tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post8068470889842959305..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Where it Stands with Teach for AmericaMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85260076887012628682011-07-09T01:23:30.097-07:002011-07-09T01:23:30.097-07:00http://www.stonepooch.com/ablog/
~an _ordinary_ t...http://www.stonepooch.com/ablog/<br /><br />~an _ordinary_ teacherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-2222786332199168122011-07-07T12:03:31.022-07:002011-07-07T12:03:31.022-07:00Thursday after testimony at the PESB meeting:
Mel...Thursday after testimony at the PESB meeting:<br /><br />Melissa, Cecilia, and I were at the PESB meeting today and each of us testified for two minutes.<br /><br />In two minute testimony, Cecilia congratulated the PESB members on excellent questions asked of UW-TfA presenters ... and pointed out there were few answers. (A lot like an SPS Board meeting in that respect)<br /><br />Melissa pointed out that TfA had failed to close any achievement gaps.<br /><br />I kind of stammered around in pointing out that the PESB had a duty to follow state laws and the state constitution with its decisions. Allowing TfA will violate WAC 181-79A-231 and clearly discriminates against low income students by denying them fully certificated teachers.<br /><br />It was most apparent that the UW is using the TfA as a pilot learning experience. The presentation was filled with visions and anecdotes.<br /><br />Naturally there were several two minute testimonies from representatives of various non-profits many of these testimonies can be summarized as follows:<br /><br />Hi I am __ __ of the *** non-profit. I am a paid shill of the oligarchs and I support every school reform proposal so I am all in favor of Teach for America.<br /><br />Harium Martin-Morris testified saying:<br /> as a parent and not as an SPS board member, he is favor of using TfA to broaden the candidate pool.<br /><br />Cecilia pointed out that the timing of all this is now very strange as TfA recruits are undergoing training right now in Phoenix (the 5 weeks of training) but not from a State approved provider of such services.<br /><br />-----------<br /><a href="http://www.school-truth.com/PESBmembers.doc" rel="nofollow">Here is my letter</a> to the PESB as a .doc file<br /><br />I also attached my <a href="http://www.school-truth.com/7-6-2011_Testimony.doc" rel="nofollow">SPS SB testimony</a> from 7-6-2011.<br /><br />--------<br />Currently there are no returning math teachers or special ed teachers at RBHS ... makes one wonder who will be doing the STAR mentoring teachers type hand holding duties for the TfA newbies. State law reads ...<br /><br /><i>An individual with full certification and endorsed in special education <b>shall be assigned as a mentor to the special education teacher</b> serving on a conditional certificate for the duration of the conditional certificate.</i><br /><br />--------------------<br />UW loves to experimentally practice on low income schools in Seattle.<br /><br />In my testimony I pointed out that UW has contributed through its professional development in math to increasing achievement gaps as OSPI annual test scores were markedly lower when the UW provides "its services" to RBHS and Cleveland HS.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49697610295894160832011-07-05T20:42:15.268-07:002011-07-05T20:42:15.268-07:00There are only 15 people on the list for public te...There are only 15 people on the list for public testimony at the 7/6 Board meeting...mirmac1https://www.blogger.com/profile/10183460709639638172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-30074801677599578082011-07-05T16:17:49.222-07:002011-07-05T16:17:49.222-07:00Not too shabby. Over 30 pages of public comment i...Not too shabby. Over 30 pages of public comment in the PESB's agenda packet.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/59396501/11-07-07-TAB-04-PublicComment-via-E-Mail-1" rel="nofollow">Part 1</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/59396498/11-07-07-TAB-04-PublicComment-via-E-mail-2" rel="nofollow">Part 2</a><br /><br />If anyone else is interested in a roadtrip to lovely Tumwater on Thursday, email me....StopTFAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08605108615707039386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-67197427229768679382011-07-05T14:45:24.862-07:002011-07-05T14:45:24.862-07:00Send your emails to stoptfaseattle@gmail.com if yo...Send your emails to stoptfaseattle@gmail.com if you would like your written testimony presented to the PESB Board on Thursday.StopTFAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08605108615707039386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24022371697449486072011-07-05T14:44:27.741-07:002011-07-05T14:44:27.741-07:00The Board's folly in considering this blanket ...The Board's folly in considering this blanket request for "learner's permits" will put a black eye on the face of successful and diligent efforts to place experienced, fully certificated, in-field teachers in SPS classrooms. Are they willing to take us back to the years where SPS stuffed any warm body in our most vulnerable schools, without consideration of professional development, training, and experience? If you thought school staffing matters were chaotic now, just wait.<br /><br />If there ever was an issue to condemn incumbents come November, this is it in my book. They are so willing to buy into the hype, buzz, and BS that they would hand over the health of Title 1 schools to twenty-something short-timers and their handlers. I am disgusted.StopTFAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08605108615707039386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72678213888336610502011-07-05T13:43:38.300-07:002011-07-05T13:43:38.300-07:00I am going to the meeting. There's alot to sa...I am going to the meeting. There's alot to say in two minutes. For example, a program like U-ACT runs counter to the goals of the Fed DOE, OSPI, and PESB, and the obligations of school districts. Perhaps the ONLY worthwhile aspect of NCLB is the push to put highly qualified teachers in every classroom, especially those in high poverty/high minority schools. The commonsense definition of highly qualified includes experience and certification/endorsement as expert in subject matter. The political reality is whatever corrupt politicians and spineless bureaucrats say it can be.<br /><br />Note that the linked spreadsheet shows that, considering differences in size, SPS has a better record than Bellevue at attracting core subject teachers with full certs and satisfying HQT. According to OSPI data, in 2009-10 Seattle did not have to request conditional certs (a practice that connotes out-of-field, unendorsed assignments) to fill core subject assignments. Now it intends to increase that practice by over 2000% just to pursue another faddish untested "solution to close the achievement gap"?<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/59386609" rel="nofollow">OSPI SPS Teacher Quality Data</a>StopTFAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08605108615707039386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-88734818060539381292011-07-05T13:42:24.242-07:002011-07-05T13:42:24.242-07:00Here is the Special Circumstance.....
