tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post910600187468430028..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: How Come?Melissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57998605049274730162020-07-09T21:01:11.275-07:002020-07-09T21:01:11.275-07:00But rather"The main animal" Is the best ...But rather"The main animal" Is the best mister. Take advantage the actual relating to 2019. To ensure that stated why would you we can not job meeting the top level receiver. Beautiful olympic games enjoys ok'd a variable year (<b><a href="https://www.cheapyeezys350sale.com/" rel="nofollow">Yeezy Boost 350 Cheap</a></b>) great promotion identifying Gallagher, A (<b><a href="https://www.jordanreleasescheap.com" rel="nofollow">New Jordan Releases 2020</a></b>) worldwide rrnsurance plan stock broker, Likelihood current administration (<b><a href="https://www.outletcoachclearancesale.com" rel="nofollow">Coach Outlet Clearance Sale</a></b>) and as well referring to corporations (<b><a href="https://www.outletrbstore.com" rel="nofollow">Ray Ban Outlet Store</a></b>) steady, A platinum eagle boyfriend amongst beautiful (<b><a href="https://www.cheapyeezyshoesale.com" rel="nofollow">Cheap Yeezys For Sale</a></b>) olympic (<b><a href="https://www.outletcoachsstoreonline.com" rel="nofollow">Coach Outlet Online</a></b>) games crucial. Love amongst the two multinational clubs brings together a answered back dedication to add-on and so helping (<b><a href="https://www.outletrbsale.com/" rel="nofollow">Ray Ban Outlet</a></b>) to people discover personal clubs to achieve life. DAZN world wide sporting activities exploding operations said it'll step-up the book's Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-77526990580453602512010-10-13T09:54:26.672-07:002010-10-13T09:54:26.672-07:00I should clarify: The "bad teacher" sca...I should clarify: The "bad teacher" scapegoating does not mean there aren't bad teachers. There are. The over-hyping of the problem and the laser-like focus on it to the deliberate exclusion of all the other factors such as poor leadership, lack of resources, and of course poverty and dysfunction in the community, while lumping all teachers into the same camp is what has conflated, handicapped and tortured the process ensuring good teaching by putting all the blame and responsibility on the backs of teachers. <br /><br />That type of scapegoating is shameful. Is it the bus driver's fault that Metro wastes money? Come on.wseadawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08750439461734046035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-57328541994878243792010-10-13T09:43:41.780-07:002010-10-13T09:43:41.780-07:00Because it's not about "bad teachers"...Because it's not about "bad teachers" Charlie. Obviously, it's about good and bad teachers falling in line and towing the line for the Reformers, or else. <br /><br />The scapegoat of the "bad teacher" is just this eras version of the fanciful and fake "family farmer" losing everything because of the Federal Estate Tax (Never happened. Not once, anywhere in the nation), nor Reagan's infamous, and wholly imaginary welfare queen from Chicago who supposedly owned a fleet of Cadillacs and had seven social security numbers. She didn't exist, but the angry and resentful swallowed the lies whole, regardless, and the rich and powerful laughed all the way to the bank, like their now doing in education. <br /><br />Again, politics 101. <br /><br />When will we ever learn?wseadawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08750439461734046035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-42332903964861609402010-10-13T07:20:11.706-07:002010-10-13T07:20:11.706-07:00Why am I not surprised that the District wasn'...Why am I not surprised that the District wasn't supporting principals any more than they were supporting teachers?<br /><br />Why am I not surprised that people were scapegoating the union as an obstacle to dismissing ineffective teachers?<br /><br />I am, however, pleased to see a change in these dysfunctions.<br /><br />They didn't, of course, require any change in the teacher contract.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40919424857878184122010-10-12T21:20:03.992-07:002010-10-12T21:20:03.992-07:00Thank you Aunty Broad!
Keep 'em comin'.
