tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post8780360945424307716..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Why Can't Seattle Schools Be Clear on Principals and Their Purview?Melissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-71393000166745207042016-11-23T17:41:54.108-08:002016-11-23T17:41:54.108-08:00The City is "minimally tasked?" Since wh...The City is "minimally tasked?" Since when?Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61937054390924232972016-11-23T15:24:30.785-08:002016-11-23T15:24:30.785-08:00I didn't say full control, I wrote "more ...I didn't say full control, I wrote "more involved" especially if we could close down and sell off the JSCEE and ask the currently minimally tasked city of Seattle administration to cover the responsibilities of a drastically reduced set of central administrative personnel. I'm not worried about switching Mayors every election cycle.<br /><br />I would prefer the city more involved with its children's education than a moronic bike rental scheme.<br /><br />SPaSeattleAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-89198275582343894102016-11-23T08:28:45.265-08:002016-11-23T08:28:45.265-08:00SPaSeattle, the problem with mayoral control is..y...SPaSeattle, the problem with mayoral control is..you never know who will be Mayor. You might be okay with one person but not another. And, you certainly would see major shifts in policy/personnel depending on the person.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33965271050333338772016-11-23T08:15:50.126-08:002016-11-23T08:15:50.126-08:00A problem is that since Seattle is the largest dis...A problem is that since Seattle is the largest district in the region, SPS is constantly getting poached for talent. Phil Brockman and Nancey Coogan both EDs left to take on Superintendent positions. All administrators can leave for higher up positions nearby. It always seems like we are seeing new faces in all positions ( might be the cause of insitutional memory, or lack of)<br /> This often leaves long time administrators who are dead weight or have seen the mill of higher ups and don't want to implement any change. <br /> Even within the district it seems like principals are constantlyovjng around or up the food chain. <br /> The district needs to implement a three to five year rule for principals so a school can develop a rhythm. Of course you can't force someone to not take a position outside the district, but within the district they could enforce this rule.<br /> In the minimum not move principals mid year.Erik Tanennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61061387934685866632016-11-23T03:57:19.719-08:002016-11-23T03:57:19.719-08:00As one who now lives in works in schools that have...As one who now lives in works in schools that have many many military leaders, embrace a military philosophy to education and schools I can assure you that the phrase "School to prison pipeline" is more accurate that one would ever imagine.<br /><br />I shudder to think what the people in Seattle would say or do with schools run in this manner. <br /><br />Stanford is dead. Move on from the what if.<br /><br />- SPS OldsterAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-61340492864097297262016-11-22T21:36:10.946-08:002016-11-22T21:36:10.946-08:00I would be for having the city more involved in SP...I would be for having the city more involved in SPS management when Murray is gone as long as it means reducing admin cost.<br /><br />SPaSeattle Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-85323445660453181382016-11-22T17:52:17.193-08:002016-11-22T17:52:17.193-08:00And when he outsourced publishing services to Ikon...And when he outsourced publishing services to Ikon it was a very cozy arrangement that failed but cost the careers of several long term employees that the STA simply cut loose and allowed to happen in order to curry favor.Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72376162112796213112016-11-22T17:47:33.352-08:002016-11-22T17:47:33.352-08:00Say uh, "-remembering"
If you knew Stan...Say uh, "-remembering"<br /><br />If you knew Stanford (the huuman) and look at the budgets he proposed (like I did), my bet is that there would be double or triple the administrative fte's we are now saddled with.<br /><br />Don't believe the hype.Davenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-15368280181870988782016-11-22T15:57:28.366-08:002016-11-22T15:57:28.366-08:00Liked Stump, I, too, actually liked her when she h...Liked Stump, I, too, actually liked her when she headed Advanced Learning. But the movement of her from place to place seems to signal something.<br /><br />What if Stanford had lived is kind of a "what if Kennedy had lived." Kennedy was already going into Vietnam and Stanford was a very pro-business kind of guy (especially for operations.) So hard to say if we would have really liked the outcomes if they had lived.<br /><br />BUT,to Ship Adrift's point, yes, Stanford was a uniter and visionary. I never met President Clinton but I am told if you do, he makes you feel like you are the only person in the room. I did meet and speak with Stanford twice (and saw him speak in gatherings other times.) He had that ability to make you believe that he listened. He made teachers and parents and big wigs all believe we were in this together and we could get a great district done. <br /><br />Stanford was a guy on the way up so how long he would have stayed is anyone's guess. But if he had lived, I think he would have made a big difference.<br /><br />I agree that mayoral control would be a mistake and not one that could easily be undone.