I wrote a few weeks back about the anonymous new IPS teachers blog venting their issues with the district. At that time it wasn't clear whether it would take off or fizzle. It seems like it's well on its way with teachers from a variety of schools, although most appear to be in the secondary division (middle schools and high schools).
It's got interesting conversations going on in the comments sections with a lot of back and forth between teachers. Beware that some of the rumors on there just aren't true -- they're things I've checked out in the past and seen enough evidence to believe they're just false. But there are others that are most certainly true and others that sound sound credible. Plus there's a lot of firsthand accounts of how teachers perceive administrators in their buildings.
One longtime IPS teacher wrote me a note the other day to say: "Personally, I think blogs are mainly gossip, but this blog is quite serious. It intends to air a lot of complaints and other information the public needs to know about and that you may find you need to tell the public about. We the people, who are ultimately responsible for the public schools, can't be truly responsible without the facts. ...This blog shows IPS has big problems, not what the IPS PR machine wants us to know."
Monday, July 20, 2009
Read It and Weep
IPS B.S. fans, we got some nice publicity in The Star today. Andy Gammill wrote about us on the Classroom Insider blog. You know the central office is shaking in their boots since they can't control the message here. Keep fighting to get the word out and let the public know what's really going on in their school district.
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Here's hoping Andy finds something worthy of investigation when he reads this blog.
ReplyDeleteHow many Chinese teachers were hired directly by White and Johnson during their trip to the Orient? I'm talking about 'new hires' who will be moving to Indy from China or Taiwan, not Chinese teachers who currently live in the US.
ReplyDeleteThat info must be a matter of public record somewhere in the School Board archives.
Do you know how to search those archives? Go to the board section of the website and there is a search window where you might enter words or names. It will drag up dates with that info mentioned. Good luck. I haven't heard of any people hired from China, or even interviewed.
ReplyDeleteHow about that "Jimmy Hill" from Best Practices Inc. who collected $750,000 in the past two years from IPS? They don't even have a website and there is no information on the web about their business. Could this be a HUGE waste of Title 1 money? I haven't heard ONE THING that the company did for any of the schools it was supposed to have serviced. If you read their job description you see that they promised an individual educational plan for every child identified as needing services. I never saw ANY plan - much less an individual plan for every child.
Is anyone interested in investigating this - or the other issue I read about the guy who was supposed to be responsible for so much at Marshall (I think) and never showed up or did what he was hired to do (supposedly)? Seems to me that this would be an area of interest for investigation since money is such a big issue.
We already know that White did not hire any teachers of Chinese in China. He hired a teacher who was already living in Indianapolis.....what a great vacation he must have had.
ReplyDeleteThis is not specifically about Andy, but about every single news outlet in Indy, they never seem to do any investigations. I'd really like to see an investigation of what was spent to send Kendrick and Bridgewater to California and to bring the two wunderkins to Indy twice, and what was spent to send Dr. White and Dr. Johnson on their China vacation, all of this information is available through the freedom of information act, but I am certainly not going in and request it, remember the hallmark or this administration, vindictive and revengeful.
ReplyDeleteBut they can't torture people who don't work for them, and it would be called INVESTGATIVE reporting and opposed to simply reporting what they are told. Come on guys, you watched 60 minutes at least once. INVESTIGATE
If nothing else, this blog will get the TRUTH out about what is going on in IPS. I have heard about teachers being made to change grades, fudge attendance records and why? Because it is more important what it looks like on paper, than what it actually is! Maybe if the powers-that-be know they are being watched & reported, things will change. I am telling every IPS teacher I know about this so participation can increase.
ReplyDeleteGrade and attendance changes are routinely done is some schools...some for sports reasons and others to massage the stats...........If the IHSAA really knew about some of this, they would sanction IPS!!
ReplyDeleteRe: Greg Abati (from the July 21, 2009 Board Briefing Meeting)
ReplyDelete__________________________________________
TOPIC: Request permission to enter into a contract with Gregory Abati, “transitions” G. Abati, Inc. to provide professional consulting services in the areas of behavior and discipline to the following schools: 14,15,27,31,34,39,42,43,44,49,51,54,60,61,83,93,99,103,367,418,420,421,422,
424, 495,501, and 572.
