Monday, December 7, 2009

Moving On Up

The last post was about IPS principals who should go, this one is about which ones should be promoted to help run the district instead of the current clowns we have in charge?

74 comments:

  1. This is a really difficult one as the arrogance of Eugene White and his crew has driven many good ones away. One name that comes to mind is Mark West at Meridian Transitional. He is sane and respects teachers, students and parents. He is not on some power trip.

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  2. I can't name anyone because they mostly seem like either spineless or machiavellian bureaucrats. I also don't know that many personally, but have dealt with many tangentially over the years.

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  3. I heard about this site at school. I guess kids aren't the only ones who can pass notes. I can also say some principals read this, it should be all.

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  4. The below copy and paste has to be today's "most insensitive" comment from an IPS principal. ______________________________________________

    "Good job braving the weather. If you have issues, call the school. Please know that today’s snow IS NOT inclement weather. It is “in our climate” for snow to fall; be prepared! Although I love you all, well most of you, you will still be marked tardy."

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  5. WOW, I know what principal said that!!!!!

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  6. A friend who teaches at that school way out on East 38th Street forwarded it to me a while ago. Can you believe the ignorance of any principal putting that message in an email to his entire staff?

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  7. How would you have stated it more sensitively? Or would you not have a tardy policy? I'm not being cute, I just am not sure I understand. (I'm not a teacher, I'm a parent. But this is way friendlier than the memos we get every winter from the large corporation where I work.)

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  8. If I were a principal, I would be happy the staff members arrived safely rather than using scare tactics to cause them to rush foolishly on unsafe roads just to avoid administrative displeasure.

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  9. And even if it was a joke, saying that you love "most" of your staff is rude. It would have been better to omit that whole sentence.

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  10. Karen Hastings

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  11. I see. I agree it would have been more professional to leave out the joke. What happens with students if teachers are tardy, though? It's a pretty big deal to leave classrooms completely unsupervised, isn't it? Or do they have some alternative plan if teachers are tardy?

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  12. Karen Hastings?? Boy I sure hope not. She has "issues" and she calls to the school after hours to check on a certain staff member. Her and Mr. Sullivan are a trip.

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  13. If teachers are running late because of bad roads, then there are always other teachers who cover the classes. Students are not left unsupervised. Fellow teachers pitch in and help out because it could happen to them, too.

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  14. From my dealings with Sullivan, he can be uncompromisingly NASTY at times! You need to ask some of the teachers who have worked with him over the past four years. When they have shared his emails with their past administrators--even the administrators thought he was out of line!!

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  15. Contrary to popular belief, we IPS teachers do care for and love our students. We would not deliberately leave our students unsupervised. Commenters on this blog must also remember that we have our own children. My children's bus was 25 minutes late this morning, and I am not about to leave my little ones on the bus stop alone. Thankfully, I have co-workers (friends) who help me out in those situations.

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  16. Poor Sullivan. He is Captain of a sinking ship. I would be mad if I was called in the middle of the night to take a job that two other people were too scared to take. Gene White put this kid in a bad situation

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  17. Ummm...hello?? Isn't this topic about GOOD principals who deserve to be promoted??

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  18. How can he be a bad principal. There are now less than 300 students at Marshall. Shortridge is dipping below 400........

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  19. True colors of administrators in our district cannot be seen right now. Dr. White has spent to much time bullying for the current ones to truly perform well. Those who did stand up (in most cases ritiously) have been dismissed or left. The good administrators cannot truly show leadership while keeping off Dr. Whites radar to keep their jobs.

    Besides good administrators know that in IPS job posting do not happen anymore. It is about Dr. White's inner circle and friends. Just look at coaching appointments, athletic director appointments, principal appointments, central office appointments etc.

    Human resources and policies on the books for jobs posting is a joke. Not worth the paper they are written on. The school board does not feel the need to stand up to this man are nothing but rubber stanps for this man in the big office.

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  20. From a parent's perspective, Chris Collier at CFI is beyond extraordinary.

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  21. You forgot to mention that if you are a relative of Eugene White that you can have the job you want......even if you are not qualified or ready for the job.

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  22. The message about marking teachers tardy today could not be from Karen Hastings because the post above said it came from a principal. She is not a principal.

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  23. Sharon Heathcock at #67 is a fine principal and has been for many years. What a fine example!

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  24. I agree! Sharon Heathcock is a good woman!

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  25. I taught with Sharon Heathcock ...she was a great teacher and person. My guess is that she is a good principal too. She cares!!

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  26. Since teachers are on contract, how are they affected by being marked tardy?

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  27. At Tech, the principal would never know who is late. In good weather, Bogard usually strolls in about 9 or 9:30....

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  28. I'm afraid to say who is a good principal for fear they will be targeted as weak with their subordinates. This is turning into a system that values a dictatorial approach not collaboration.
    Look for rampant cheating and dishonesty as administrators suborn dishonesty from their staffs.

