tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post374725617303615102..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: Triage! That's what they're calling the plan to improve test scores.Cerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-54525020353384235582011-08-09T18:37:05.042-04:002011-08-09T18:37:05.042-04:00Found this in Education Week - about New York Stat...Found this in Education Week - about New York State's alternative certification programs. Don't know my opinion yet (I process slowly), but interesting to read.<br /><br />http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2011/08/05/37ny.h30.html?tkn=TLZF88cN4R%2FuXsrwnN1dXlHYDka%2BkUWfcFJ%2F&cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS1Dekalbparenthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16376422781260452873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-81552727681238790582011-07-21T21:52:17.582-04:002011-07-21T21:52:17.582-04:00Let's paint the whole picture. Someone asked a...Let's paint the whole picture. Someone asked about Brittany Cunningham helping with the Triage plan. She was Trenton Arnold's Assistant principal at Sequoyah and was promoted when he left. She was only an AP for a few years. In DCSS, there is always a connection... Let's be real.Nishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13379349583369599431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-70162833750258000262011-07-21T21:00:20.578-04:002011-07-21T21:00:20.578-04:00@Rukidding me
You are right about Trenton Arnold....@Rukidding me<br /><br />You are right about Trenton Arnold. He was Dr. Rives AP when she was principal at Cedar Grove Middle. When he was principal at Sequoyah, staff were encouraged to go and see his data wall. So I guess, he is considered a data expert. Some felt that esol population was successful because they were given every accommodation possible. Now Sequoyah hasn't made ayp. He was given a huge bonus to go and lead Stn Mtn middle but now they haven't made ayp. It was a good time for him to go to county office. Not saying there is a connection, but u asked about a little background on Arnold.Nishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13379349583369599431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-14213566856223187322011-07-19T23:34:29.608-04:002011-07-19T23:34:29.608-04:00Cere,
We'll see what the interim employees do...Cere,<br /><br />We'll see what the interim employees do.<br /><br />Nobody wants ANY horns tooted or self admiration. I sincerely think we ALL, parents and staff, want the best for ALL of the kids, county wide. I say we because 1 year or 1 class does not change what is happening in 60% or more of the schools in DCSS.<br /><br />It comes down to execution and we are NOT making it happen! Get in the classroom and make it happen!<br /><br />I truly believe that DCSS could become a leader in education if we had the right people leading.<br /><br />I truly believe Georgia could remove itself from 48th place in the nation in education if we had the right people leading.<br /><br />I want DCSS to be a model of achievement instead of a national headline of failure. <br /><br />It can be done and needs to be done!<br /><br />With that said, I'm going to sleep and dream of kids in DeKalb getting an exceptional education.<br /><br />Night, night.<br /><br />S7Sagamore 7https://www.blogger.com/profile/06152206779671223406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-17888490871895138312011-07-19T23:20:04.869-04:002011-07-19T23:20:04.869-04:00That is awesome good news, Sagamore! I hope that ...That is awesome good news, Sagamore! I hope that Ms. Tyson will take a good hard look at exactly what was done at Sagamore to achieve such fantastic results! I hope the principal and parents will toot their own horns and make sure she knows how they did it!Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-58695452303477739492011-07-19T23:18:16.507-04:002011-07-19T23:18:16.507-04:00ATL,
Thanks for the info regarding our instructio...ATL,<br /><br />Thanks for the info regarding our instructional leaders at DCSS.<br /><br />I saw him last Friday at the Triage meeting and he still does not speak proper English.<br /><br />Watch him use words incorrectly in the video.<br /><br />You are a great resource for this blog and the educational reform movement within DCSS.<br /><br />Keep on fighting the fight!<br /><br />S7Sagamore 7https://www.blogger.com/profile/06152206779671223406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-16072924661887333812011-07-19T23:12:13.378-04:002011-07-19T23:12:13.378-04:00Cere,
