tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post7759174603268840190..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: School Board Meeting - October 5, 2011Melissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5431971334279657082011-10-08T15:36:16.573-07:002011-10-08T15:36:16.573-07:00The ongoing saga of trying to get regulators to re...The ongoing saga of trying to get regulators to regulate using the administrative code. It is a "SHALL" situation as in manditory. It is not a: <i>Gee I wanna do this sorta situation</i>.<br /><br />A letter to OSPI's David Kinnunen on Holly Ferguson's (10-7-11) responses to Carol Simmons' questions (of 9-21-11) and how clear it is that the <b><i>SPS's TfA applications do not meet the WAC requirements for the issuing of conditional certificates</i></b>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.school-truth.com/TFA-HollyF.htm" rel="nofollow">THE LETTER</a>dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5882023528589992512011-10-08T01:59:53.741-07:002011-10-08T01:59:53.741-07:00Hey David, 10-8-2011
I have one more thought. W...Hey David, 10-8-2011<br /><br />I have one more thought. <b>Where does this idea that the application forms for conditional certification come in and that the applicant districts are applying the WAC requirements prior to submitting the application?</b><br /><br />There is absolutely no evidence of that in Seattle. Reading the WAC I see no justification for that idea.<br /><br />Ms. Jennifer Wallace seems to have seriously compromised herself with the following in regard to:<br /><br />The "circumstances warrant" use of the achievement gap in obtaining conditional certificates.<br />---<br />Friday December 11, 2009 ... PESB Executive Director Jennifer Wallace writes:<br /><br />Let's try this - see if you can sign on to this statement ---<br />Because the WAC is relatively broad "circumstance warrant" - OSPI Cert doesn't have criteria that speaks to acceptable versus unacceptable "circumstances" - so as long as the district presents the rationale, you have no grounds for denial. True?<br />Also -- can either you or Debbie recall ever denying a conditional cert application based on rationale viewed as inadequate?<br />----<br /><br />So that was in December of 2009 ... then in Nov 2010 the Seattle district enters into an agreement with TfA ... apparently believing that "circumstances warrant" can fly this around WAC 181-79A-231 requirements.<br /><br />Now you are looking at applications that seek conditional certification based on "circumstances warrant" and yet the required careful review of all other options to TfA for closing the achievement gaps was never conducted.<br /><br /><b>I just fail to see where <i>the job of a regulatory agent is to blanket issue certificates without applying the WAC </i>that governs the issuance of such certificates</b>.<br /><br />Can you explain this to me? I clearly do not understand.<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Dan Dempseydan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74810276037086551702011-10-07T20:24:31.192-07:002011-10-07T20:24:31.192-07:00Longer letter to Dorn and Kinnunen HERE.Longer letter to Dorn and Kinnunen <a href="http://www.school-truth.com/TFA-Dorn-Kinnunen.htm" rel="nofollow">HERE.</a>dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42308475554985743762011-10-07T20:21:30.614-07:002011-10-07T20:21:30.614-07:00Back to that absence of a careful review.... of al...Back to that absence of a careful review.... of all other options for closing the achievement gaps.... neither Holly Ferguson nor the Board want to go near that.<br /><br />Well apparently OSPI does not wish to go near the requirements of WAC 181-79A-231 either.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.school-truth.com/TFA-Kinnunen10-7.htm" rel="nofollow">Here is short my letter</a> to David Kinnunen on the matter.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42144150071532977772011-10-07T06:21:26.461-07:002011-10-07T06:21:26.461-07:00Why don't they just put everything on the cons...Why don't they just put everything on the consent agenda?Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-23954462209231163542011-10-07T06:07:43.470-07:002011-10-07T06:07:43.470-07:00The presentation on Native American Education is a...The presentation on Native American Education is a prime example of what is so tragically wrong with the District leadership.<br /><br />The Board members ask questions like: What, exactly, are the kids doing? Can you give me concrete examples? The district staff respond with abstract talk or measures of outcomes. The Board members, however, do not follow up and ask their question again.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-78355409325944757052011-10-06T18:35:54.251-07:002011-10-06T18:35:54.251-07:00Steve Sundquist from his comments about TfA and re...Steve Sundquist from his comments about TfA and results being better than Seattle apparently refuses to read <a href="http://greatlakescenter.org/docs/Policy_Briefs/Heilig_TeachForAmerica.htm" rel="nofollow">Helig and Jez</a>: <b>Teach For America: A False Promise</b><br /><br />Why deal with reality when anecdotes provide a way out of accountability for decisions.... Steve what about the WAC?<br /><br />What about answering questions raised in testimony?<br /><br />Guess the outside legal service lawyers can answer the questions in superior court since the board refuses to answer.<br /><br />Toss these folks out ASAP by voting.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-7764050121341920452011-10-06T17:59:14.875-07:002011-10-06T17:59:14.875-07:00oh jeez, I just heard the sleek new surrogate cath...oh jeez, I just heard the sleek new surrogate cathy thompson say they're "re-imagining how they provide services to all schools" and that the "new transformative redesign of curriculum and instruction" will blah blah yadda yadda. If lip service could close the achievement gap, students in our high poverty/high minority schools would be contending for Nobel Prizes.<br /><br />The folks downtown think if they "re-imagine" a multi-tiered system of supports, that'll make it happen. Meanwhile, they'll chase monochromatic rainbows and pale moonbeams like Tim Schlosser who, as TFA's Manager of Leadership and incidental Teaching, is, in their eyes, more expert in successful strategies than UW scholars and our very own experienced teachers. Steve Sundquist will be first in line to give him a high five for representing TFA's success in recruiting a diverse pool of candidates.StopTFAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08605108615707039386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42494871737006662682011-10-06T16:50:53.744-07:002011-10-06T16:50:53.744-07:00And about MAP ...