...Thank you Aunty Broad!<br /><br />Keep 'em comin'.<br /><br />I put two up on the SeattleEd blog and will continue to add them during the week.<br /><br />DoraAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5057681007855656322010-10-12T20:11:32.492-07:002010-10-12T20:11:32.492-07:00If these things are happened last year, under the ...If these things are happened last year, under the then-current rules, then everything Charlie and I have been saying about principals needing to do the hard part of their jobs was 100% true, and we therefore didn't need to make major changes to the union contract to make proper use of the teacher evaluation system, including the "removing bad teachers" part. <br /><br />In fact, if those statistics and numbers are true as represented, it BANKRUPTS the reformers' chief argument that THE UNION was standing in the way of removing bad teachers, now doesn't it? <br /><br />Okay folks: My folding chair is out and my feet are up. Show me the parade of mea culpas!wseadawghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08750439461734046035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-12129509757097896402010-10-12T19:19:27.668-07:002010-10-12T19:19:27.668-07:00"He said that last year for the first time pr..."He said that last year for the first time principals were given a manual on how to "evaluate out" teachers. In the past, they've had to do their own legal research on the proper steps to follow."<br /><br />This alone is a HUGE accomplishment, and in my opinion it is another move toward accountability in the area of teacher quality. And again MGJ is working WITHIN the current system, and within the union guidelines. <br /><br />Maureen, I wish I had access to historical data on how many teachers were exited in previous years, however, I haven't seen any. And I don't know where to find it. does anyone else? I don't, however, ever recall hearing about teachers being exited in the past, except under scandalous circumstances, like accusations of sexual abuse, etc. But that's just my recollection, I could certainly be wrong.seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01231800476411684686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22068751042323672462010-10-12T18:39:50.707-07:002010-10-12T18:39:50.707-07:00I had an interesting conversation yesterday with m...I had an interesting conversation yesterday with my principal about the subject of teacher dismissals.<br /><br />1. He said that the number he'd heard for teacher dismissals due to performance in 2009-2010 was 19. He also acknowledged that an undermined number of teachers retired before they could be dismissed. One of those teachers was at our school. <br /><br />2. He said that in the past the union has not been an obstacle to dismissing poorly performing teachers. So what changed?<br /><br />3. He said that last year for the first time principals were given a manual on how to "evaluate out" teachers. In the past, they've had to do their own legal research on the proper steps to follow.<br /><br />My questions:<br /><br />* To what extent has the union been the scapegoat for the failure to evaluate out poorly performing teachers?<br /><br />* Why did it take so long for the district to give their principals the guidance they need to do their jobs?Mr. Edelmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16100732082087823318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27433327187724181992010-10-12T16:23:49.257-07:002010-10-12T16:23:49.257-07:00I know for certain that one ineffective Dean of St...I know for certain that one ineffective Dean of Students was demoted at an SPS high school this year. His position, Dean of Students, was eliminated and replaced by a position for an Assistant Principal. Even though he was qualified to be an Assistant Principal, and he applied for the position, he was not offered the spot. He is still at the school but is a teacher now.seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01231800476411684686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-25864472025782709102010-10-12T14:23:39.622-07:002010-10-12T14:23:39.622-07:00Oh yeah, and I know Dr. Enfield was central in &qu...Oh yeah, and I know Dr. Enfield was central in "exiting" one principal after the shuffling by MGJ. It's possible she deserves credit more broadly -- anyone know? Still, I guess I have to give MGJ credit for hiring a decent CAO.Chris S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17016898261120819596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-34025820214234522022010-10-12T14:20:11.426-07:002010-10-12T14:20:11.426-07:00Watch the superintendent updates from one of the S...Watch the superintendent updates from one of the September meetings - Dr. Enfield introduces the 5 new "executive" ed directors. Then she introduces a bunch of other "directors" of this and that. At least one former ed director is in this group, although probably on of the better ones. I'd be careful about concluding that any not re-hired into the executive positions have been "exited."Chris S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/17016898261120819596noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-7718164686362346882010-10-12T09:56:37.168-07:002010-10-12T09:56:37.168-07:00anonymom, where is the data on exited teachers by ...<b>anonymom</b>, where is the data on exited teachers by year? Is there historical data on performance rating as well? Thanks!Maureenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18444916440000921599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-80080718109182102892010-10-12T09:35:41.766-07:002010-10-12T09:35:41.766-07:00I'm with anonymom on this.