From your post that I missed from this week...Cere,<br /><br />From your post that I missed from this weekend asking if the parents had any impact on the kids that needed remediation.<br /><br />Here are the numbers from the CRCT's in math. (Which is the subgroup of our school that did NOT make AYP last year)<br /><br />2010 4th grade math <br />Level 1 / Did not meet expectations / 38 kids<br /><br />2011 5th grade math / Same kids <br />Level 1 / 14 kids<br /><br />That is a 68% reduction in failing kids in just 1 year!!!!!<br /><br />2010 4th grade math <br />Level 2 / Meets Expectations / 41<br /><br />2011 5th grade math<br />Level 2 / 55<br /><br />A 34% increase.<br /><br />2010 4th grade math<br />Level 3 / Exceeds Expectations / 21<br /><br />2011 5th Grade Math / 32<br /><br />A 52% increase.<br /><br />Overall the 2010 class had 100 students in which 38 kids did NOT meet expectations.62% passing.<br /><br />2011, we had 101 kids and 14 did not meet expectations. 86% passing.<br /><br />That is a 39% improvement in one year of active parent participation with these kids. <br /><br />I care soooo much for ALL of these kids that it breaks my heart that we have 1 child that does not meet expectations. But there are some kids who are having a very tough time with LIFE much less 5th grade math. I wish we could do more. I wish DCSS could do more.<br /><br />We have a GREAT faculty and great involved parents. Together we DO make a difference!<br /><br />I will follow these kids to Henderson MS and offer the same kind of support to them in MS, with the blessing of the administration. I did like seeing the outstanding scores from HMS this school year! Way to go Ms. Allen!<br /><br />My wish is that the CO would commit more resources to the classrooms and offer more control at the school level. The adage "One size fits all" does NOT work for this county school system. The principals and the teachers understand what faces them each day in the classroom and know better than anyone else on Mountain Industrial what it takes to remediate these kids.<br /><br />It's late so I apologize in advance for spelling or grammatical errors.<br /><br />Don't give up, don't ever give up on these kids!<br /><br />S7Sagamore 7https://www.blogger.com/profile/06152206779671223406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-32486589195791421182011-07-19T23:07:09.419-04:002011-07-19T23:07:09.419-04:00@ Sagamore 7
His certificate is in administration...@ Sagamore 7<br /><br />His certificate is in administration. He has no teaching certificate in Georgia. Therefore, he is not certified to teach any subject in Georgia. There are employees in DCSS with administration certificates that have never received teaching certificates and have never taught. Most of the upper level administrators - e.g. Tony Hunter, head of MIS, Philandrea Guillory, head of the DCSS TV station, David Guillory, head of transportation, etc. have a SUPPORT PERSONNEL LICENSE. I imagine that allows them to have contracts like certified personnel (i.e. teachers). <br /><br />Ms. Tyson for example has an Educational Leadership and a Business Education certificate so she is a certified teacher as well a being certified in administration:<br />L EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP (P-12) [FLD704] 10/09/1998 06/18/2008 07/01/2008 06/30/2013<br />PBT BUSINESS EDUCATION (6-12) [FLD783] 04/07/1988 06/18/2008 07/01/2008 06/30/2013<br /><br />Dr. Beasley was probably certified as a teacher in Alabama in the 1990s when he taught math for 3 1/2 years. He has never been certified in Georgia or he would have a subject listed or a subject listed and marked through if it had expired. I don't know about Texas where he was also an administrator.<br /><br />It is distressing that he has so little classroom experience so long ago, and yet he is making the instructional decisions for 6,400 teachers and 96,000 students when he would not be allowed to actually teach in Georgia (unless it was on a provisional certificate).<br /><br />But then again, it's DeKalb. The Gifted Coordinator for DeKalb is not certified in Gifted nor has she taught Gifted classes (you cannot teach a Gifted class unless you are certified in Gifted). How can they be when we have many talented Gifted teachers in DeKalb that have 20+ years of experience and also have Ed Leadership degrees?<br /><br />http://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/support/gifted/<br /><br />The Exceptional Child course was made mandatory in the 1970's for all teachers and administrators. This class covers all the exceptional students like Learning Disabled, Gifted, Specific Learning Disability, Attention Deficit Disorder, etc.Gaylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862880288663811743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-64169923781457266572011-07-19T23:01:56.114-04:002011-07-19T23:01:56.114-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Gaylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862880288663811743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-37123067681934932002011-07-19T22:18:12.496-04:002011-07-19T22:18:12.496-04:00ATL,
