Seattle Schools Community Forum

Lots of chatter out there in media-land. Seems everyone has an opinion on what should happen and what has happened. From the Seattle Weekly an interesting view from Michael DeBell: School Board vice-president Michael DeBell expressed it when he said of the superintendent: "I believe it's a good thing that she's departing at this time." DeBell, one of the board's more clearheaded members, was not talking about the need to hold Goodloe-Johnson accountable for the blatant financial misdeeds that happened on her watch. Rather he was referencing something arguably more important: the toxic relationship between the former superintendent and her teaching staff. In a series of no-confidence votes last year, teachers said loud and clear that they didn't like their boss. "I've talked to school-board directors around the country, and they all say that something like that is not sustainable," says DeBell. From the Times, an op-ed from Times...

There is a petition for a community vote of No Confidence in Dr. Goodloe-Johnson. Examine the petition and sign if you agree.

From Riya Bhattacharjee at the Stranger Slog, a story on the interview with Dr. Goodloe-Johnson on KING 5's Upfront with Robert Mak. (The story has the video.) He asked about school reports. He asked her if, say, 4th grade math scores were down who should parents hold accountable? Everyone, she says, teachers, principals, herself (if only we could ask how to hold her accountable). Teach for America was also a topic. From the Slog: When King 5 reporter Robert Mak asked her if she was willing to fight to bring Teach For America to Seattle, given the hefty opposition from the teachers union, Goodloe-Johnson replied that she was a "little surprised" by the concern. "It's an innovative idea," she said. "It's not an idea to fight about" because TFA candidates will follow the exact same hiring process as any other teacher in the district. How important is this program to you? It's very important she said and " there's no...

Also in the Stranger Slog today (and kids, it is one of the most unusual, hilarious, thought-provoking and informative blogs around), a brief piece about what SEA has to say. As I previous reported (whoops, stated), SEA was NOT at the podium yesterday. The president, Olga Addae, was there but didn't speak because of communications issues with the district and also SEA's feeling that they didn't want to speak on the contract until the Board voted on it (which wasn't happening until later that night). The Slog reports that: Sure, the teachers' union, the Seattle Education Association, approved it, but SEA President Olga Addae lashed out at the school board after a press conference ( .pdf ) yesterday for ignoring the union's vote of no confidence on district superintendent Maria Goodloe Johnson. (The union had voted no confidence just minutes after approving the new contract on Sept 2). "While you lauded collaboration, you ignored the no confidence vo...