Morcease J. Beasley, Ed.D., Interim Deputy Superintendent of DCSS, Curriculum
According to his business website, :
Motivational Speaker
Effective School Leader
"Inspired" Author
Researcher
Evaluator
According to his church's website, he and his wife "will prove to serve the unique needs of the Covington-Atlanta" area.
He sure has a lot on his plate.
With DCSS classrooms packed larger than ever before, with students sitting on the floor at some schools, Beasley and his army of managers and staff have tasked teachers and principals with an incredible amount of busy work. Is he is making our schools better, or is it one more pressing reason for teachers to leave the system for one where they are allowed to actually interact with students and then have a home life, instead of spending hours each night with unending paperwork, and an eSIS software system that still does not work properly?
DCSS Teachers: We want to hear from you. Is Dr. Beasley on the right track? Have teachers had any input with all his various initiatives? What do your principals say regarding this? Or is his barrage the last straw for you to leave for a position at another school system?
243 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 243 of 243People do not realize that many of the "renovations" have been done with used equipment, with the system being billed as if the equipment were new. If theer were ever a serious investigation of the central office, they would have to shut the whole thing down.
Well, there is an investigation going on - by the DA - right now. Of course, as they investigate Pat Pope and Dr Lewis, they want to know everything. If you have any proof or information for them regarding used equipment, then please, share it with the DA's office.
Arraignment
JOHN MELVIN
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY
404-371-3030
ANNETTE WELLS
SPECIAL PROSECUTION PROSECUTION
404-687-2711
The lead investigator is Clay Nix.
Amen Cere! I really hope the previous poster is wrong! So CCHS gets "new equipment" yet they do not replace any pipes or insulation?
That's like giving someone a new heart and not fixing that persons arteries with bypasses or stints. Good Grief!
Now id the time we must have a whistleblower at the Service Center to tell the TRUE stakeholders the truth about what is being purchased.
You know maybe CCHS "new" AC units and chillers were stolen from Southwest DeKalb? Could DCSS be stealing from themselves?
The story never ends and involves so much we'll never have a chance to catch up. Is there anyone out there, with no ties to DCSS, willing to make a HUGE sacrifice and fix our incredibly broken school system?
Chamblee's new AC was actually installed at least 5 years ago. There was actually some kind of legal settlement a few years later.
From his website:
"Morcease J. Beasley, Ed.D., Interim Deputy Superintendent of DCSS, Curriculum
Motivational Speaker
Effective School Leader
"Inspired" Author
Researcher
Evaluator"
So which comes first - Motivational Speaker? or Effective School Leader?
To the Stone Mountain Educator. I saw at least 2 grammatical errors in your comments. Are you really an educator?
I am religious and spiritual in my private life but expect my public schools to be free of religion. How can Morcease perform his instructional role separately from his religious role? How does he have enough time in the day to be exceptional (as he proclaims) in all these arenas? Could we not find a more qualified and less controversial candidate for this super important position? At this point in time, DCSS needs to be trying to avoid controversy, at all costs. Certainly there are many better qualified persons for this job, and candidates with far less baggage. I am so embarrassed by Beasley's website. Ugh!!!