I just went to the URL for Dr. Beasley and s...ATL,<br /><br />I just went to the URL for Dr. Beasley and saw that he has a current Teachers Certificate for a type "L" license for Educational Leadership (P-12) (FLD 704.<br />His certificate expires on 06/30/2012.<br /><br />Can you explain what this means? I thought you said he's not certified to teach in GA?<br /><br />What does the "Exceptional Child Course" mean?<br /><br />Thank you in advance for your time and explanation.<br /><br />S7Sagamore 7https://www.blogger.com/profile/06152206779671223406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-69966826621902940502011-07-19T19:46:42.012-04:002011-07-19T19:46:42.012-04:00@ Cerebration
Yes. Morcease Beasley:
Head of Cu...@ Cerebration<br /><br />Yes. Morcease Beasley:<br /><br />Head of Curriculum and Instruction - Not certified to teach in Georgia – taught high school math for 3 1/2 years in Birmingham, Alabama. <br /><br />Dr. Morcease Jamar Beasley <br />Certification ID: 615163<br /><br />Exceptional Child Course: Yes<br /><br />EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP (P-12) [FLD704]<br />07/19/2007<br />07/19/2007<br />07/01/2007<br />06/30/2012<br /><br />EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP (P-12) [FLD704]<br />05/15/2003<br />05/15/2003<br />07/01/2002<br />06/30/2007<br /><br />EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP (P-12) [FLD704]<br />08/30/2002<br />08/30/2002<br />07/01/2002<br />06/30/2003<br /><br />https://www.gapsc.com/Certification/Lookup/look_up.aspxGaylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862880288663811743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-49999680762282814242011-07-19T15:07:52.831-04:002011-07-19T15:07:52.831-04:00As far as the Brad Bryant issue goes -- I will say...As far as the Brad Bryant issue goes -- I will say it again - I'm not endorsing the guy one way or another - I really don't know much about him - I'm just saying that as a former member of the state board of education, and having his name tossed in the hat by Fran Millar, don't you think that the governor is essentially offering DCSS the opportunity to "act as if" they made this decision themselves? He's throwing them a bone here to save face. Truly, in a few months, the Gov will appoint Bryant anyway if the board can't find someone (which, I'm betting they won't).Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-28285082570541097612011-07-19T15:05:09.846-04:002011-07-19T15:05:09.846-04:00Looking back, that is a very interesting article. ...Looking back, that is a very interesting article. Two of the people putting forth the Triage plan are mentioned -<br /><br /><i>After a decade in education, Brittany Cunningham who joined the DeKalb School System in 2006 as a mathematics and social studies teacher at Sequoyah Middle School, is now that school’s principal. She was assistant principal for two years at Doraville school before taking the top job. She replaces Trenton Arnold, who moves to Stone Mountain Middle School as principal.<br /><br />Beasley takes over as principal at Columbia High School. He is on his second stint with DeKalb Schools, returning from the Port Arthur, Texas, School District, where he was deputy superintendent for curriculum and instruction and school leadership for the last three years.<br /><br />Prior to that, he was principal at Stephenson High School from 2002 to 2006.<br /><br />"Reed replaces Angela Moton, who moves Lithonia High as principal, succeeding Kerry Stroud, who moves to Cedar Grove Middle School as assistan principal." </i> <br /><br />(You may recall, Moton was given a $10,000 bonus from Lewis for being a "highly effective principal" at Lakeside.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-81588221097329104912011-07-19T14:28:54.665-04:002011-07-19T14:28:54.665-04:00Regarding "smoke and mirrors" that Ms. T...Regarding "smoke and mirrors" that Ms. Tyson and her team are using, Lewis replaced 24 principals for the 2009 - 2010 year. He used this as his "change" that would improve student achievement. Of course, at the same time he cut teacher positions by 275. If that isn't sleight of hand, I don't know what it. He replaced these principals hoping that would deflect criticism of student achievement in DCSS. <br /><br />Of course this didn't help students (quite the contrary), but Lewis thought it would buy him and the "Upper Management" group another year, and taxpayers would give him yet another chance the next year with yet another excuse. <br /><br />This is what this new "same old" Triage plan reminds me of. <br /><br />Read the article in CrossRoads. It's very interesting:<br /><br />http://www.crossroadsnews.com/pages/full_story/push?article-New+principals+will+greet+parents+and+students+at++two+dozen+DeKalb+Schools+for+2009-2010+year%20&id=2980194-New+principals+will+greet+parents+and+students+at++two+dozen+DeKalb+Schools+for+2009-2010+year&instance=home_Gaylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862880288663811743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-11862937618281997872011-07-19T14:04:09.143-04:002011-07-19T14:04:09.143-04:00@ Cerebration