C. Requesti...Here is the Special Circumstance.....<br /><br />C. Requesting Conditional Certificate <br />i. Seattle Public Schools agrees to request conditional certificates for all Teach For America corps members on the grounds that circumstances warrant the issuance of such certificates, as permitted by WAC 181.79A.231. <b>Specifically, the circumstance which warrants the issuance of the conditional certificate <i>is the district’s commitment to partnering with Teach For America as one of the strategies the district is employing to address the achievement gap</i>. </b><br /><br />=========<br />Oh Yeah ... that makes as much sense as adopting Everyday Math to eliminate Achievement Gaps in 5 years.... or adopting "Discovering Math" which also increased achievement gaps.<br /><br />In the case of the Math textbooks at the time of the adoptions the intelligent application of relevant data revealed that Achievement Gaps would increase.<br /><br />NOW TfA is the solution and the research data again reveals this is another SPS sham justification to facilitate a bad decision.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37396871324373341342011-07-05T13:20:21.853-07:002011-07-05T13:20:21.853-07:00Tab 4 - C
is HERE as a .docxTab 4 - C<br />is <a rel="nofollow">HERE</a> as a .docxdan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-45049240608610285882011-07-05T13:17:24.406-07:002011-07-05T13:17:24.406-07:00SB Action Report of Oct 28, 2010 is at Tab 4 - A
H...SB Action Report of Oct 28, 2010 is at Tab 4 - A<br /><a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B5d85w3Eol73NDc3NjdiNTQtMzkwZC00M2JhLTkyYjgtYzVmNWU0MDBkZDhj&hl=en_US" rel="nofollow">HERE</a> as a .pdfdan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-13965444124228233432011-07-05T13:12:20.166-07:002011-07-05T13:12:20.166-07:00Just called the PESB... the cut off for submission...Just called the PESB... the cut off for submission of written materials has passed. It was 8:30 AM on 7-5-11 (Tuesday).<br /><br />I am going to the meeting. The meeting materials can be accessed via the website.<br /><br />Look at the agenda for 9:45 from UW Seattle ... then the materials specified on the Agenda can be obtained from the other link to meeting materials.<br /><br />Tab 4 .. A, C<br /><br /><a href="https://docs.google.com/#folders/folder.0.0Bywqsyhf5L8rZDJjNTVjZTUtMDJkOS00NWRjLWEwZTQtZGIyY2JlZTdkMjdl" rel="nofollow">HERE</a><br /><br />Participants may submit written materials. Testimony time is limited to two minutes.dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-90904317559115790572011-07-05T12:57:38.374-07:002011-07-05T12:57:38.374-07:00Link to PESB meeting
location and agenda
It appe...<a href="http://www.pesb.wa.gov/meetings/next" rel="nofollow">Link to PESB meeting</a><br /><br />location and agenda<br /><br />It appears that 9:45 on Thursday is the item in question. (not specifically noted as TfA)dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5150786445884481372011-07-05T12:26:19.021-07:002011-07-05T12:26:19.021-07:00I believe that Teach for America corps members hav...I believe that Teach for America corps members have good intentions. I believe that Teach for America is a noble cause.<br /><br />That said, there is no case for bringing Teach for America to Seattle.<br /><br />First, we must consider the needs of the students. The District has said that they wanted more experienced teachers and less teacher turnover in the underperforming schools. Therefore, it makes no sense for them to bring in teachers who are absolute novices - without even student teaching experience. It also makes no sense for them to bring in teachers who are likely to move on. Yet that is exactly what Teach for America offers. It is exactly what the District has said they do not want.<br /><br />Second, we must consider the needs of our teachers. Every hire of a Teach for America corps member leaves a local career teacher without a job. In addition, the use of Teach for America contributes to the de-professionalization of teaching. We should not do that.<br /><br />Third, we must consider the needs of other students. There are places in the country where there are not enough teachers. If Teach for America corps members are employed here, then they are not available for the communities that really need them.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24411536628753265302011-07-05T12:10:40.831-07:002011-07-05T12:10:40.831-07:00Josh,