Michael DeBell is concerned abou...And about MAP ...<br />Michael DeBell is concerned about the efficacy of the MAP testing .... see if his concern goes anywhere.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-43015084071271867872011-10-06T16:49:26.575-07:002011-10-06T16:49:26.575-07:00"This was a "throw spaghetti at the wall...<i><b>"This was a "throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks" presentation, and unfortunately, with this board, way too much sticks."</b></i><br /><br />More like everything sticks ... legal or not ... reasonable or not .... affordable or not. ... with This Board.<br /><br />Reelect no one.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33547218674785660122011-10-06T16:45:17.091-07:002011-10-06T16:45:17.091-07:00Stop TfA at
10/5/11 9:34 PM wrote:
"Intere...Stop TfA at<br /><br />10/5/11 9:34 PM wrote: <br /><i>"Interesting, in that I understand he will be a <b>Spanish teacher at RBHS</b>. That would require the World Languages West E/"</i><br /><br />---------<br />From WAC 181-79A-231:<br /><br /> (b) Conditional certificates are issued......<br /> if one of the following conditions is verified:<br /><br /> (i) The applicant is highly qualified and experienced <i><b>in the subject matter to be taught ""and"" has unusual distinction or exceptional talent </b></i>which is able to be demonstrated through public records of accomplishments and/or awards; <br /><br />"or"<br /><br /> (ii) <i><b>No person with regular teacher certification in the endorsement area is available</b></i> as verified by the district or educational service district superintendent or approved private school administrator, or <i><b>circumstances warrant consideration of issuance of a conditional certificate</b></i>.<br /><br />=============<br /><br />Again the requirement for a careful review under the circumstances warrant provision have not been met.<br />////<br />So why was an application submitted by the District to OSPI for conditional certification?dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-75992008324687494592011-10-06T16:22:28.710-07:002011-10-06T16:22:28.710-07:00peonypower said: The arguement for Map now is that...peonypower said: The arguement for Map now is that there will be 2 years of "data" at the end of this year that can be used in evaluations. Of course this data is unreliable and and should never have been part of the contract.<br /><br />Boy, are you right. In fact at last night's board meeting (I caught a small portion on tv), the man testifying in support of the continued use of MAP as it is currently being used, cited exactly that criteria -- "now, we have all this useful year to year data (and of course for any new test, they would have to start over). At one point, they disparaged the fact that high schoolers have had 3 different tests over the past 3 years -- WASL, HSPE, and now EOC. As though consistent scores were the holy grail, without regard to (a) what they cost in time or money; (b) what they measure (or don't) and (c) whether they have any validity when used as the District uses them. He would talk about the "high variability" in kindergarten grades from one side of his mouth -- and then, from the other, laud the year to year consistency, and the new ability to "identify gifted learners" (another thing that I think the test is not valid for). It became apparent that logical consistency was not forthcoming. This was a "throw spaghetti at the wall and see what sticks" presentation, and unfortunately, with this board, way too much sticks.Janhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09923777229601243321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-23447886000344012392011-10-06T16:10:33.288-07:002011-10-06T16:10:33.288-07:00It is particularly interesting that the Board refu...It is particularly interesting that the Board refuses to talk about compliance with the WAC. ... certainly no interest in answering any of Carol Simmons' questions.<br /><br />Could someone give us a rundown on the TfA corp members that the district has sent applications for conditional certification? I think there are 6.<br /><br />Did a broadening of the hiring pool actually take place when analyzed by who was actually hired?<br /><br />We heard about broadening the pool for Math and Science expertise as well as more non-white teachers.<br /><br />Did that happen?<br /><br />One thing that did not happen was any interest on the part of directors in discussing the WAC that governs their actions.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-87634766243085382772011-10-06T15:16:25.065-07:002011-10-06T15:16:25.065-07:00I testified at the Board meeting last night agains...I testified at the Board meeting last night against the hiring of TFA recruits. It was disturbing to me that the Rainier Beach H.S. school based hiring committee selected a TFA recruit to be hired to teach Spanish. I spoke with a parent after the meeting who said that he was the better candidate.