I don't think Mr. Bryant would ...@ Cerebration<br /><br />I don't think Mr. Bryant would get rid of the Lewis Group. Perhaps he would place them in lesser positions where they cannot do as much damage to student progress considering they have set in place failed/failing educational policies, procedures, and practices and show no sign of change. <br /><br />The Lewis Group members are not guaranteed their positions, but their contracts do guarantee them due process - similar to the 176 out of 178 educators in APS who were granted contracts and are now going through due process. <br /><br />Ms. Tyson did not have to hand all of "Upper Management" contracts, especially in light of the fact that their decisions did not prove efficacious for students. But when she extended this failing group contracts, she chose to obligate DCSS taxpayers to a managerial group that has produced a negative ROI and are now entitled to due process if a new manger comes in and wants to "clean house". <br /><br />Ms. Tyson has not let go of a single Lewis Group member resulting in student achievement tanking even further this past year, and now she has ensured that students endure more of the same. We are stuck with them as employees for another year, but she has no obligation to keep them in their current positions. While she and the Lewis Group mark time, students will be paying the price, and of course, mainly this will be struggling students who will fall behind even further. <br /><br />Johnny Brown also inherited a Central Office staff with contracts already in place. He sent many Central Office people back out to the schools into schoolhouse positions. They went from Coordinators in the Central Office to Assistant Principals. <br /><br />There are always positions in the schools since the schoolhouse has such a high attrition rate. Of course, that's one of Dr. Brown's actions that caused so many in the DCSS Central Office administration to dislike him intensely and most certainly hastened the end of his tenure. Ms. Tyson was around then so she must have seen how the DCSS "Upper Management" group will fight for their positions to stay intact. <br /><br />The question is:<br />Would Mr. Bryant make the hard decisions regarding managers who have made decisions that have proven so detrimental to students?Gaylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862880288663811743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-40733816218315430732011-07-19T12:26:43.305-04:002011-07-19T12:26:43.305-04:00Some members of the board have manipulated and sab...Some members of the board have manipulated and sabotaged this process so badly that I just don't think they can find their way back without a SACS or State intervention.<br /><br />I will remind you of Zepora's very bold rant on the subject, including her highly biased opinion of a candidate the board was talking with, but had not entered even a straw vote. Zepora was not privy to any of this information, yet she had extensive knowledge. How? Why? <br /><br /><a href="http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2011/06/zepora-rant.html" rel="nofollow">Zepora: The Rant</a>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-15725888153612662942011-07-19T11:58:28.866-04:002011-07-19T11:58:28.866-04:00@Nameless, here's the thing. There are no oth...@Nameless, here's the thing. There are no other viable candidates on the table. They can't seem to garner enough votes to hire Dr. Robert Duron. School is starting, therefore, most other candidates will have signed contracts and won't be interested in applying. The summer was the window they had to find a new super - and that window is now closing. Soon, the SACS deadline will be here and they will put us on some kind of probation, allowing the Governor to intervene. Guess who the Gov will surely appoint as superintendent? Brad Bryant. The board clearly has a choice. Hire Brad now, as you're most likely going to get him anyway in October, or hire Dr. Duron - who, in my opinion, is very highly qualified. Also, in my opinion, those against him should check deep within themselves and deal with their own (even admitted) racial bias. I have found these superintendent searches, negotiations, leaks and sabotaging to be the most ugly, racially-motivated nonsense I've witnessed to date from this school system.