The Seattle Public Schools administration is...Josh,<br />The Seattle Public Schools administration is ALL Greek to me! Tragedies, comedies, epic tales of wandering...Classic!seattle citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16724175257161649500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-73123875897290629972011-07-05T12:04:04.334-07:002011-07-05T12:04:04.334-07:00write now! I sent my email, and here's the re...write now! I sent my email, and here's the response I got back:<br />Your written feedback will be provided to the Professional Educator Standards Board members at their next regularly scheduled board meeting as long as it is received 48 hours before the next scheduled meeting. If your e-mail is not received prior to 48 hours before the meeting, you are invited to provide your public comment in person at the next meeting.<br /><br />48 hours is today if the meeting is Thursday. <br /><br />However, it sounds as though the meeting would be open to the public? anyone plan on going?<br /><br />--former teacherAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-90008118165330998492011-07-05T12:02:34.504-07:002011-07-05T12:02:34.504-07:00FYI, TFA, not sure if anyone has mentioned this, b...FYI, TFA, not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but, i was at U-Village yesterday and noticed the apple store has a big window display with about 6/7 full size figures in it and on the window is says "Teach for America". <br />jprAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65118117685127291272011-07-05T10:58:07.489-07:002011-07-05T10:58:07.489-07:00Gratulatione, amicus!
Seriously, I'm glad the...Gratulatione, amicus!<br /><br />Seriously, I'm glad there are still Latin classes somewhere in the district (do they have classical Greek as well?).Josh Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17242600011474990770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3674569561136784782011-07-05T10:27:43.467-07:002011-07-05T10:27:43.467-07:00Actually, Josh Hayes, there are Latin classes at G...Actually, Josh Hayes, there are Latin classes at Garfield. My 9th grader will be taking Latin 2 this fall. <br /><br />- SPS newbieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12673538577469673172011-07-05T09:55:02.215-07:002011-07-05T09:55:02.215-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-80559262553106664782011-07-05T09:52:54.998-07:002011-07-05T09:52:54.998-07:00Since SPS is focusing on the "supply" si...Since SPS is focusing on the "supply" side of the TFA issue, why don't we get them to focus on the "demand" side of the equation. How about a petition where parents can indicate they don't want their child taught by a TFA person with only 5 weeks of training? "Fully accredited teachers only for our kids."Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05105365816526108707noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-34646593718610265562011-07-05T09:43:04.534-07:002011-07-05T09:43:04.534-07:00You're absolutely right Dan. "Circumstan...You're absolutely right Dan. "Circumstances Exist?" Really? What circumstances? Where's the "evidence" this "Evidence Based Decision-making" is supposed to rely on? Where are the facts? Where is the data? If the King says it's so, then it's so? WTH?<br /><br />It's a predetermined decision based on a predetermined conclusion, and it couldn't be clearer. The fix is in and if the board votes in favor, off with their heads in November, for yet another act of malfeasance. <br /><br />It would also be "Arbitrary and Capricious" in that no "substantial evidence" nor any evidence whatsoever has been produced by SPS administration to support of the supposed need or "circumstances." They haven't produced any evidence, because they can't. It doesn't exist. Fake, fake, fake-fake. Outright fraud, in broad daylight. <br /><br />District & Board: Prepare for another lawsuit (at our expense).<br /><br />Signed, <br /><br />Where's Crissy Coxon?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12525969320217164202011-07-05T08:39:27.498-07:002011-07-05T08:39:27.498-07:00Here is the letter I wrote to PESB:
ear Board Memb...Here is the letter I wrote to PESB:<br />ear Board Members,<br /> <br /><i>Since the PESB has always upheld the highest standards of quality preparation for teachers in our state, I urge you to reject the Seattle Schools blanket application for alternative certification for a cadre of unknown "recruits" of the Teach for America (TfA) program. <br /> <br />I submit their application does not meet the standard set forth in WAC 181-79A-231. <br /> <br />The purpose of the conditional certificate is to assist local school districts, approved private schools, and educational service districts in meeting the state's educational goals by giving them flexibility in hiring decisions based on shortages or the opportunity to secure the services of unusually talented individuals. The professional educator standards board encourages in all cases the hiring of fully certificated individuals and understands that districts will employ individuals with conditional certificates only after careful review of all other options. The professional educator standards board asks districts when reviewing such individuals for employment to consider, in particular, previous experience the individual has had working with children.<br /><br /> <br />•There is no shortage of highly qualified teachers in Seattle - Seattle had over 18,000 applications last year for 800 openings.<br />•These are not "unusually talented individuals" - They have only a B.A. degree unrelated to education. Being a mathmetician does not mean you can teach young people how to become mathmatieicians.