Seattle Schools Community Forum

Wednesday, May 22nd Exit Conference for Financial and Single Federal Audit , 4-4:30 p.m. in the JSCEE auditorium.  This is just an official reporting of an audit that happens regularly.  Oversight Work Session:Teaching&Learning (Part 2) from 4:30-6:30 pm.  Will all be revealed?  Stay tuned. Work Session: Race&Equity Professional Development, 6:15-7:45 pm. Thursday, May 23rd Executive Session: Superintendent evaluation Friday, May 24th What? No school so you get a 4-day holiday.  Saturday, May 25th Community Meeting with Director Patu at Cafe Vita.

This afternoon we will finally get a management oversight work session for teaching and learning, you know, the school district's core mission. Here is the presentation that will be made to the Board. Here are some questions that the presentations makes me want to ask:

Monday, April 22nd Announcement from the White House for the 2013 Teacher of the Year.  Washington State Teacher of the Year, Jeff Charbonneau , is one of four finalists.  I think he is a great and inspiring teacher so I'm crossing my fingers he will be named the National Teacher of the Year.   If you know a teacher you would like to nominate for the 2014 Washington State Teacher of the Year, here's a link to do so.  The deadline is April 26th. Wednesday, April 24th Oversight Work Session - Teaching & Learning, 4-5:30 pm.   No agenda yet available. This is a work session where a department walks the Board through their operations and updated them on their current status.   This is a hard stop at 5:30 pm as the Board has an Executive Session from 5:30 pm to 6 pm. Work Session:Strategic Plan from 6-7:30 pm.  No agenda yet available. Special Education PTSA from 7-9 pm. in Room 2700. Thursday, April 25th Operations Committee...

From Superintendent Banda via SPS Communications (and I believe one of our astute readers called this one for Michael Tolley about a week ago): "I am pleased to announce that after a strong national search, Michael Tolley has been named Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, where he will oversee all aspects of students’ academic growth at Seattle Public Schools. Mr. Tolley stepped into this role as the Interim Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning in September and has demonstrated his strong leadership. He plans to have the District’s Teaching and Learning team continue development of a comprehensive professional development plan to implement the Common Core State Standards and provide students with increased academic and social/emotional supports. In addition, he will focus on working with school and Central Office staff to address opportunity gaps across the District and to ensure that the needs of each and every student are appropriately met. Mr. To...

From SPS Communications (bold mine): After six months as your Superintendent, it has been a pleasure to get to know our schools, staff, students and families. I know this has been a time of change, and I am looking forward to solidifying our team to ensure we are all working together in the best interest of our students.   Today I am pleased to announce several appointments in our District.   I will also be providing you with some additional information regarding specifically the Teaching & Learning Department, just prior to the holiday break.   The following are announcements regarding staff new to the central office and/or in new positions:   ·          Special Education :   I am appointing Stacey McCrath-Smith to the permanent position of Director of Special Education.   Stacey has served as the interim director and has done a great job stepping into the role and helping to bring sta...

Superintendent Banda has sent a letter to APP @ Lincoln families that outlines the plans for north-end elementary APP. The letter also reveals a lot about the District's process.

In the category of "fix this and soon", comes news of who is heading T&L until a new person is hired.  Marni Campbell might be okay but I have never had much faith in Mr. Tolley (a MGJ holdover).  They need to get someone good and qualified and stat. From SPS: Dear Seattle Public Schools staff, I am pleased to announce an interim leadership plan while we conduct a national search for an Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning and Executive Director of Curriculum and Instructional Support. Executive Directors of Schools Michael Tolley and Marni Campbell will serve as co-Interim Assistant Superintendents for Teaching and Learning.  Michael and Marni will provide leadership in all areas of teaching and learning for the next several months. We do intend to fill the position of Executive Director of Curriculum and Instructional Support, and hope to announce an interim plan soon. I want to thank Kimberly Kinzer and Paul Robb for filling in for the last several...

Superintendent Banda was gracious enough to give me a little time last week to talk.  (I note that the office looked quite stern with Dr. Enfield's ducky collection gone.) How's it going? He said he had adjusted quickly and he is enjoying Seattle.  He said that he felt like he got a good grasp of the district and its needs early on. Math is a big issue to many parents and when they see a few schools going off-script (and getting good results), they want to know how their school can do it.  Any plans around that issue? He said it was a challenging area.  He mentioned that Wendy London had resigned (so she is definitely not in the district) and that are working hard to find a new permanent T&L executive director. Could more schools access a new math program through the Creative Approach system?   He said that may be the best way to do it.  He said it could be a resource issue for some schools. Have you read I-1240 or has anyone in the district ...

From Bob Boesche (himself an interim) Deputy Superintendent: I am writing today to tell you that Wendy London, who was serving as Interim Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning, made the difficult decision to resign from her position. I want to thank her for her leadership and for balancing both the interim role and her duties as Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction – two very demanding positions. We all wish her well. For the next two weeks, Kimberly Kinzer, our Manager of Early Learning, will serve as Interim Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning. I want to thank Kimberly for stepping into this position until Aug. 24 while we prepare for a national search to fill this leadership role in Teaching and Learning. Also during the next two weeks we will create a more sustainable interim leadership plan. It’s our goal to have a smooth start to the 2012-13 school year, while also spending time recruiting top talent for this position. We will give yo...