I am not completely aware of all the dynamics of this compromised school system known formally as : "DeKalb" but just going by what I hear this reminds me of one of those conspiracy documentary's on YouTube regarding the Illuminati, 2012, or some Bush administration conspiracy. As a matter of fact Crawford Lewis kind of reminds me of a George Bush type of character who is merely a puppet chosen to be a yes man doing whatever Dick Chaney (THE school Board) wants him to do. Crawford approves everything allowing administrators to basically have absolute power over all aspects of there school including there financial budgets. The funny thing is, all of this was probably going on long before Crawford and his Board Buddies. So what has changed to bring so much attention to DeKalb lately. Why are the admins just know getting exposed for there wrong doings? One word...MONEY. It seems like everybody's cool until you mess with there pocket. Once the recession finally trickled down to school budgets and jobs began to get cut and wages reduced people began to snitch. It makes perfect sense though, even these teachers who blog under there anonymous surnames had no problem with the corruption until there wages began to be effected. So i guess when they saw they werent getting a raise there "moral" kicked in and they just had to voice there inner activist. And the people in North DeKalb are just eating this up. Just by reading there blogs you can smell the condescending attitude towards those who live in in south DeKalb for this is one big excuse to further strengthen there argument of superiority over south DeKalb. This adds more to there argument of how African Americans can not run there own people. I don't agree with it but hey, were making it easy for them. To me how ever it is quite amusing and sad. The sad part is seeing how much time is wasted through bureaucratic policies and money through selfish individual gains. I try not to judge them for they are only trying to benefit themselves and at the end of the day isn't that most peoples main goals. Though you may not openly admit it if you found yourself in a situation with no restrains how would you conduct yourselves. Not saying it is right, I'm just saying I wont judge them on a personal level. The humorous aspect comes into play regarding how much drama a group of so called professionals are dealing with all this drama, it kind of reminds me high school. At the end of this blog I sit back and smile. I know as soon as i post this people will read my blog, decipher every single quote look for any grammar errors I may have. And will try to look for any rhetorical fallacies, contradictory statements, or to see if I did not follow my subject to verb agreement (lol). And trust me there in there. But I would just like to say how the degradation of this county is not just the boards fault, the administrators fault, but it is the fault of every person who claims they care about the education of the children, yet doesn't do any tangible thing to help the cause but gossip, point fingers and blog about there issues. But hey I guess I am on of those people because come May 21st 2011 I'm out this county. So in summation, I just was bored and felt like I needed to express myself for the time being. IF you are reading this and trying to argue I wont reply because I have to get ready for the DOME!!! -CLASS of 2011 ayeee
And the people in North DeKalb are just eating this up. Just by reading there blogs you can smell the condescending attitude towards those who live in in south DeKalb for this is one big excuse to further strengthen there argument of superiority over south DeKalb.
Well, there's that frightful "evil north DeKalb" comment again. Not much to say, except, sorry that you think that way. I'm tired of that old North/South conversation and just don't have the energy to discuss it again. I will, however, direct you to the blog post about the proliferation of charter and theme schools in south DeKalb that pull hundreds of students from their very own neighborhood schools in the south, forcing a decision to "consolidate" and close some of them (leaving those children "behind" - but what do you care - your kid got a transfer!)
If you can crack an open mind, read about it here -
North vs Central vs South - what's the deal?
Secondly, if you knew who some of the posters were on this blog, you would be shocked at the level of participation in the "system" our regular posters have had - as well as the changes they have worked to implement in the past. There are some true insiders and change-makers who participate in these conversations. You really don't know who posts comments here... and shouldn't assume you do. (We all know what happens when you do that.)
@ DeKalb County Seniors
I am embarrassed to read what you wrote. Your parents and teachers should be embarrassed. You should be embarrassed, too. You have been raped and robbed by DCSS. And, you don't even know it.
Poor grammar, incorrect usage, spelling errors, an inability to develop a paragraph. It is hard to grasp your thoughts because they are not clearly and coherently stated and the errors you make repeatedly are glaring and distracting.
While you are pointing the finger of blame, take a good look at yourself in the mirror. You would know how to write correctly if you would just read. The opportunity to read and to learn is everywhere. When was the last time you were in a public library and actually checked out a book or two?
Nice try at the racist angle, kid. If you are African-American, you have been robbed and raped by the very people you excuse for "just trying to benefit themselves." They are exhibiting the very worst kind of racism -- stealth, hidden -- masked by their own self-hatred.
Good luck to you! You are going to need every bit you can possibly get your hands on. Get a new attitude, too.
On the contrary, I think DeKalb Senior is a very thoughtful writer with well-stated points. I am happy to debate this level of thinker. True to teenaged and early years thinking though, most ideas are still very black and white (not literally, but in a concrete sense -- as in, there are no gray areas). But I'm pleased that a young person has bothered to share his or her thoughts with us here. I truly hope that this young person digs a little deeper though and realizes that yes, our current leaders, no matter their skin color or geographic location, have robbed tens of thousands of students of a quality education - and now choose to place the onus of blame on the teachers - teachers who have done all they could in light of the fact that money was flying out the back door while they watched helplessly with their hands tied. ALL DeKalb Seniors owe everything you have learned in DCSS solely to the classroom teachers who have taught you along the way - in spite of the hurdles tossed before them by our very greedy and destructive administration. I hope you'll take a minute to thank them -- and another minute to turn around and offer a hand up to someone coming along behind you in need of your support.
