's agenda (for which he was going to vote) to the voters.) And a LEV backroom deal between Harium and Lisa to get TfA? Huh! We certainly all know that it was done as a "backroom deal" (first clue -- when everybody seems to be publicly signing on -- but none of their reasons make any sense -- it means that the REAL reasons are very different, and are not being disclosed) -- but I have never had any real inkling of who else (other than Susan Enfield) was a real proponent on the board." <br /><br />At any rate -- this is about the purest form of gossip there is, given that I don't have a CLUE who tianna might be. But -- for those interested, tianna has much more to say on the subject -- some of it (such as the fact that Seattle voters may have "caught on" to the idea that business interests are trying to "buy" a board -- and won't go for it -- and the fact that many Seattlites dislike the tone and content coming from the current leadership at LEV and the Alliance) seems like pretty much spot on analysis.Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09923777229601243321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-19626265801078961052011-12-19T22:55:40.951-08:002011-12-19T22:55:40.951-08:00"wants to be wooed" is a supposition, Ke..."wants to be wooed" is a supposition, Kelly. Nothing more. One amid lots of suppositions. <br /><br />Looks like head-hunting will begin for the "properly-trained" reformer to me. But then, that's another supposition by me.<br /><br />northenderAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-14529916393765984772011-12-19T22:28:47.641-08:002011-12-19T22:28:47.641-08:00Oh for God's sake. "Wants to be wooed?&q...Oh for God's sake. "Wants to be wooed?" Are you kidding me? That is completely ridiculous if it's true and makes me lose the tiny shred of respect I still had for Enfield. Absolutely childish, totally disgusting, and has no place in a public service position funded by the taxpayers. NONE. That makes me so very angry. Is she 12 years old?Kellynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15158426653618768212011-12-19T22:24:49.215-08:002011-12-19T22:24:49.215-08:00One more from North End Mom:
Next steps accordin...One more from North End Mom: <br /><br />Next steps according to King 5:<br /><br />The Seattle School Board is jump-starting efforts to recruit a new superintendent who can take over next July when interim schools chief Susan Enfield's contract expires.<br /><br />Enfield surprised many observers on Friday when she issued a statement saying she did not want to be a candidate for the full-time job.<br /><br />School Board President Michael DeBell said the next step is soliciting bids from executive recruitment firms specializing in high-level government jobs. The board wants to settle on a final bid in January so that the recruiting firm and board members can work through the winter and spring to find the right candidate.<br /><br />The goal is to announce a hire in June, DeBell said.<br /><br />Last July, the School Board budgeted $100,000 for the superintendent search. Some of that money has been spent on surveys and town hall meetings with parents and others interested in the process, but most of it remains unspent.<br /><br />Enfield took over the school system in March after her predecessor, Maria Goodloe-Johnson, was fired after a state audit found the district's small-business contracting program provided little or no public benefit. The man who directed that program, Silas Potter, is now facing criminal charges that he and two co-defendants bilked $250,000 from the district.<br /><br />Reporting by KING 5's Ed White.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com