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-88928777668390065202011-07-19T06:04:53.090-04:002011-07-19T06:04:53.090-04:00I've read the article, viewed the video, and h...I've read the article, viewed the video, and have read all the blog comments. I've spoken with other blog readers and writers. DCSS needs to make changes that are going to work. Changes proven to be effective: lowering teacher pupil ratio; making time for true collaboration with peers; making time for effective intervention planning and implementation; and making time for designing and implementing authentic assessments. Changes that, historically, have not worked: demanding more "busywork" from teachers; monitoring ineffective teachers without them making significant changes; continuing to support school based administrative and district level staff that are not effective with improving student achievement. Another change that will work: common core standards-a move away from multiple-choice assessments to real learning with authentic assessments. We are doing our students an injustice by accepting "meets" on multiple-choice tests. DCSS at risk students in some schools walk across the stage at Honors Day and receive AB Honor Roll certificates, yet only get 56% of the questions correct on CRCT test in the spring. The teacher doesn't complete a Level 1 plan because the student is doing well, earning A's and B's. It is my argument, however, that the teacher failed the student. The student is not doing well. The student, in fact, did not earn A's and B's, but was given A's and B's. That is the "APS" mentality. That is what needs to change in DCSS. Earned grades need to match authentic assessment scores. GPS is supposed to be a mastery of standards. Many of our students have not been mastering standards. Schools have worried about making AYP. Students will say to each other, "I made a 797, missed it by one question; my mom says I'm not going to summer school and I will be going to middle school." Parent is informed that student missed a passing score by one question, but missed 23 questions in all. Parent has a different attitude and sends student to summer school with a focus on learning material for all 23 missed questions. However, this discussion is not held with every parent. Communication with all stakeholders is a key to improving student achievement. Our students, our children, need our help! They need us to fight for them, fight for a true education, fight for their future.Passionate...https://www.blogger.com/profile/07428539988625033252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-64949548266174866622011-07-18T23:32:34.702-04:002011-07-18T23:32:34.702-04:00Please say no to Brad Bryant! He had his own vers...Please say no to Brad Bryant! He had his own version of the friends and family plan when he was on the DCSS board!Nameless Celebrityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03975780154948584637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-39086399622930484952011-07-18T21:52:24.146-04:002011-07-18T21:52:24.146-04:00And about the book --
Despite the best efforts of...And about the book --<br /><br /><i>Despite the best efforts of educators, our nation’s schools are dangerously obsolete. Instead of teaching students to be critical thinkers and problem-solvers, we are asking them to memorize facts for multiple choice tests. This problem isn’t limited to low-income school districts: even our top schools aren’t teaching or testing the skills that matter most in the global knowledge economy. Our teens leave school equipped to work only in the kinds of jobs that are fast disappearing from the American economy. Meanwhile, young adults in India and China are competing with our students for the most sought-after careers around the world.<br />Education expert Tony Wagner has conducted scores of interviews with business leaders and observed hundreds of classes in some of the nation’s most highly regarded public schools. He discovered a profound disconnect between what potential employers are looking for in young people today (critical thinking skills, creativity, and effective communication) and what our schools are providing (passive learning environments and uninspired lesson plans that focus on test preparation and reward memorization).