If the superintend...I'm with anonymom on this.<br /><br />If the superintendent has been putting pressure on principals to identify and dismiss the ineffective teachers,<br /><br />If the superintendent has been putting pressure on principals to work through the process to dismiss those teachers,<br /><br />If the superintendent has been putting pressure on education directors to put pressure on principals to do the work of shedding ineffective teachers,<br /><br />If that's the case, then she is to be commended for walking her talk.<br /><br />If that's the case, then she should let people know that she is doing that work.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-14019948697200856102010-10-12T09:27:47.976-07:002010-10-12T09:27:47.976-07:00How many teachers & certificated staff- like l...How many teachers & certificated staff- like librarians, counselors.. have been laid off altogether?-<br />Hardly a move in the right direction if we are losing two valuable educators for every one that needs " retraining"<br /><br />And how many administrators do we have again????Jet City momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14804841958585043967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-37038135509274354552010-10-12T08:48:38.876-07:002010-10-12T08:48:38.876-07:00Reformists say that we have to many "bad"...Reformists say that we have to many "bad" teachers in public schools. They say that the current system to exit those bad teachers doesn't work. They say that unions protect bad teachers. They want to use desperate measures, like tying student academic performance to teacher evaluations to weed out "bad" teachers. <br /><br />We ourselves have long complained that the current system eosen't work well. We say the process is to slow. Principals say it is to political, and very time consuming. Many of them turn the other cheek rather than dealing with ineffective teachers. And students suffer.<br /><br />Some how, some way, though, MGJ is making the current, cumbersome, system, that all sides complain about, work for her. She is taking action and getting the job done. She exited 24 teachers in ONE YEAR (according to crosscut), and removed all but one Ed director from their positions. She is making the current system work well, or at least better. I think she deserves some credit for that.<br /><br />For all the talk we do about a lack of accountability in SPS, I believe that exiting 24 teachers in ONE year is a step toward accountability, at least in this one area.seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01231800476411684686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-40369443307881768792010-10-12T08:08:21.733-07:002010-10-12T08:08:21.733-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01231800476411684686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-27784626946498646282010-10-12T08:06:57.152-07:002010-10-12T08:06:57.152-07:00So, just to be sure that all of the dots are conne...So, just to be sure that all of the dots are connected, let me run through the thinking again.<br /><br />Let's say that the process for shedding a non-performing teacher is time-consuming and too long. Let's say that it takes two years.<br /><br />Let's also presume that the superintendent actually believes, as she has stated any number of times, that providing an effective teacher is the most important thing that the district can do to boost student achievement.<br /><br />Let's also presume that she acts on her beliefs and makes it her top priority to cull the non-performing teachers from the district.<br /><br />If she and her principals work diligently to remove or re-train the non-performing teachers - and she could not have any higher priority - and if it takes two years to fire a teacher, then after three or four years in office they should nearly all have been removed. Shouldn't they? It's not like I'm saying that I expect the job to take just two years.<br /><br />Dr. Goodloe-Johnson has been superintendent for over three years. This is her fourth year. By the end of this school year shouldn't she have shed nearly all of the non-performing teachers? And, if she hasn't, then why not?<br /><br />Either she didn't make it enough of a priority and impress her principals with how critical this matter is, or her principals failed to follow her priorities and do the work, or the principals somehow screwed it up. Now, remember that I have allowed four years, so if they blew it or didn't get the message for a year they have a chance to make it up or get the message.<br /><br />And, once she has cleaned house, it should be relatively simple to keep it clean. She should have no trouble discontinuing the contracts of any new teachers who lack promise and the few remaining experienced non-performing teachers should be easy to identify and dismiss.<br /><br />At that point how critical will it be to have a quicker, more robust system in place? Much less so.<br /><br />I'm reminded of a Calvin and Hobbes cartoons. One in which Calvin complains that cleaning his room will take all day. Hobbes says it isn't that big of a job. Calvin agrees, but reminds Hobbes that he's going to be griping about it for another hour before he even gets started.<br /><br />It would be quicker to do the work under the current system than to change the system.<br /><br />Once the work is done, you can change the system with less urgency and strife. Also, when people see the benefits of a more selectively chosen staff and have seen that they are not threatened by the process, it should be an easier sell.Charlie Mashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17173903762962067277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-31410536107978771802010-10-11T23:00:40.195-07:002010-10-11T23:00:40.195-07:00@Eric M: Yes, I certainly DO get the reference, da...