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42633503370489043592016-11-22T15:42:12.105-08:002016-11-22T15:42:12.105-08:00John Stanford was a Uniter and a Visionary. We nee...John Stanford was a Uniter and a Visionary. We need people running the District who are willing to shift the culture. It's a big job, the top four or five levels appear to be flailing.<br /><br />I like this board. I trust them (except Blanford, but who cares) and I feel they are closer to the action and needs of teachers and families. Mayoral control would be a big mistake.<br /><br />Ship adrift Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-18222081776556180572016-11-22T14:17:27.515-08:002016-11-22T14:17:27.515-08:00I have little confidence that Mayoral control is t...I have little confidence that Mayoral control is the solution to the problems at SPS. I do sometimes wonder what the district would be like if John Stanford had been able to serve for many more years. <br /><br />http://www.historylink.org/File/3346<br /><br />http://www.historylink.org/File/3347<br /><br />-rememberingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-74896633639264614222016-11-22T11:07:44.034-08:002016-11-22T11:07:44.034-08:00The board does what past boards have done when it ...The board does what past boards have done when it come to cutting central administration...ZERO. It will take a new smarter superintendent willing to put children and teachers above bureaucracy. We need to give the mayor a chance to run the district. What we currently have is not working. <br /><br />Clear choice<br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-72153154616383077892016-11-22T09:33:36.596-08:002016-11-22T09:33:36.596-08:00When is the board going to cut out the bureaucrati...When is the board going to cut out the bureaucratic top level leaders who add no value and perpetuate the dysfunctional culture of no accountability? ED's and Chief of Schools NEED TO GO!!! That's a million dollars a year right there that could be going directly to support schools.<br /><br />-PlsHelpAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-91484141456151179702016-11-21T21:52:45.569-08:002016-11-21T21:52:45.569-08:00Stump was an assistant at our school and well like...Stump was an assistant at our school and well liked. What do you all find so objectionable? I'm surprised at the negative rhetoric. I hope someone will answer because she is very well educated - Ph.D. - and knows her stuff. I know of a second school that liked her as well. Can someone clarify please?<br /><br />Absolutely agree about ed directors but we've been around this block before. They're still here.<br /><br />liked StumpAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-50476107300410192052016-11-21T19:18:11.648-08:002016-11-21T19:18:11.648-08:00I have sat through two principal hiring sessions ...I have sat through two principal hiring sessions and I am always amazed at the lack of depth in the candidates. For a $120,000 a year job and the ability to search nationwide you would think that HR would do a better job at bringing in better candidates.<br /> It seems like the ED or someone higher up already has their ideal candidate choosen and the interviews are just a formality.<br /> I think that principals are just one layer of the ever expanding district bureaucracy and they know that if they want a future or just to keep their job they need to be involved in the politics.<br /> Some times you have a principal or an ED who is an eductional leader, but often it is just a mid level bureaucratic. <br /><br /> Maybe it's necessary in a district of our size, but it always seems like teachers and kids get the short end of the stick.Erik Tanennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-86455627411553521482016-11-21T17:30:02.773-08:002016-11-21T17:30:02.773-08:00Richelle, I think once SPS gets race equity in pla...Richelle, I think once SPS gets race equity in place around 2045 the district will be down to just a handful of schools, charters and school vouchers will insure that!<br /><br />What a mess <br /><br />--That's SPSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-59385777130881422402016-11-21T17:25:04.363-08:002016-11-21T17:25:04.363-08:00Colleen Stump?? We interviewed her as a potential ...Colleen Stump?? We interviewed her as a potential principal replacement at our school and couldn't believe she made it through the first SPS vetting. She was also universally hated when she was manager of the Advanced Learning and Special Education programs. I am honestly horrified to hear she received a leadership position at a school like Lowell. <br /><br />Seattle Public Schools is seriously, seriously screwed up. Our daughter is currently attending an all-girls middle school, a decision we planned for years irrespective of any issues we had with SPS. The plan has always been to return to SPS for high school, but at this point, I don't know if I could stand it. I'm in tears just reading about the district's continued deplorable level of incompetence, reactive, rather than proactive thinking, lack of cohesive strategy for community involvement and failure to make any real improvements in equity access at their schools.<br />Richelle Dickersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06395081622795542920noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-58675509153169140672016-11-21T15:39:22.546-08:002016-11-21T15:39:22.546-08:00To Charlie's points, you have only to look at ...To Charlie's points, you have only to look at the recent Work Session on Executive Directors (I reported on it.) It was terrible and I wasn't the only person who thought that. <br /><br />So what do EDs do and is that work helping student outcomes? We have no idea and neither does the Board. <br /><br />I'm not picking on the EDs but if the district is at a budget crisis, there's $1M right there between the Chief of Schools and EDs.