Background Information:
Gregory G. Abati, dba, “Transitions” G. Abati, Inc. is a retired Specialist for Behavior and Discipline for the Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Kentucky. He has been a classroom teacher for emotionally and behaviorally disabled students, the Coordinator of Project Endure, which is a federally funded truancy prevention program, and the Coordinator of the Positive Outreach Program. He is a certified instructor in Safe Crisis Management, and a former instructor at the University of Louisville in Effective Behavior Management.
Administrative Consideration:
In an attempt to increase ISTEP scores to reach AYP the goals of the activities provided by Mr. Abati include:
Lessen disciplinary actions that result in students being removed from the classroom setting
Improve the classroom and school environment so that instruction can take place.
Introduce and help implement a “Systems Approach to Effective Behavior Management”, a process designed to improve student behavior in a variety of school and classroom settings.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners approve entering into a contract with “Transitions” G. Abati, Inc. to provide consultation to the above mentioned schools 2009-2010 school year. Funding will be provided through Title I. Total contract not to exceed $119,200.
Action Agenda Details
Re: Jimmy Hill (Best Practices, Inc) Info copied from July 1, 2009 Board Briefing Agenda
ReplyDelete____________________________________________
TOPIC: Request permission to enter into a contract with Best Practice Inc (Jimmy Hill), in the amount of $650,000 to provide professional development services to the following schools: 14,15,27,31,34,42,43,44,49,51,54,60,61,83,99,103,367,418,421,424,501,572,
and 716
Background Information:
Best Practices Inc (Jimmy Hill) is an educational consultant group that provides professional development services to schools. Professional development services will be provided in the following areas:
• Assist schools in collecting & analyzing real- time student achievement data.
• Design individual instructional plan for each of the targeted students based on results of the real-time scrimmages.
• Coordinate the work of the school improvement team coaches in supporting teachers in planning and designing critical interventions and the delivery of the two week instructional plans.
• Conduct professional development support sessions at each of the school improvement schools.
• Coordinate with parent liaisons at each school in designing critical parent workshops and parent support packets.
• Support and enhance structured teacher planning time at each school to make it more targeted and effective.
Administrative Consideration:
Best Practices Inc will provide consulting services for schools designed to improve students’ academic achievement.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to enter into a contract with Best Practices Inc (Jimmy Hill) to provide school improvement consulting services during the period of September 2009 through September 2010. Total amount of the contract will not exceed $650,000. Funding will be provided by Title I.
Action Agenda Details
Readers of this blog should read an important new book, So Much Reform, So Little Change, by Charles Payne. (I've only read part but so far it rings very true to what I've seen.) It is important to speak the truth about abuses of power, corruption, and incompetence. But it's also important to recognize how complex the problems are and how deeply intertwined are the sources of failure in urban school districts. I hope that every teacher who writes on this blog will strive for excellence in their teaching, challenging their students but also respecting them, and encouraging their fellow teachers. Criticism of administrators rings truest when the critic has the deepest integrity and passion for education. So also remember what I hope we would all teach students about research and writing: seek credible sources, cite your sources, analyze what you read and hear, examine your own biases and assumptions, think deeply about the issues before jumping to conclusions. So tell the truth about what you have seen first-hand or read; make sure you are not being vindictive or biased yourself; and be willing to acknowledge people's accomplishments and good qualities even when you disagree with them.
ReplyDeleteI am an IPS parent, a university professor who has worked with IPS teachers and schools, and those teachers I know who work hard to grow and who truly care for their students have my highest admiration. Try not to become so bitter and cynical that you no longer serve your students well. Then it's time to move on. Don't let the swampy waters pull you under!
indywritingprof.....you try working for Eugene White and his constant putdowns and pejorative comments re: teachers....day in and day out..He is almost mean spirited, vengeful and intimidating....that breaks the spirit of the best of teachers.
ReplyDeleteAnon 7:43 has copied a new agreement for this year. Previously posted were the two prior years. When you add the amounts for the past three years it adds up to over $1,000,000.00.