@Eric M: Yes, I certainly DO get the reference, dammit, and now that stupid theme music is stuck in my head. Thanks a WHOLE LOT. :)<br /><br />I'd like to inject a cautionary statistical note here, to wit: if teachers are ranked by some set of performance measures, it is a given that some will fall in, say, the bottom 10%. Let's say we wave a wand and send those people on their way.<br /><br />But wait! Hey presto: now, strangely, if we rank the remaining teachers, exactly 10% of them will fall into the bottom 10%! It's some weird math thing!<br /><br />The point is, even after dinging obviously sub-par teachers, central admins will still feel that strange tingling dinging itch. And they'll look for scapegoats. The fact that any kind of ordination will perforce identify the "bottom" may provide too much temptation for a human being to resist: it will always be the first response to fire the "poor performers", regardless of whether there's anyone better available.<br /><br />WV sounds like some exotic cocktail to me: cingingi!Josh Hayeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17242600011474990770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22082753050162236742010-10-11T22:11:22.629-07:002010-10-11T22:11:22.629-07:00You know for sure how many teachers got exited und...You know for sure how many teachers got exited under our last two superintendents - and you can't spell their names? It's Manhas and Olchefske.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69088530049649491572010-10-11T20:23:26.685-07:002010-10-11T20:23:26.685-07:00"Okay, maybe with Ed directors but honestly? ..."Okay, maybe with Ed directors but honestly? Not so much."<br /><br />How about what Charlie said, Melissa<br /><br />" That said, there were 23 teachers dismissed for poor performance last year, which is a lot more than we typically see."<br /><br />It seems like progress. Baby steps for sure, but at least it is progress. And more than Olschefski and Manhaus did (in this area) combined.seattlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01231800476411684686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-24192425429024772672010-10-11T20:09:56.345-07:002010-10-11T20:09:56.345-07:00Just one previous director has been named to the n...<i>Just one previous director has been named to the new oversight panel: Michael Tolley, who has overseen high schools since 2007.<br /><br />Two new directors have been named to the oversight panel: Phil Brockman, who has been principal of Ballard High School for the past five years; and Aurora Lora, founder and administrator of the Harriet Tubman Leadership Academy for Young Women in Portland Public Schools.<br /><br />The district is still recruiting to fill the other two new spots, which pay in the range of $103,000 to $142,000, according to a job posting on the district's website.<br /><br />The new directors will provide support, supervision and evaluation of principals, the district said. They will also play a key role in implementing the new student-assignment plan.<br /><br />remaining former directors are going in different directions. Gloria Mitchell has retired. Patrick Johnson has taken a new job in Tacoma Public Schools. Pat Sander will take on a new, as yet undefined, role with the district. And Ruth Medsker has been appointed interim principal at West Seattle High School.</i>Jet City momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14804841958585043967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70256389842784003642010-10-11T19:55:49.148-07:002010-10-11T19:55:49.148-07:00Here's the Org chart from 10/09.
http://www.s...Here's the Org chart from 10/09.<br /><br />http://www.seattleschools.org/area/m_aboutus/spsorgchart.pdf<br /><br />Would like to know if any of these Ed. Directors got different positions in SPS, or where they laid off?ParentofThreehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15853045587227159562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-1376137128737591032010-10-11T19:51:50.196-07:002010-10-11T19:51:50.196-07:00They may have gotten rid of one terrible Ed Direct...They may have gotten rid of one terrible Ed Director (if it is who I think it is, that person is still with the district) but they brought in a woman for the NW that has folks scratching their heads. Not much experience with teaching or leadership, not a lot of longevity with past jobs in education, so hard to see how she could work well with principals and be an effective leader. Has a strong charter school focus to previous jobs.Dorothy Nevillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17108759281089768738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-78606293325650805972010-10-11T19:51:25.048-07:002010-10-11T19:51:25.048-07:00I do think that Phil Brockman has a very good repu...I do think that Phil Brockman has a very good reputation, but I expressed concern that the others were brand new to the district. <br />I won't quibble that there are a few other key people in admin, that I would contribute to a farewell party for, but I don't think getting people with zero experience in Seattle is necessarily the way to build trust and respect in the district.Jet City momhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14804841958585043967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-6167863170384025712010-10-11T19:38:05.878-07:002010-10-11T19:38:05.878-07:00"At least with getting rid of ineffective emp..."At least with getting rid of ineffective employees."<br /><br />Okay, maybe with Ed directors but honestly? Not so much. There's a lot of people who are not doing this district a lot of good (actually if she got rid of a few key people it might help a lot).Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.com