<br /><br />He explains how every American can work to overhaul our education system, and he shows us examples of dramatically different schools that teach all students new skills. In addition, through interviews with college graduates and people who work with them, Wagner discovers how teachers, parents, and employers can motivate the “net” generation to excellence.</i>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-22082326827347466692011-07-18T21:45:03.877-04:002011-07-18T21:45:03.877-04:00They really think about teachers as scientists and...<i>They really think about teachers as scientists and the classrooms are their laboratories. So, as I mentioned -- every teacher has to have a masters degree, and it's a content degree where they're not just taking silly courses on education theory and history. They're taking content courses that enable them to bring a higher level of intellectual preparation into the classroom. That's the first point.<br /><br />The second point is that they've defined professionalism as working more collaboratively. They give their teachers time in the school day and in the school week to work with each other, to continuously improve their curriculum and their lessons. We have a 19th century level of professionalism here, or worse, it's medieval. A teacher works alone all day, everyday, and isolation is the enemy of improvement and innovation, which is something the Finns figured out a long time ago. Get the teachers out of their isolated circumstances and give them time to work together.</i>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-4430590151194802142011-07-18T21:44:12.669-04:002011-07-18T21:44:12.669-04:00Below is a link we were sent by a reader - it is a...Below is a link we were sent by a reader - it is an interview about a new documentary on Finland's education system. Guess how they managed to become the "premier" school system of the world? By completely transforming the preparation and selection of future teachers and ditching high stakes tests!!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.salon.com/life/education/index.html?story=/news/david_sirota/2011/07/18/tony_wagner_finland" rel="nofollow">How Finland became an education leader</a><br /><br />Order a copy of the documentary that takes an in-depth look at Finland's education system here -<br /><br /><a href="http://www.2mminutes.com/products/pc/viewPrd.asp?idProduct=22" rel="nofollow">The Finland Phenomenon</a><br /><br />Or buy this book -<br /><br /><a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Global-Achievement-Gap/Tony-Wagner/e/9780786731749?r=1&afsrc=1" rel="nofollow">The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don't Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need - and What We Can Do About It</a>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-24239565663642549042011-07-18T14:13:47.646-04:002011-07-18T14:13:47.646-04:00Been on vacation. I come home to this. I watched...Been on vacation. I come home to this. I watched the video and cried. Do they pull out the same video every Summer?<br /><br />I have lost all respect for Tyson. Last year, she promised change. We have none. It's as if Clew never left!<br /><br />Berry and her Office of Improvement, failed, yet here she is with the same plan but with MORE people. An extra layer! Are former board member, Francis Edward's grand kids, getting old enough to hold jobs now?<br /><br />Dad First, I have had a plan for over a year. Find a new Super and start from scratch. What's wrong with that plan?<br /><br />Robert Moseley and Operations. how does this guy run the system's physical plant and operations and NOT know that Pope and Clew are up to no good? Moseley if you were doing your job, you would have noticed this nefarious stuff early on and maybe blew a whistle on it. But of course, you were probably in on it. So for you the status quo is all good.<br /><br />Beasley is a waste of my time. When the new Super is here, Dr. B will be gone, I hope. <br /><br />DadFirst I have a plan. FIRE 50% of the "Up here" Palace staff. put that money to get teachers, tutors, and Para's. Simple isn't it?<br /><br />Instead we get a powerpoint that shows much of the same, slickly written and shows no true promise in the current leadership.<br /><br />I am laser-ed focus on cleaning out the Palace of everyone that was hired by Crawford Lewis, Pat Pope, Ramona Tyson and Robert Moseley. Everyone should be shown the door. This presentation is an embarrassment to the taxpayers and OUR 1.2 Billion dollar plus expenditure that is, simply put, a FAILURE! <br /><br />Where are the words "direct instruction" in this presentation?Atlanta Media Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16934015425859698186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-77928869992492071272011-07-18T14:03:07.279-04:002011-07-18T14:03:07.279-04:00@Stnuocca
I have to disagree.