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-80175749490459144992016-11-21T14:46:20.492-08:002016-11-21T14:46:20.492-08:00We can have Sawant run the school district because...We can have Sawant run the school district because she really understands how to get things done. <br /><br />SPSSouthAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-8747348863402513832016-11-21T14:25:03.677-08:002016-11-21T14:25:03.677-08:00No thank you, Change Now. Do you think our city co...No thank you, Change Now. Do you think our city council is doing great? I don't. I can't stand their recent actions.<br />NESeattleMomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14685367298254415469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-59608399015304503552016-11-21T14:02:49.382-08:002016-11-21T14:02:49.382-08:00The district is still out of control and the peopl...The district is still out of control and the peoples representatives (the board)seem to be doing very little to stabilize and instill confidence. <br /><br />In all seriousness, maybe it's time to let the city run the show and remove JSCEE from existence. <br /><br />Change Now <br /><br /> Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-53435722301403542422016-11-21T13:44:00.301-08:002016-11-21T13:44:00.301-08:00Let's take a break from the personal and talk ...Let's take a break from the personal and talk a bit about policy and practice.<br /><br />Where is the line between the principal's authority and the District's authority? Joseph Olchefske's policy appears to remain in force. He advocated for the District to be tight on the WHAT and loose on the HOW. This is like an echo of the relationship between the Board and the Superintendent in which the Board sets policy, but delegates the day-to-day administration to the superintendent. Likewise the district tells the schools that they are supposed to get certain things done, but allows them freedom to determine how they would do them. So, for example, the schools are required to serve their advanced learners, but how they do that is up to them. They can do pull-outs, push-ins, walk to math, or claim to offer differentiated instruction.<br /><br />This works well as a basic philosophy, but it would be good to have someone clearly draw the line between the District's authority and the principal's authority.<br /><br />Then, after that is done and made transparent, we have the really big questions:<br /><br />1) For those decisions that belong to the District, who enforces them?<br /><br />2) For those decisions that belong to the principal, how are principals held accountable for outcomes? How are they rewarded for good outcomes and how are they guided for bad outcomes?<br /><br />Every school is supposed to deliver the Tier 1 curriculum to the bulk of students. That's a District rule: teach to the Standards. Who confirms that this is happening? And what happens if it isn't?<br /><br />Every school is supposed to deliver differentiated curricula to special needs populations. That's a District rule (and, in a number of cases, a state or federal law). Who confirms that this is happening? And what happens if it isn't?<br /><br />Every school is supposed to have a CSIP. Who confirms that the schools are doing what their CSIP says they will do? And what happens if they aren't?<br /><br />What is the response when the climate survey results drop? What is the response when they rise? Who is responsible for taking these actions?<br /><br />In all of these cases, I would expect that the Executive Director of Schools is the person with the responsibility to monitor and the authority to act. But I have seen precious little evidence of any Executive Director of Schools either monitoring or acting. During the short-lived revolt against the elementary math materials adoption the Executive Directors of Schools had to write to their principals and ask them what textbooks they were using because... they didn't know. They didn't know how their schools were teaching math. That reflects a shocking lack of knowledge about the actual workings of the schools. Did they ever go into any of the classrooms? Did they even visit the schools?Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-3548986043343755182016-11-21T12:12:04.994-08:002016-11-21T12:12:04.994-08:00She also REMAINS a "hated principal" wha...She also REMAINS a "hated principal" whatever her new title is. That doesn't just go away.Lucianoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-49919405829357781052016-11-21T12:10:45.339-08:002016-11-21T12:10:45.339-08:00I am not in the Emerson community, but I think it ...I am not in the Emerson community, but I think it inappropriate for church members or husband of a principal to take control of a meeting for a school and its community. They should not be controlling the microphone or carrying a clipboard around speaking to parents/guardians of the Emerson community. Seattle Schools should have been managing the meeting including advocating for ELL parents/guardians. I would guess that it is a challenge for immigrants to speak out when they may not know how things are in other schools. <br />GHSmom<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-21124958053830221732016-11-21T12:09:46.893-08:002016-11-21T12:09:46.893-08:00In a word: BANDAIn a word: BANDALucianoreply@blogger.com