And really, if you truly are a student - I appreciate your participation in our conversation!
DeKalb Senior of 2011! I'm sad you think those of us in the north are snickering at you guys in the south.
I'm with Cere, check out her post/link. We're not here gossiping, we're here trying to converse about how to change the current system. There have been plenty of whites and blacks taking advantage of the TAXPAYERS of DeKalb for too long. Look, you'll understand what it means to be a taxpayer soon enough. When you see OUR school system rot like it has for so long it frustrates all of us. We're here on this blog trying to make a difference and share our experiences. So many here have been so abused verbally by the past and present leaders of DCSS, all we want is for DCSS to take a new direction. I feel the only way to do that is to hire outsiders, people with no strings to DeKalb.
Our BOE needs to start there. That's why we're working on getting new folks onto the BOE. The incumbents have been on too long and are part of the problem. Good luck after graduation, I hope your DCSS education gets you into a good school.
Sure you might have had some odd grammatical faux pas, but you made some very valid points. However, this is not about North vs. South DeKalb, this is about taking OUR school system back and making it better for ALL!
@ Anonymous 11:45
"We certainly spend a lot of money on Service personnel - they out number teachers. Why can't our students have clean, dust free environments? That is a huge problem. "
Indeed they outnumber teachers:
Central Office: 1230
Teachers: 6,500
Support: 7,300
This is benefits in addition to salary for 7,300 employees. How much could we save in benefits if we began to out source these functions? MIS is a department that really needs to have parts of it outsourced. HVAC is another one. Professional Learning is another. The customer service would no doubt get better as well.
"These incidents that you claim are not Beasley's problem, really are, as they impact instruction just as much as teacher quality. If he doesn't care about these things or won't help teachers to improve the experience in the classroom"
wrong-bad logic-did you graduate from DCSS? None of the people Beasley supervises can do anything about the AC. He could send the music coordinator or the math cordinator to fix it or could he? Who ever said he didn't care? Support services report to Mosley and Mosley reports to the superintendent. No one knows if Beasley has or hasn't complained about anything. His job is instruction. The instructinal facilities are someone else's. Actually a well ordered school begin with an effective principal the only person other than the superintendent who is rsponsible for both the facility and instruction. Maybe beasley caused the oil spill and the housing bubble
@ Anonymous 3:32 pm
"No one knows if Beasley has or hasn't complained about anything. His job is instruction. The instructinal facilities are someone else's. "
When I was a teacher, my room was always spotless. If I was in a school where the custodians didn't do their job and the principal didn't rectify the problem, I cleaned it. I made sure everything was arranged so that my kids were safe. When we didn't have heat, I insisted that we move to the Media Center. I knew then and know now that the environment must be safe and clean for students to maximize learning.
Dr. Beasley knows this or should know this. It is his responsibility to make sure Ms. Tyson understands this. The Instructional coordinators used to come out and ask us to put sofas and soft lighting in our rooms (many hours of brain based training on that). There are classes on how to arrange your room for cooperative learning. Of course, instructional leaders know about how the classroom environment can make or break a class of children.
To say that instruction is as good in a crowded, dirty classroom as a clean one where students can move around is simply not true, and any instructional leader that would say that is clearly knows nothing about instruction. Ms. Tyson has little experience in the classroom (2 years as a business ed teacher in the 1980s). Who else will tell her how much the environment impacts learning and what the ideal environment needs to be for our kids?
Dr. Beasley should be expressing his concerns to Ms. Tyson about overcrowded classes, lack of AC and textbooks, or anything that impacts instruction. After all, if our students don't succeed, it's clearly on his shoulders. Do you really think the Service Center or the principals will tell her? The principals would lose their jobs if they went to her directly (per her instructions).
@ Anonymous 3:32 pm
"His job is instruction. The instructinal facilities are someone else's. "
Then as one of Ms. Tyson's few direct reports he needs to tell her that instruction is dependent on the instructional facilities. Dr. Beasley must get Ms. Tyson to improve the instructional facilities or he will fail at his job of instruction.
I can't wait for the day to come when I can leave DeKalb. Dr. Beasley, you were the last straw for a lot of people. The irony is you will probably get a plaque or something for all of the damage you have caused this school system.
Responding to an anonymous post "He (Beasley) is requesting that we pre and post test students. He is requesting that we make instructional decisions based on this. He is requesting that we post grades on a regular basis. He is requesting that we use or planning period for planning.