<br /><br />Of course the Board would have voted to hire TFA recruits anyway (with the exception of Director Patu who abstained) but this action taken by the school was certainly noted and stated by the Board.Carol Simmonsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-66861029442848458342011-10-06T12:07:31.235-07:002011-10-06T12:07:31.235-07:00From minute 97:00 to minute 103:00 watch the BOARD...From minute 97:00 to minute 103:00 watch the BOARD COMPLETELY IGNORE any discussion of the need for compliance with WAC 181-79A-231.<br /><br />Elected officials are obligated through their oath of office to support the constitution and laws of the USA and WA state.<br /><br />It is clear that the directors do not wish to go anywhere near a discussion of the Achievement Gap that involves a careful review of all options for closing the achievement gaps.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-84798024666815470572011-10-06T11:50:29.166-07:002011-10-06T11:50:29.166-07:00Video for 10-5-2011
School Board meeting is here=&...Video for 10-5-2011<br />School Board meeting is here=><br /><br /><a href="http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=5977" rel="nofollow">http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=5977</a>dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-76915343291470155952011-10-06T09:56:19.667-07:002011-10-06T09:56:19.667-07:00Wallace plays innocent with FW teachers as well. ...Wallace plays innocent with FW teachers as well. And it would seem that the president of the Federal Way Education Association is more interested in keeping Sally McClean at FWPS updated than looking out for the interests of his membership....<br /><br /><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/67767919" rel="nofollow">Wallace wears her ignorant "regulator" hat</a>StopTFAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08605108615707039386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-373851358928855882011-10-06T09:39:34.572-07:002011-10-06T09:39:34.572-07:00Looks to me like perhaps Ms. Wallace is involved i...Looks to me like perhaps Ms. Wallace is involved in a conspiracy.<br /><br />From wikipedia:<br /><br />Conspiracy (civil), an agreement between persons to deceive, mislead, or defraud others of their legal rights, or to gain an unfair advantage<br /><br />Conspiracy (crime), an agreement between persons to break the law in the future, <i><b>in some cases having committed an act to further that agreement</b></i><br /><br />If hatching a plan to circumvent the application of WAC 181-79A-231 in December 2009 and then implementing the plan at a later date is not a conspiracy.... it should at least be good enough to be dismissed from your employment.<br /><br />Note... a lot more folks than just Ms. Wallace were involved in this game to bring TfA to WA State. Levels of involvement varied. You can find Susan Enfield on some emails posted <a href="http://www.scribd.com/SPSLeaks/collections" rel="nofollow">at SPS_Leaks</a>.<br /><br />I think this will be a fine place for the State Auditor's Office to go digging.<br /><br />If the future stuff like this needs to cease. This could all be so much simpler, if the voters of Seattle would wake up and NOT reelect any of the current school directors running for reelection. ...dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65968335578433947102011-10-06T09:18:26.749-07:002011-10-06T09:18:26.749-07:00Charlie wrote:
"Here's the weird thing a...Charlie wrote:<br /><br /><i><b>"Here's the weird thing about WAC 181-79A-231: it's a law that no one is charged with enforcing.<br /><br />I believe that the OSPI and the PESB say that the Board is supposed to assure compliance with the law. How is that self-policing working out?"</b></i><br /><br />==============<br />Next is a LINK=><br /><a href="http://www.school-truth.com/TFA_PESB.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.school-truth.com/TFA_PESB.pdf</a><br /><br />To a 12 page .pdf<br /><br /><b><i>It appears that the entire TfA situation was an inside job to bring TfA into WA State.</i></b> Jennifer Wallace ->The Executive Director of the PESB, and TfA employees Lee McGoldrick, and Janis Ortega were discussing how to get TfA into WA state as early as December of 2009 (according to this record see page 7).<br /><br />The PESB is supposed to be applying WAC 181-79A-231. Instead in December of 2009, PESB's Wallace is discussing strategies and rationalizations for not applying the WAC as written. She writes to to Laura Gooding, Debbie Culwell and David Kinnunen.<br /><br />Here is what Wallace wrote on page 7 at Friday Dec 11, 2009 at 9:59 AM, PESB Executive Director Ms. Jennifer Wallace writes:<br /><br />Let's try this- <i><b>see if you can sign on to this statement ----<br />Because the WAC is relatively broad "circumstances warrant" - OSPI Cert doesn't have criteria that speaks to acceptable versus unacceptable "circumstances" -- so as long as the district presents rationale, you have no grounds for denial.</b></i> True?<br />Also - can either you or Debbie recall ever denying a conditional cert application based on rationale viewed as inadequate?<br />The district could be the clock hour provider right?<br /><br />===========<br /><b><i>So above we see the executive director of the PESB a regulatory body ... discussing how to avoid regulating.</i></b><br />===========<br /><br />In other documents at SPS_Leaks you will find that these discussions involved a lot more folks than just the ones I named above.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-4400203699178818542011-10-06T06:37:13.324-07:002011-10-06T06:37:13.324-07:00Here's a sample letter a parent may submit:
