Seattle Schools Community Forum

You can watch the videos of the Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson and Dr. Gregory Thornton interviews whenever you want and as often as you want. They are posted on the Seattle Channel website at: http://www.seattlechannel.org/issues/seattlePublicSchools.asp As you can tell from reading the blog posts and comments, depending upon what people are looking for in a superintendent and what people's own filters/biases are, their reaction is very different to the two candidates. I'm going to try to watch both interviews again, informed by the comments and reactions of others, to see whether or not my opinions change. And, as Mel Westbrook mentioned earlier, if you watch the interviews, please fill out the Board survey at http://www.seattleschools.org/area/main/supsearchfeedback.xml .

Danny Westneat's column in today's Times is, yet again, another eye-opener. I come away with the sense that many people are NOT on the same page (and may never have been). Some highlights: -many people believe there is - surprise - an overemphasis on the issue of race in our district by our district. One teacher who taught in the Oakland school district said she had never been made to feel this way there. -Principal Chris Drape from The New School (a kind and dedicated guy but I have to wonder after this column) saying to Danny, "What I see in your column is what I all-too-often see in our Seattle white community - wanting to have conversations take place on our terms , wanting to see solutions that work on our terms." (Drape is white.) He also called the previous column an example of "unexamined white privilege". He also said that "It means setting aside our own agendas, and understanding that education is about a lot more than advanced aca...

Sunday's Times has yet another expression of the editorial board's unhappiness with the superintendent search. This one is a bit confusing because on the one hand, they complain that the Board kept a tight rein on the process (last time, you'll remember, they called it a circus). Then, they say the public interview process was by invitation-only. But it was on tv - live - and replayed. What would have happened (or what different questions would have been asked) if 500 people had showed up (and frankly, I don't think it would have reached 100). Then, they moan over the lack of opportunity to ask questions privately. Well, that would be the Board's job - it is the main job they have as a Board. I'm assuming the Times wanted private meetings with the candidates for editorial boards. But which editorial boards? They claim they wanted to hear an articulated vision for the city. Both the candidates, wisely, stated that they would need to come in and get the...

From today's Times: Q&A | Danny Westneat Is the Seattle School District's focus on race dividing us? From noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Times columnist Danny Westneat will chat on-line with readers about his recent columns on the subject. Ask now!

Tonight, both in person at the Stanford Center and on television on the Seattle Channel, residents of Seattle met Dr. Maria Goodloe-Johnson. My feelings about the second finalist for the superintendent's position were, again, mixed, but overall more positive. My favorite quotes from Dr. Goodloe-Johnson: - "The central office role is to build capacity and provide support for schools." - "Courage is doing what you know is right for kids." She responded well to questions about accountability, high school reform, and closing the achievement gap. - We need to "look at brutal facts" about our schools and not just say that all our schools are good. - High school reform requires smaller learning communities, connections between students and adults who care about them, preparation for jobs of the future, with a focus on technology literacy, ability to work in teams, and work with diverse groups of people. - Closing the achievement gap means providing extra tuto...

This from OSPI: This spring, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) will be sending out a request for proposal, or RFP, for a new testing contract that includes the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) tests. The current five-year contract expires late next year. OSPI is now planning for a new contract that will be implemented by March 2008. But before that happens, OSPI wants your opinion. The office has created an online survey to seek input from educators and state policy makers about our current testing system and what should be included in the RFP. OSPI will be doing a separate outreach to parents and community groups in the coming weeks. The online survey is now available. Those taking the survey will be asked to rate the importance of diagnostic assessments, online testing, additional assessments for students in special education and translated assessments. The survey will be available until April 18. No password is r...

The district has a Superintendent Search page (you can get to it right from the main page). They are doing a survey so please fill it out if you watch the interviews and want to give feedback. Also, please pass this information along to your PTA or any other group you belong to.