If we gave up al...@Stnuocca<br /><br />I have to disagree. <br /><br />If we gave up all standards of measurement, we would have an "Upper Administration" that is accountable to no one. Do not for one moment think that they will dismantle the vast army of non-teaching admin and support personnel (8,500+ compared to 6,400 teachers). <br /><br />Viewing student performance is NOT going to go away. Even when there was no AYP, the newspaper routinely published ITBS scores and prospective homebuyers bought according to the test scores. <br /><br />DCSS has students in high school that cannot read or compute on the most basic level. Some of our elementary, middle and high schools have a great many students that cannot read or compute on the most basic level. We will always have a certain percent of students that are not on grade level, but in DCSS we have a greater percentage of those students than any other metro system with comparable demographics. <br /><br />Our teachers, students and parents are no different than COMPARABLE systems, so the logical conclusion is that the policies and procedures our classroom operate under is responsible. The administration sets those policies, practices and procedures, not students, teachers or parents. <br /><br />Look at a few of the policies and practices that the DCSS administration has put in place that have proven detrimental to our students:<br /><br />Out of every 5 employees certified to teach, 4 teach and 1 does not. Only DCSS and APS have these kinds of Teacher to Staff ratios.<br /><br />The DCSS budget for science supplies and equipment was around 50 cents per child last year. Science is a supply and equipment intensive subject. Ms. Tyson and Dr. Beasley spoke repeatedly of engaged teaching. Student "engagement" is not promoted with a science budget like this.<br /><br />DCSS has bought expensive and ineffective scripted learning programs (High Schools That Work, Springboard, America's Choice, etc.) rather than investing that money into direct instruction for students. There has been no student progress accountability for these tens of millions of dollars. <br /><br />Cutting teaching positions has been the primary way Dr. Lewis's administration addressed budgetary issues and funded those 8,500 non-teaching positions. The same "Upper Management" is still in place, and cutting teaching positions is how they are still addressing budgetary concerns.<br /><br />Technology purchases have been routinely made that don't work for teachers or students. Non-working equipment, software that doesn't deliver the benefits promised, and student access that is among the lowest in the metro area have what we have gotten for the literally hundreds of millions taxpayers have poured into technology.<br /><br />Non-teaching trainers and coaches with scant classroom experience (and in some instances no classroom experience) have not only been hired, their numbers have been increased over and over while direct instruction has been decreased.<br /><br />Increased paperwork requirements that drain instructional and planning time have driven many good teachers from our school system and robbed children of valuable instructional time.<br /><br />I'm sure posters can add many other "initiatives" from "Upper Management" that have disrupted the learning process. <br /><br />While the current emphasis on standardized test scores is far from perfect, their use underscores what is wrong with the DCSS administration with respect to students and their progress. The DCSS administration is floundering. You only have to view the video of this latest called meeting to see that they offer nothing new.Gaylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07862880288663811743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-35695215789811768992011-07-18T12:43:18.215-04:002011-07-18T12:43:18.215-04:00Dekalb's approach to education reminds me of t...Dekalb's approach to education reminds me of the similarly ridiculous approaches to dieting-buy exercise outfits, secure a gym membership, employ a trainer, purchase necessary magazines and books, inventory all food at home, buy better, lower sugar, less sugar, magic food but ignore the most obvious and necessary action: calorie reduction.<br /><br />I think we need to use the APS cheating scandal-with its national coverage-to incite state and federal legislators to act on the morally and financially corrupt public education systems that are dooming Dekalb county and its citizens.<br /><br />Like Sandy Spruill, I wrote a letter to the AJC editor asking him to fulfill his obligation to give a voice to the “average person” and put forth the same effort in investigating Dekalb County Schools. I provided numerous suggestions from examining degrees, types, and institutions attended for the various sub-superintendents, directors, coordinators, and coaches to the evaluation procedures put in place for these well-paid “educators” as well as the instructional initiatives and policies and professional learning programs and their measured "effectiveness," especially if scores have remained stagnant or plummeted as these policies have continued to be mandated.<br /><br />Whether Ramona Tyson was grandstanding or not, I imagine many policy makers and taxpayers share the same question: "Why aren't we providing more explicit instruction to smaller groups?". <br /><br />Please write the AJC, NYT (which had an article about APS in its Sunday Review yesterday), and CNN. If enough of us teachers (in my case ), parents, taxpayers, and business owners ask the same questions and raise the same concerns, people will have to act.concerned dcs teacherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09515411317112185467noreply@blogger.com