tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post3947233454292998407..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Want a "Teacherpreneur" Making Education Policy?Melissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9746748609287822232013-06-17T21:09:20.345-07:002013-06-17T21:09:20.345-07:00All I have ever asked the District to do is the st...All I have ever asked the District to do is the stuff that they promised to do.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-17949277122728637072013-06-15T15:13:49.943-07:002013-06-15T15:13:49.943-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Nick Esparzanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-9054891461292132052013-06-15T13:20:08.392-07:002013-06-15T13:20:08.392-07:00Nick wants more for his underprivileged population...Nick wants more for his underprivileged population We all want that, Nick. I don't know how we get it. We are all limited by institutional paralysis. nnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-38896496989101722832013-06-15T12:34:59.107-07:002013-06-15T12:34:59.107-07:00You obviously have not done your homework. Charli...You obviously have not done your homework. Charlie and I have offered numerous solutions - both our own and via reader suggestions. <br /><br />I started and ran one of the No on 1240 campaigns. You can't put yourself out there much more than that.<br /><br />An ill-formed opinion doesn't help your arguments.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-47354446195263036522013-06-15T11:31:30.356-07:002013-06-15T11:31:30.356-07:00Your record does speak for itself. It speaks to t...Your record does speak for itself. It speaks to the fact that you have painted them in a negative light and that you always have. You voted to close most minority schools when you were part of the close or consolidate commission. How is advocating for the minority while disenfranchising them being for them? <br /><br /><br /><br />Further more you argue that you let the news of the day lead the discussion, well that's fine. But continually decrying the Seattle Times doesn't make your opinion any stronger. Try putting forth some solutions. Having a complaint and not offering a solution the SPS or even to your readers is exactly what's wrong with bloggers. Try something risky like offering your alternative. OR you could do something really outrageous and actually do something about it. Run for a seat on the school board, organize a community group. Make some noise that people can't ignore.<br /><br />Nick Esparzanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74676926621418239582013-06-15T09:17:48.052-07:002013-06-15T09:17:48.052-07:00Nick, you don't know me and so to say I don...Nick, you don't know me and so to say I don't care about minority students in incorrect and just flat out wrong. But I don't need to defend my record as most here know it. <br /><br />I have always cared about accountability. This blog was the place that first raised the red flag on the Silas Potter scandal. <br /><br />We don't follow trends here; we pretty much allow the news of the day - from our sources, other media sources and our readers - to lead the stories.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3111316058924002372013-06-14T21:35:36.852-07:002013-06-14T21:35:36.852-07:00Phrase it another way and Ms. Varner will shift he...Phrase it another way and Ms. Varner will shift her rhetoric: "We're going to send barely trained short term volunteers and those who wish to provide compartmentalized curriculum bought off the shelf to schools that are primarily students of color. We're doing this because it's cheap and it's not like they're going to graduate and put the 'pap' back in newspaper columns."<br /><br />It's a silly and effectively racist strategy to sell out the least powerful students in society. But THEN you make it 'fair' by ruining education for all students to try and cover up that racism. <br /><br />I will no longer even tolerate the attempt to equate this as an alternative for proper teaching. <br /><br />-DemosthenesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24354747003837206502013-06-14T18:51:27.713-07:002013-06-14T18:51:27.713-07:00Melissa isn't this the pot calling the kettle ...Melissa isn't this the pot calling the kettle black. I wish you would make up your mind. One day your calling for accountability and the next your asking the public to look the other way in the face of another financial scandal. This leads me to believe you don't really care about accountability or fixing the problem, you really only care about the opinion thats trending. And the idea that you really care about minority students is laughable. Your decision making in the past has clearly shown that your "concern" doesn't go further than the headlines on your blog.<br />Nick EsparzaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00188178809144135924noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-90588594728814934862013-06-14T14:09:48.728-07:002013-06-14T14:09:48.728-07:00Teacher,
Could you identify that grant? Is it TI...Teacher,<br /><br />Could you identify that grant? Is it TIF? Or is it the supplemental levy, passed to implement the many career-ladder positions pushed by LEV/OSC?<br /><br />I have a problem with a defacto contract for every STR recruit, over other teachers who compete for contracts. Must be nice...mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-23609747845654307612013-06-14T12:33:59.849-07:002013-06-14T12:33:59.849-07:00I don't really have a problem with the conting...I don't really have a problem with the contingency contracts. Seattle has a lousy recruiting strategy, and most of the best new talent is scooped up by suburban districts who have their act together.<br /><br />These contingency contracts are offered only to the STR residents who successfully complete a program that is more rigorous than UW, SPU, SU, or other programs offer, they're not being guaranteed a job unless they meet high requirements. Also, they will have to interview, apply, and get a position like anyone else (myself included, many years ago) who has been recruited with a contingency contract.<br /><br />The mentor teachers are currently receiving a stipend paid for out of a grant - it's not coming from district dollars. That is inaccurate. My guess is that eventually, being a teacher who trains district-trained recruits will be another career-ladder position.<br /><br />--TeacherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12262969578484027862013-06-14T12:14:23.444-07:002013-06-14T12:14:23.444-07:00I found this comment interesting:
"I wonder ...I found this comment interesting:<br /><br />"I wonder how many of you know that Seattle is offering contingency contracts to ALL of the candidates who finish that program AND the mentor teachers are being paid a $3,500 stipend paid for BY THE DISTRICT, not UW like in all other programs. Jonathan Knapp from SEA was part of the group who agreed to this--without giving the details to the rest of us.<br /> <br />THAT is money which will come out of the classroom."<br /><br />I knew SPS was going to be expected to pick up the bill in a few years, but I didn't know it was already happening.mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.com