He is requesting that we have information concerning their learning styles." That is all well and good but at my school we have meetings during our so-called planning periods. The meetings consist of a)the principal telling us that "they" are trying to get rid of people so we'd better be doing what Dr. Beasley has directed; b) us doing mounds of paperwork, including data (eventhough I barely got to know my students; c)sexual harrassment video, code of ethics video...a joke, Tyson talking, etc. d) power standards (2 meetings). Meanwhile, we haven't had time to collaborate as a grade level, and we haven't had time to figure out the new reading series.
we also heard that he won't even tell his people what schools to visit until the morning of because his people are friends of teachers and might let the word slip. Don't worry Beasley, as soon as anyyone from the county steps in the drive way, word spreads like a wild fire, we don't trust you either
Under Dr. Beasley Columbia High School DID NOT MAKE AYP so naturally Ms. Tyson picked him to head up instruction - LOL - only in DeKalb Schools!
That may be true, however, this is what his website says about him:
Mr. Beasley heard about Stephenson High School in DeKalb County Schools in DeKalb County, Georgia. Eager to move to the Atlanta, Georgia area, Dr. Beasley decided to apply for the Principalship at DeKalb County's largest school. The interviewing panel was impressed with his candid approach, ideas for improvement, and the sharing of proven strategies utilized at other schools where he has worked. They recommended Mr. Beasley as the top candidate for the Principalship at Stephenson High School. Upon being offered the position, Dr. Beasley accepted the appointment and so began his journey in the DeKalb County School System. He served as Principal and Chief Learning Officer of Stephenson High for five years. As Principal, he led the school to increased test scores, increased parental involvement, improved school morale, improved school safety, a sense of community, improved rigor, relevance and relationships. He shares his educational experiences and strategies for securing sustained and phenomenal improvement in his first book titled:
A Passion for Improving Schools:
Twelve Keys for Achieving and Sustaining Phenomenal School Improvement.
His tenure at Stevenson may have raised test scores, but the school did not meet AYP. One can use data to make themselves look good. The guy likes data and knows how to use it to make himself look good.
Too bad Ms. Tyson and the BOE did not take a closer look at Dr. Beasley. It would have been better for our students. I've never heard of sending in people to "sneak up" on teachers making them do the "Beasley Alert".
regarding Beasley using the word "use the data" for personal gain, I think you need to say, "manipulate data for personal gain.." There fixed that for you..
Move this post back to the front page. Dr. Beasley is out of control should be your top story.
"Move this post back to the front page. Dr. Beasley is out of control should be your top story."
This blog is primarily for the concerns of parents. Teacher concerns such as yours are not burning issues even if negatively affect children/students.
Dr. Beasley is not overloading them with useless paperwork; he is beating teachers down.
@ Anonymous 6:42 AM
I could not tell if your comment about teachers not being welcome on this blog was tongue-in-cheek. In case you were serious, let me be the first to say that teachers and their concerns are most certainly welcome on this blog!
Our teachers are the most important part of this school system. Yet, as far as DCSS is concerned they are little more than slaves, to be beaten regularly. Our teachers are the most underpaid, undervalued and disrespected part of DCSS. That MUST change.
Teachers! Keep blogging here. Help us to help you by telling us everything that is happening from your perspective. Parents are marshaling resources and we are going to take back our schools from the overpaid, under-talented folks who have destroyed DCSS in their quest to line their own pockets with ill-gotten gains.
"The Instructional coordinators used to come out and ask us to put sofas and soft lighting in our rooms (many hours of brain based training on that)."
Sorry, the Fire Marshall screwed everyone on this one. Our elementary school was ordered to remove anything flammable (that hadn't been specifically ordered through DCSS and proven to be fire retardant), so teachers and librarians had to throw out couch after couch, rug after rug, pillow after pillow. I know, I personally went to the fire marshall to request a "stay" for a couch set in our Media Center that the PTA had just spent $900 recovering. Nope.
Never could understand how we got to keep the flammable books and the flammable children!
Where is the fire marshall when too many kids are packed into a class? I shudder to think that many of our science classes are just accidents waiting to happen if labs are performed. The DCSS administration should not be made to do the right think. They should be looking at doing the right thing for students on their own. Sending half of the instructional coaches and coordinators into schools as teachers to directly instruct students would help our children. Let the remaining coaches and coordinators take on some extra responsibility (i.e. two or even three schools like the Gifted and ESOL teachers do now). A rebalancing of personnel is in order. The only consideration should be what is best for our kids.