ReplyDeleteFor what services? I see the contract agreement, but who is checking to see if any of these things are being done? I would love to go to the schools on last year's list and ask teachers if they felt these were valuable services, and also ask what was done with them to help. Where are the individual instructional plans? This is A LOT of money and the people running the program are raking it all in. What was truly done at these schools by this company? Please tell if you have information. Also, please tell who is overseeing this group to ensure that they are earning over a half million dollars for their work this year and during the past two years.
TUESDAY, JULY 07, 2009
ReplyDeleteHave People Forgotten The Purpose Of A Bonus?
I guess it should come as no surprise to see IPS awarding bonuses to Supt. Eugene White for failure since it has become the norm in the corporate world to reward huge bonuses for utter failure. To the school's credit, it did not raise Supt. White's annual salary of $188,000, which has remained the same for 3 years. The $12,000 in bonuses it awarded him, however, to boost his annual pay to $200,000 are disturbing. The Star's Andy Gammill writes:
The board determined White should receive two of four performance-based bonuses for which he is eligible. One is an automatic $7,000 bonus if more than half of the district's elementary school students pass ISTEP tests, which they did. White did not receive an additional $14,000 in bonuses he would have gotten if middle- and high-schoolers had met the same threshold.
The other $5,000 he received is at the board's discretion, taking into consideration progress toward the board's goals and strategic direction.
"That is based on whether we think the district is moving in the right direction, which we do," School Board President Michael D. Brown said.
Brown said the board is happy with White's performance and that he appreciates the superintendent's leadership in turning down a raise until teachers have one.
Barely getting half of your elementary school students to pass the ISTEP test is hardly an accomplishment worth rewarding. And if the board thinks the school is moving in the right direction, then we have a real problem. Gammill's story notes that the bonuses were slipped into the board's agenda after it had already been posted. Apparently the board didn't want a public discussion of Supt. White's pay like what happened in the blogosphere with the discussion of the pay for the Washington Township school district superintendent recently.
POSTED BY ADVANCE INDIANA AT 6:20 AM
This was copied from the Advance Indiana blog - interesting
$12,000 + $5000 is a $17,000 bonus. I would up $1800 in a raise in exchange for that amount of a bonus especially when I have been a complete utter failure. In additiion, White said he would not accept the raise until the teachers had a contract so he will get that raise eventually. Dont forget his $1200 a month in car and gas allowance and his outrageous clothing allownace. He also travels all over the world at IPS expense even to China to hire a teacher of Chinese and then hired someone living in Indianapolis for the position.
ReplyDeleteThe over/under program is what allowed Dr.White to achieve his goal and get his bonus, it was a slight of hand, he moved the low performing students in elementary schools to community high schools (think John Marshall/Arlington/Washington)
ReplyDeleteBenjamin Disraeli said "There are three types of lies, lies, damn lies and statistics" Now we see how the manipulation of statistics hurt students and taxpayers, who have paid a bonus to a con-man.
The elementary schools have always done well. Look back at IDOE stats for the past few years. The one year IPS made AYP as a system it was because of the elementary schools only. Not one middle or high school made AYP, but the elementary school scores were high enough to carry the entire system. White got credit for that too. Schools that do well are not successful because of anything central office does - more like in spite of them. Why does the board not give credit to the teachers? They're the ones who work with the students. They certainly blame the teachers when failure occurs, and then congratulate and reward White when there is success. Does that make sense?
ReplyDeleteDo you remember CAROLE CRAIG?
ReplyDeleteShe is a retired IPS Chief of Human Resources. She is also the sole employee of her own consulting firm, Craig Leadership Services, LLC which she incorporated in 2007 and which is located in her home at E 67th Court. (Source: http://www.manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_svgfs)
On June 28, 2009, Ms. Craig had her Letter to the Editor (My View) published by the Indy Star.
(Source: http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009906280340)
Her opinion piece outlines the need for more state funding for IPS so that 'services' will not be lost.
The IPS School is now prepared to 'reward' Carole Craig for her public support by awarding her a consulting gig funded by Title I monies.