...Here's a sample letter a parent may submit:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.k12.wa.us/TitleIIA/HQT/pubdocs/SampleParentRequestInfoAboutTchrQualif.doc" rel="nofollow">Sample Parent Letter</a> <br /><br />It would seem Mr. Calderon did not take and pass the appropriate West E test if, in fact he is a Spanish teacher and not ELL.<br /><br />He is an "out of field" teacher which is another area regulated by NCLB. States are to reduce the placement of "out of field" teachers in high poverty/high minority schools.StopTFAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08605108615707039386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25337534841815257792011-10-05T23:40:48.070-07:002011-10-05T23:40:48.070-07:00I wonder if the community at RBHS will be notified...I wonder if the community at RBHS will be notified that they have a TFA member rather than a fully trained teacher leading their children? Or do you think it will be assumed that students there deserve a second class education and no notification, parental engagement, or opt-out option will be available? What is the process for a student with a TFA member in the classroom? Do they get a fully informed choice?<br /><br />-CuriousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37416439500999295292011-10-05T21:34:38.571-07:002011-10-05T21:34:38.571-07:00My understanding is that the West-E Bilingual exam...My understanding is that the West-E Bilingual exam covers areas such as:<br /><br />demonstrating knowledge of major stages of first- and second-language acquisition (e.g., silent period, early production stage) and major concepts associated with first- and second-language acquisition (e.g., interlanguage, fossilization, language transfer) demonstrating knowledge of the integrated nature of cognitive development and language <br /><br />development involved in learning more than one language (e.g., the development of critical thinking skills, metalinguistic knowledge, and metacognition; the storage and retrieval of information in the brain) and identifying strategies for applying this knowledge to promote bilingual education students' language development <br /><br />recognizing the role of basic interpersonal communication skills (BICS) and cognitive academic language proficiency (CALP) in first- and second-language acquisition and how to apply this knowledge to promote bilingual education students' development of both social and academic language skills in English and the second language of instruction<br /><br />Interesting, in that I understand he will be a Spanish teacher at RBHS. That would require the World Languages West E/StopTFAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08605108615707039386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65349747043234092192011-10-05T21:27:03.395-07:002011-10-05T21:27:03.395-07:00""Introduction and Action on the same da...<i>""Introduction and Action on the same date are recommended as in the best interest of the district." but it doesn't say why.""</i><br /><br />Why Why ?? that is easy... because the District has no interest in public engagement nor public input.<br /><br />It is in the best interests of the community not to be wasting time on testimonies that the Board will ignore.... thus intro/action in one meeting ... much more efficient.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-1006732251888718862011-10-05T20:08:38.873-07:002011-10-05T20:08:38.873-07:00The TFA member Mr. Calderon was supposed to be tea...The TFA member Mr. Calderon was supposed to be teaching Spanish at RBHS. I don't see a Spanish or a secondary endorsement there. Is the ELL endorsement k-12? If so then he could teach that. But not any high school classes. <br /><br />-CuriousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-16981905006875728112011-10-05T19:39:16.940-07:002011-10-05T19:39:16.940-07:00I pointed out in public testimony that the personn...I pointed out in public testimony that the personnel report has errors in it, yet they just left it in the consent agenda and approved in unanimously. Does no one care about the accuracy of the mundane operations of the district? Should the personnel report with known errors be summarily approved?Dorothy Nevillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17108759281089768738noreply@blogger.com