<br />•Research shows no evidence for the claim that TfA will close the "achievement gap" - The largest study to date on this issue from Stanford (see attachment) studied 4,400 teachers and 132,000 students. It showed students taught by TfA recruits performed WORSE than certificated techers on all six measures of reading and match achievement. <br />•The district is not employing individuals with conditional certificates "only after careful review of all other options" - Disadvantaged students more individual help and more time in school, an extended school day and wrap-around services, - not inexperienced trainees - to close the achievement gap<br /> <br />In addition, according to this and other studies, most TfA recruits leave the classroom after their two year commitment, incrasing turnover and disruption of school communities.<br /> <br />This proposal undermines the professional standards that we have worked to establish in Washington. If this application is approved, it will discourage future educators from seeking traditional certification programs. Why, after all, would someone choose to pay the rising tuition rates to university education programs when they can take this shortcut?<br /> <br />Please save our students from well-meaning but inexperienced instructors and uphold professional teaching standards in our state by denying this application based on the district's failure to provide evidence that the application fails to meet the requirements set forth in WAC 181-79A-231.<br /> <br />Thank you.</i><br /><br /><br />Feel free to borrow any wording you like...<br /><br />-MEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10995098894582304992011-07-05T01:18:11.021-07:002011-07-05T01:18:11.021-07:00Here is my Testimony for Wednesday's Board mee...Here is my Testimony for Wednesday's Board meeting:<br /><br />Directors, I am Dan Dempsey 7-6-2011<br /><br />Tonight there is an introductory item about Teach for America. <br /><br />You are asked to approve a Request for the Professional Educator Standards Board to grant conditional teaching certificates to ## members of the Teach for America corps to teach in Seattle Public Schools. <br /><br />A November Teach for America agreement from the Goodloe-Johnson era, {[Section I (C),]} states “Seattle Public Schools agrees to request conditional certificates for all Teach for America corps members on the grounds that circumstances warrant the issuance of such certificates, as permitted by WAC 181-79A-231.”<br /><br />Unfortunately …. These circumstances are not even named in this Action Report. “There are no circumstances that warrant the issuance of such certificates”. How can the Board approve this Action? What are the circumstances? <br /><br />The Action Report claims:<br />The conditional certificate is being requested because circumstances within Seattle Public Schools “warrant consideration of issuance of a conditional certificate.”<br /><br /> <br />Please read the WAC {[181-79A-231]}. Here are some pertinent parts on Conditional Certificates for limited service:<br />----------<br /><i>The professional educator standards board encourages<b> in all cases the hiring of fully certificated individuals and understands that districts will employ individuals with conditional certificates only after careful review of all other options.</b><br /><br />An individual with full certification and endorsed in special education shall be assigned as a mentor to the special education teacher serving on a conditional certificate for the duration of the conditional certificate.</i><br />------------<br /><br />Since the SPS has no teacher shortage it has been suggested the “unnamed circumstances” are the achievement gaps. I have been testifying here for over four years and the Board has often ignored research to pass proposals, which have widened the achievement gaps. <b><i> For the Board to say that there has been “a careful review of all other options” is blatantly false.</i></b><br /><br /><b>The circumstances are:<br /><br />#1.. There is no teacher shortage in Seattle<br /><br />#2.. There has been no “legally required” careful review of all other options.<br /><br />#3.. TfA never positively impacted the Achievement Gaps in any situation where “highly qualified fully certificated individuals” were available.<br /><br />#4.. The Seattle Schools are attempting to run around state laws.<br /><br />#5.. The Public does not trust you.<br /><br /><i>Clear to me that someone wishes to make a major ongoing change to employment practices and will attempt to circumvent existing state laws to do so. Shame on you.</i></b>dan dempseyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15536720661510933983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-23684517553222302912011-07-04T21:50:54.515-07:002011-07-04T21:50:54.515-07:00when thinking about this diary I thought - what a ...when thinking about this diary I thought - what a bunch of sneaks downtown, slipping this onto the agenda in early july when all the teachers are burnt out and trying to recharge and far far away - and then I thought about the union leadership in this state, which is dedicated to going along to get along. Maybe SEAttle deserves 300 or 800 teach-for-awhile enthusiastic boss groveling 23 year olds? the kids of seattle don't deserve it - the adults of sleepy-cation do.<br /><br />Forgot_A_NameAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-4389491107410054682011-07-04T21:49:34.121-07:002011-07-04T21:49:34.121-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com