(Source: IPS Board Briefing Agenda for 7/21/09)
___________________________________________
5.29 Permission to Enter into a Contract with Craig Leadership Services, LLC
Meeting: 07/21/2009 Board Breifing Session; 7:00 P.M.
Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business
Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date:
Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date:
Dollar Amount: $12,600.00 Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: Title I
Agenda Item Content
Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles
Dr. Jane Kendrick
Mrs. Minetta Richardson
Strategic Plan: Eliminating Achievement Gaps
Everyone Can Learn
TOPIC: Request permission to enter into a contract with Craig Leadership Services, LLC in the amount not to exceed $12,600 for consultation services to the following schools: 421,508 and 572
Background Information:
Craig Leadership Services, LLC will provide consultation to the above listed schools in the development of positive school cultures that promotes learning at higher levels for the improvement of classroom instruction and student achievement.
Administrative Consideration:
Craig Leadership Services, LLC will provide consulting services in the following targeted areas:
1. Development of school culture and climate that is supportive of student engagement and achievement.
2. Development of school improvement strategies and supports to elevate the achievement of African-American male students.
3. Mentoring secondary principals in instructional supervision.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to enter into a contract with Craig Leadership Services, LLC in the amount not to exceed $12,600 for the 2009-2010 school year to be funded through Title I.
Action Agenda Details
Recommended Action:
____________________________________________
Actually Carole Craig has never financially left IPS. As far back as 2006, her name appears on contracts for services and on payroll claims.
(Source: IPS Board Archives)Search: Carole Craig
_________________________________________
10/24/2006 5.22 Consultant Agreement
11/28/2006 3.01 Approval of Minutes
02/26/2008 6.01 Approval of Claims & Payroll
05/12/2009 6.01 Approval of Claims and Payroll
01/23/2007 6.02 Approval of Claims and Payrolls - December 2006
06/23/2009 6.04 Approval of Claims and Payroll for May 2009
More on who gets the money?
ReplyDeleteIt's relatively simple to reward your friends and cronies with small Title 1 projects. It's always easier if those friends/cronies can hide their names behind a consulting firm's name.
From the 7/21/09 Board Briefing Agenda
5.28 Approval to Contract with MiddWall Consulting Services, Inc.
Meeting: 07/21/2009 Board Breifing Session; 7:00 P.M.
Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business
Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date:
Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date:
Dollar Amount: $15,000.00 Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: Title I
Agenda Item Content
Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles
Minetta Richardson
Strategic Plan: Eliminate Achievement Gaps
TOPIC: Request approval to contract with MiddWall Consulting Services Inc. to provide on-site training and support to parent liaisons at the (64) Title I schools at a cost not to exceed $15,000.
Background Information:
On site professional development, implemented at the building level, will be provided to all parent liaisons at the (64) Title I schools. Professional development activities will include: orientation for new liaisons through out the school year, planning and conducting a workshop, conducting home visits, how to use I.S.T.E.P. results in parent engagement ,recruiting parents for school meetings and activities, networking with community partners and presentation skills.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to sign a contract with MiddWall Consulting Services, to provide on-site professional development to parent liaisons in the (64) Title I Schools at a cost not to exceed $15,000 to be paid from Title I Funds.
Action Agenda Details
Recommended Action:
____________________________________________
MiddWall Consulting is one person, TONY WALLACE, a close friend of Jackie Greenwood.
(http://www.linkedin.com/pub/anthony-wallace-i/8/412/b65)
TONY WALLACE and Jackie began the Security Dad's Program at Arlington years ago. Security Dad's is a volunteer program.
Tony is being 'paid back' to the tune of $15K for being a crony of the right people who manage the Title 1 funds.
Title 1 funds are easily used to reward long-time friends as long as the dollar amounts are kept relatively small.
At least Middwall and Craig Leadership both have a website. Best Practices, Inc. does not have one that I can find, and IPS is giving them over half a million dollars this year. Where can I get information about their company? Where is their office?