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  29. you are all pathetic.. Go do your jobs and stay off stupid blogs like this.

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  30. This why do you have your excuse making, name calling ass on this blog if you think it is stupid? I am an adult I will decide which blog I wish to visit. Unlike you, I have a mind of my own. [Is that you, Jane?}

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  31. "you are all pathetic.. Go do your jobs and stay off stupid blogs like this."

    I am a taxpayer. Not a teacher and not an administrator. That is the absolute truth and I am not making up an identity like it appears some administrators do here. I read this blog because I want to be informed about what is being done with public tax money.

    I resent you telling me that I should "stay off stupid blogs like this." I will spend my time reading whatever I find relevant and I don't need you telling me that I am "pathetic" for doing so!

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  32. "suborn" is a new word to me...thanks!

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  33. I'm not the person who posted "suborn" but I recognized it from an old Law & Order episode where I heard the word and in my infinite nerdiness got up from the sofa and immediately looked it up. LOL

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  34. I was also aware of the word through Law and Order. I had only heard it used in terms of suborning perjury but the use of it above is an appropriate usuage. It is also appropriate because principals are working hard to "massage" testing results and situations to cheat!!

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  35. It is Tuesday night. I suggest that you teachers who work at that far East Side school on 38th Street get a head start before midnight so you will not be tardy to school tomorrow.

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  36. There are some dedicated teachers at school 15. I am a parent of a student there and I had a serious issue with my adopted child.

    The principal met with me, let me cry, and introduced me to the team of new teacher. I am at the school all the time and I have never heard him mistreat his teachers and have I never heard the teachers being mean or talking about their kids. The man is always polite even to the kids I hear him getting on in the office sometimes.

    The principal and the teachers were really caring people. I don't know about other schools but I think this man is great and so are his teachers!

    I could tell when I was in a class helping a teacher and I saw the principal reading a story over the TV that this was a really great school.

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  37. LMAO about the " It's Tuesday night..." post!

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  38. There are some great things going on at 15 for sure!

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  39. Speaking of good principals who trust you to do your job, I think that Paula Bias Peterson is a great principal!

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  40. As a newcomer to the world of BLOGS, I say thank you to my fellow coworkers for turning me on to this site. I look forward to entering my opinions, which, most certainly, are ALWAYS right, and I promise to keep out of trouble. As you have for me, I will do for others. Let's get the word out, and remember, there is strength in numbers!!!!!

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  41. School 15 is amazing! Thank you to the parent who posted. As a staff member, I also enjoy Dr. Hunter reading over the TV in the morning. He is fair to us all. It is nice to know that the amazing teaching staff is also noted in your comment. We like to think that we excel at 15 for our children and their parents.

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  42. If 15 is so wonderful, why is it about to be taken over by the state?

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  43. Don't pick on 15! If you check it may very well be the entire district. I think all of the staff there are new or been there only two years if the DOE webpage is correct. Everyone including their principal had to have known and had taken their jobs knowing that it was in very desperate need and it would take years to bring that school out of their current condition.

    What sane person would take a job in a severe school or company and not think they could make a difference? The latest CEO of GM did. He took over GM knowing they had just filed Chapter 11 and fired the last CEO. I guess he thought he could help save the company. That is right their stock just rose up the other day.

    Not only is 15 in desperate conditions most of the IPS schools are. The IDOE web page shows that. All I know is that the earlier post are right. They have one awesome team who are struggling every day to improve their position just like all of the other hard working principals and teachers in IPS. 15's parent just gave a simple snapshot and thank you for all of the many IPS people who work day in and day out to improve their kids at each IPS school.

    The state taking over does not mean that the principal of 15 or 15s teachers or any IPS principal or teacher really is not under the gun. They all are and all of the teachers in IPS are breaking their necks to show everybody the good things each school is doing.

    IPS has GREAT teachers!

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  44. Jennifer Sweeney is the best principal every! Talk about a principal who treats her staff with dignaty, her studants with respect, and her school as a community - I couldn't get any luckier than to work with her! I've worked for a lot of principals - some great, some bad - she is incredible!

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  45. I meant dignity - whoops! Typo!

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  46. and students - what is my problem?

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  47. ever too! Good Lord! Too late at night! But I mean what I say! She is awesome!

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  48. Let's get some positive going here - what do you think? It will make us all feel better! I just heard about this today - let's use it for some good!

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  49. IPS high schools would operate more smoothly and perform better academically if Department Chair positions were returned. Presently, there are no content area experts in each building. No one person has all the content area materials, textbooks, pacing guides, etc. housed in content area rooms in the building. The building administrators cannot handle those type things. Content area materials are scattered throughout the buildings with no real oversight. For example, if I want the adopted TE textbook overheads, it's impossible to locate them.