Write your BOE members and Ms. Tyson to request that a substantial percentage of non-teaching employees with certificates should be deployed into DCSS classrooms.
No Duh,
We have had the same problem with Fire Marshalls at my children's schools. What is most frustrating is the fact that something has been there years and the new fire marshall says it has to go, when for the last 10 years it has to go.
Because of how round and round we have been on this issue, I do know why books are ok and the furniture might not be. It has to do with fumes, there are certain fabrics that if burned will emit dangerous fumes. Paper doesn't do that.
But it is beyond ridiculous.
My concern with as many kids as DCSS has packed into classrooms is how fast could the building be evacuated in case of a fire? I know fire drills are timed. I would be interested in seeing if the response time on fire drills has gone down as the DCSS administration and the BOE have increased the class sizes. Is there a website that has the fire drill response time numbers for schools? Or is that "non-publishable"?
Are you people serious? It has not been too long since there was NO class size limits in DCSS or the State of Georgia.
@ anonymous 11:41
"Are you people serious? It has not been too long since there was NO class size limits in DCSS or the State of Georgia'
You statement is simply not true. I started teaching the 4th grade in 1972 at Jim Cherry Elementary School, (that's almost 40 years ago) and my class size limit was 33. When we got to 34, we had to get another teacher. I believe high school was capped at 35. 40 years seems like quite a long time to have class sizes to me.
Having the teachers comment is great. They are on the front lines and tell we paying spectators (taxpayers) how the brass (administration) is really fighting the war ( letting some money trickle down to educate the students after refurbishing the officers club).
Has anyone heard Beasley speak on the DCSS Instructional Framework? He is speaking tomorrow night at Dunwoody Elementary. I am debating whether or not to attend.
Word is that Beasley told the INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES to continue to enforce the benchmark assessments every 4.5 weeks event though he sent out that News Flash telling administrators to discontinue all aspects of the benchmark process. Double talk? Lies? The right hand doesn't know what the left is doing?
What a joke.
Also, Angela Pringle, Principal of Arabia Mountain, is reported to be Ralph Simpson's replacement as Area Director. Is it true?
Well, Dr. Beasley taught high school math for 3 1/2 years in the mid-90s (with no teaching certificate) so I'm sure he's an expert on elementary school education.
Honestly, where do they find these people who taught so many years ago for a few years I reference Ramona Tyson who taught Business Ed for 2 years in the late 80s). Long on ambition, short on experience. Ms. Tyson and Dr. Beasley have 5 1/2 years of teaching experience between them - and that was 15 and 20 years ago. Does anyone really have confidence that they understand the resources and support the students need?
I'm not being mean. They are very amiable people (they are politicians after all). But results are not their forte. Look at MIS that Ms. Tyson ran for so many years and look at the Instruction Department of Port Arthur School District that Dr. Beasley ran.
If the rumor to replace Pringle with Simpson's job is true, I will continue to shake my head. Arabia has only been open for a year. We need people with more experience in these top positions.
We keep hiring people with too little experience and wonder why our schools aren't getting better. Duh!!!!!!!!
"Word is that Beasley told the INSTRUCTIONAL COACHES to continue to enforce the benchmark assessments every 4.5 weeks event though he sent out that News Flash telling administrators to discontinue all aspects of the benchmark process. "
Ask you child if they are taking the benchmark test every month. Then post that here. It's getting harder and harder for them to hide.
I rmember when no one could believe that Angela Pringle got the Arabia Mountain job. LOL - she's now been promoted!
Why didn't they divide Simpson's schools among the existing Area Superintendents and not replace him? Save some money for the taxpayers.
It sounds like this was a good opportunity to reward someone with a promotion. And that's how it's done in DCSS.
Anon 9:50 Not replacing the Simpson, would save the district money, and come on now, we all know how our board likes to spend, spend, spend. They don't care what it's on, or if the people are even qualified. Bring it up for a vote and it will pass.
It passed. Pringle was promoted to Area Assistant Superintendent at this evening's board meeting.
And Mc Chesney wonders why I feel everything the board votes on is a done deal?
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