ReplyDeleteDo you want to know what is really sad? All this Title 1 money thrown hither and yon at friends and ex-employees, paying all these SES companies, wasting it on " consultants" and most are not taken advantage of by students. I was going to tutor through Princeton Review last year and begged students who REALLY needed the remediation and they refused to stay after school. I think the government needs to look at the excessive waste of money and trim down IPS programs. THEN, I think they need to put some kind of enforcement in place where students who need remediation have to attend. It is amazing, I always hear parents complaining--around report card time and at the end of the school year when failure looms a reality--I wish I could have afforded tutoring.
ReplyDeletePeriodically, I watch the school board meetings and remember very well one of the comissioners offering a challenge to just the blanket dispersment of money until it was determined how successful the programs were. I don't want to say it was Dr. Giles, but it seemed like he offered to provide statistics. I believe the school board member was either Kelly Bentley or Payton ( don't recall his first name.) Does anyone else remember this?
Neither MiddWall Consulting or Craig Leadership, LLC have websites. Their names were referenced in a Google search.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing on Jimmy Hill/Best Practices, Inc. when doing a Google search. There are lots of Jimmy Hill's, but not one has anything to do with educational consulting.
Does anyone know where Jimmy Hill lives? Is he from IN or from out-of-state? Has anyone ever met the man face to face?
Jimmy Hill lives somewhere in the south - in another state. I have met the man and his business partner Michael Suggs (I think name is correct).
ReplyDeleteI did find the other two on the web - one has a website
www.Middwallconsulting.com
www.manta.com (for Carol Craig's bsiness)
I thought she had a website too, but now I can't find it.
I hope Kelly Bentley reads this blog. She'll see that she has been right all along in questioning things on the board. But because she doesn't do research to find out if the administration's answers and reassurances are reliable, they just keep throwing out things to quiet her and continue to do as they always have. She's trying to do the right thing, but the board is blind. They are trusting their superintendent to make good decisions for the school system. Does anyone know her well enough to let her know that this blog is in existence? She might find it interesting.
ReplyDeleteWho is ANN GROOMS?
ReplyDeleteShe must be somebody pretty special because she's about to be awarded a $90K contract from Title 1 money by the School Board. The contract is for working with Assistant Principals and Principals. Now why on Earth is IPS paying an additional $90K for someone to train principals? The justification is from the Strategic Plan "that Everyone Can Learn", even our principals? Aren't they trained and certified when they're hired? Sounds like 'gravy train' time for Ann Grooms. Why doesn't all Title 1 money go DIRECTLY to our students, not indirectly and filtered through the hungry hands of outside consultants?
From the 7/21/09 Board Briefing Agenda
________________________________________
5.37 Permission to Enter into a Contract with Educational Services Institute, Inc.
Meeting: 07/21/2009 Board Breifing Session; 7:00 P.M.
Category: 5. General Superintendent's Recommendations - New Business
Agenda Type: Action Preferred Date:
Fiscal Impact: Yes Absolute Date:
Dollar Amount: $90,000.00 Budgeted: Yes
Budget Source: Title I
Agenda Item Content
Presented By: Dr. Willie Giles
Dr. Jane Kendrick
Dr. Jacquelyn Clency
Mrs. Minetta Richardson
Strategic Plan: Eliminating Achievement Gaps
Everyone Can Learn
TOPIC: Request permission to enter into a contract with Educational Services Institute, Inc., Dr. Ann Grooms, in the amount not to exceed $90,000 for consultation services to the elementary and secondary division.
Background Information:
Educational Services Institute, Inc. is a provider of quality leadership staff development. The institute’s services include working with administrators to develop, organize and engage effective leadership skills and long / short-term planning for the improvement of classroom instruction and student achievement.
Administrative Consideration:
Educational Services Institute, Inc. is providing consulting services for the elementary and secondary in the targeted areas:
1. Leadership development for identified K-12 Assistant principals.
ESI professional mentoring services will focus on the following instructional leadership strands:
Planning and leading effective meetings that focus on student achievement
Providing clear and unambiguous written and oral communication to accelerate academic progress
Facilitating and leading effective teams to achieve desired educational goals
Facilitating and planning for successful community engagement to support student achievement
Developing effective time-management skills that enables consistent focus on student achievement
2.