    Bring back the English, Social Studies, Science, Math, and Elective Department Chair positions, please!

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  50. 15 has a good staff but why does one particular teacher get special privileges and treatment? What does Dr. Hunter think she merits much special attention??????

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  51. To the post above, you keep it up and you will get a lump of coal in your Christmas stocking this year. Goodwill towards men............

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  52. Are you serious? Mark West? As a previous parent, I have witnessed first hand how rude and disrespectful he is. To everybody, staff and students alike. If anything he needs to go.

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  53. Since we are talking about excellent Principals and good IPS schools to teach at...........I am looking to get out of my present IPS elementary school at the end of this school year. Maybe some teachers on this blog can help me out and let me know what IPS school buildings to transfer to and a little about the Principals at these so called "good IPS schools" to teach at....... most good schools I heard are on the westside of town but I need to know building numbers and Principal names. I am in a desperate state to get out of my present school building. Does anyone know if a Special Ed. Teacher is needed at any of these "good IPS school buildings"?

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  54. The whole system is a big game of musical chairs. What may be in place at the end of the school year isn't necessarily what the beginning of the next school year will bring.
    Just stay where you are and let the music begin.

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  55. Thanks for the advice but I can't stand to spend another day let alone another school year in my present school building! I want out NOW!!!!

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  56. Is Dr. White doing all this shuffling to pay off debts before he goes. I mean he obviously is not following district guidelines on posting and interviewing.

    Is a big move before he is on his way himself?

    Just a thought and question. Some of the people being placed obviously would not get the jobs they are being given without his appointment.

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  57. There is a rumor that IPS doesn't plan to pay retiring teachers for years of service and sick days after this year. The claim is that this is in the contract. Can anyone shed any light on this?

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  58. I agree, I've been thinking for some time that he is leaving. The number of people from the ed center who are leaving is telling....Kincaid, Ajabu, Olshin...these are some of his chief lieutenants. Maybe they're getting out while they still can.

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  59. Apparently we are not following the contract anyway since teachers at 15 were told they have to come in during their Christmas vacation and ready their rooms or be written up.

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  60. Any teacher at #15 who is foolish enough to go into work during Christmas break deserves what he/she gets. We are adults. Get a backbone.

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  61. Now that is an out right lie! If you check the record they have bent over backwards to get district support to help with packing for this entire week. Check the record before you write what you don't know!

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  62. Sweety... lets clear up any confusion. You are referring to the packing for this week and next. I was referring to the unpacking mandated during Christmas break.

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  63. We teachers who actually work at school 15 know what Dr. Hunter has actually stated in the staff meetings and in all of the notices with the construction people. We know the amount of support he has given us to help with our packing. Like today and the rest of this week. We know that he kept on saying the word optional to drive the point home.

    Lets not start bashing him over a straight up mis-truth, trash and street gossip.

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  64. Where did this mandatory stuff come from?

    When and where did you hear mandatory packing over Christmas? Sense I teach there I want to make sure to ask him again for myself.

    I never heard this either! I really don't think this could be a person teaching on my grade level team or my school...is it? Of course not!

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  65. "Since...not sense" - wouldn't it be fun if we could have a red "pen" and we could all correct each other's grammar. It happens to the beast of us....er...the best of us!

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  66. I alao want out of my insane elementary school. I would like to transfer to Manuel to teach English. Is there anybody out there who could help me accomplish that? I need to know ASAP, since the early retirement papers are due in March.

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  67. I agree about the need for departments in the high school. They were lost in the small school movement...they need to be in place for the reasons given above - materials, sharing, etc.

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  68. Anybody asked to work over Winter Break should be compensated at the IPS hourly rate which is ones annual salary divided by 190 days divided by 6. I heard teachers at 15 have to set up their new classrooms at school 98 during break without compensation. Are you saying Dr. Hunter is going to pay all of those teachers for their vacation time work if they do any, and is not going to penalize teachers who choose to spend their vacation time vacationing? What was Dr. Hunter saying was "optional?" Do teachers or do they not have to set up their classrooms over winter break? If that is optional, are teachers being given time to unpack and set up classrooms at the new school without children present? Are teachers expected to have this work completed before students arrive January 4, 2010? Will teachers be able to set up new classrooms on Dec. 18th? When are teachers supposed to do this work?

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  69. What is going on that teachers are leaving 15 and going to another school?

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  70. Dr. Hunter just had a two week vacation to go on a religious retreat. Perhaps he believes that he does not need another vacation. And no, his favorite teacher was not on the retreat with him. She was in school the entire time.

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  71. School 15 is being renovated so the whole school is moving to 98 for the second semester.

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  72. To the above department head lover, do not ask for that position you may end up with the mindless, useless Coaches.

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  73. Sounds like teachers from 15 need to be contacting the union about why they are not being compensated for setting up their rooms over break????? Those teachers just can't catch a break.

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