Development of a Professional Growth Portfolio for 7-12 principals.
ESI professional services focus on the following:
(13) IPS secondary principals are intentionally attending to their individual professional growth in areas of training, continuing education, professional networking, community engagement, professional writing, and professional reading.
ESI will provide mentoring to the (13) principals as they work on the portfolio strands.
***Superintendent’s Recommendation:
I recommend that the Board of School Commissioners authorize the Business Manager to enter into a contract with Educational Services Institute, Inc. in the amount not to exceed $90,000 to provide professional development and guidance to elementary and secondary division administrators for the 2009-2010 school year. Funding will be provided by Title I.
Action Agenda Details
Recommended Action:
ANN GROOMS:
ReplyDeleteDr. Grooms is a total rip-off. She help Dr. White complete his dissertation. If the Indianapolis Star agrees to do a story about this person, I would go on the record say how much this is a rip-off. This person is horrible, by Kendrick loves her.
Story for the typos in the previous email. Trping too fast.
ReplyDeleteTyping too fast. Don't want Central Office to see me.
ReplyDeleteAnn Grooms' name appears in searches in the Cincinnati area. Kendrick did a work stint in that same area after her Anderson (IN) snafu as Superintendent.
ReplyDeleteSomething sounds fishy about using Title 1 funds to pay a consultant who is going to help IPS principals with their portfolio development. Good grief, why can't principals do their own graduate work? Are they so intellectually lacking they are unable to complete their certification process without outside assistance?
Ann Grooms is the person who organized the very first year-round school conference in Arkansas back in 1969, a meeting whose featured speaker from the Kettering Foundation claims in a handwritten letter that he never attended that meeting. Was the keynote speaker at that meeting an impersonator, an imposter, an archangel? Only God knows.
ReplyDeleteAnn Grooms is an icon in the Year Around School movement. She would have public schools taking care of children from sun up to sun down 365 days a year if she had her way.
It takes State Representative John Barlett to talk about Dr. Grooms. Ask him about her. He will have you laughing.
ReplyDeleteanonymous 9:38, be careful, contribute only from home, on a non-ips computer. It is against an IPS policy to ontribute to a blog on school time or with school equipment. It is important to get this information out there, but it is also important to be able to pay your bills.
ReplyDeleteIf Grooms was organizing year-round school meetings way back in 1969, then she must be a senior citizen by now. That was 40 years ago! Why would IPS pay $90,000 to someone who's probably not had a fresh idea in 40 years?
ReplyDeleteAbout how old is this woman?
Here is what Gene has to say about Grooms on her web site
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nayre.org/dr_eugene_white.htm
~~~~Development of a Professional Growth Portfolio for 7-12 principals.
ReplyDeleteESI professional services focus on the following:
(13) IPS secondary principals are intentionally attending to their individual professional growth in areas of training, continuing education, professional networking, community engagement, professional writing, and professional reading.
ESI will provide mentoring to the (13) principals as they work on the portfolio strands. ~~~~
The above is what Grooms is being paid 90K to do for next year --- to spoon feed 13 secondary principals who evidently can't read, can't write, can't make friends in the community, can't network. Is she going to assemble their portfolio strands, also?
Wow, what kind of people are we hiring as principals if they require $90K worth of hand-holding and spoon-feeding from an outside consultant?
Criticizing a person for their age is just as bad as criticizing race and religion.
ReplyDeleteRe: Master Teachers/with the $5K bonus
ReplyDeleteWhat's up with HR filling the 16 master teacher slots for next year?
_______________________________________________
"Has anyone heard if anybody has signed up to be a Master teacher or been asked to be one?"
I was asked nicely by district-level adminstration, but they are getting to the point where they are not asking nicely anymore. A "master teacher" I know in another subject was told he had no choice but to go, even though his classroom is set up and ready to go at another school. I know that my subject area is getting to that point as well. They are beginning to force the people they have identified as "good teachers" to go there. What good will it do to have a building full of unhappy people?
Copied from the April 28, 2009 Board Meeting Approved Minutes
ReplyDelete______________________________________________
COMMISSIONERS’ COMMENTS
Commissioner Brown said he attended the track meets for Arlington and Northwest, and that IPS has some very good athletes.
Commissioner Gore said she attended the Tech production of “Cinderella”, the honors program at Second Presbyterian Church, the parent liaison meeting at Junior Achievement, and the ABCD Awards.
Commissioner Bentley spoke of her two visits to School No. 91 for its service learning project and silent auction. She said she too attended the ABCD Awards, and thanked the IPS Education Foundation for its support. Commissioner Bentley noted that Broad Ripple would be holding its open house the following day.
______________________________________________
That's all, folks. That's all our School Board members had to say at the close of the 4/28/09 meeting.
Absolutely nothing of educational substance is mentioned by these three elected board members. We are in deeper trouble than we thought.
[[[[[Criticizing a person for their age is just as bad as criticizing race and religion.]]]]]
ReplyDeleteOh, get it over it already. IPS has a plethora of staff and consultants that are readily identifiable as being 'over the hill'. We all get old; we all should be prepared for these type comments.
I hope to God that I don't allow my advancing age to keep some younger educators from making their marks, making a good name for themselves, etc.
IPS has too many 'senior citizens' running the show right now. This includes Eugene White, Mary Busch, Jackie Greenwood, Prudence Bridgewaters, Jane Kendricks, Willie Giles, and a whole bunch of other folks who are AARP members.
Hey, there's nothing weird about getting old; it will happen to all of us; but, when the senior citizens hold the 'young folks are are ready' on the back burner, then something's not right.
Really smart senior citizens recognize when it's time to 'hand off the baton' like in a relay race. Really dumb and power-hungry senior citizens don't want to recognize this.
As the kids say,"It is what it is."
You are so right. It is what it is. Prejudice is prejudice. If you are a young teacher as you lead us to believe, then you are not ready to take my place. Your writing is atrocious. Check your facts. The name is Jane Kendrick, not Kendricks. It is Prudence Bridgwaters, not Bridgewaters. I have no idea what you mean by "Hey, there's nothing weird about getting old; it will happen to all of us; but when the senior citizens hold the 'young folks are are ready' on the back burner, then something's not right." Who taught you to use semicolons? Before you post any more of your rants on a public blog and identify yourself as a teacher, please ask an older teacher to proofread it for you.
ReplyDelete"If you are a young teacher as you lead us to believe, then you are not ready to take my place."
ReplyDeleteAs the kids say, "Not!"
Evidently, my experiment worked. I'd always wondered if I could disguise my writing voice and use a pseudo voice in a persuasive manner.
This 60+ year old IPS high school teacher thanks you for validating my experiment.
Here's a novel idea: All this talk about paying teachers merit pay based on students test scores and achievement has got me thinking that maybe we should move to allowing the teachers to decide what their principal makes. I bet a lot of principals would actually do some real work and treat their teachers like human beings if they knew that the teachers had some influence over their evaluations. What is so disheartening to me is that there are so many great young leaders working as teachers in our schools that never even get an interview for some of these administrative openings. I work in a building where a classroom teacher and a music teacher do WAY more than the principal. They run the meetings, they make decisions, while the principal gets a big quiet office, a prime parking space, and fat paycheck. And who is this guy they brought in to replace the amazing Liz Odle? He told his staff that he just came from Merrillville Intermediate School when actually he left that school 2 years ago in 2007. What has he been doing for these years? There are plenty of great young leaders who are currently teachers who missed out on getting an administrative job because of this guy who also seems near retirement himself. Let's allow the teachers to start having some influence over the principal evaluations. Has anyone ever seen how our principals are evaluated? Mostly, all they have to do is put a bunch of papers in a binder from throughout the year and this is their so-called evaluation. It just isn't right.
ReplyDeleteRe;4:45 p.m.--
ReplyDeleteAmen! Many years ago I remember completing a survey on the principal and putting it in a big brown envelope and giving it to the secretary. In the midst of turmoil last school year, we completed a checklist of the administrator and gave it to who---him!! I am talking about the principal himself. I threw mine in the trash after I saw how serioulsy IPS was taking this.