slowly; the last couple of weeks have actually slowed time so much that i'm surprised nasa isn't studying the effects. i can't speak for everyone but i know i'm very ready for it to end.
I stumbled across this article, and sadly, it reminded me of my years in IPS, particularly my last year at Marshall... Thought you might give it a read and perhaps share some of your thoughts...
As a very lucky person whose last day with IPS was May 14th- I just want to say good luck to all of the teachers that I had to leave behind @ school 15... You are all some great teachers and wonderful people. -Sarah "pole dancer" McClain-Fowler
As IPS attempts simultaneously to retain quality teachers and to dispel Department of Education and Central Office accusations that our teachers are incompetent, the 'pole dancer' reference serves little more than a validation that IPS teachers are unprofessional and perhaps even 'loose cannons'.
I am not an administrator, but rather, I am a classroom teacher with 27 years experience. This forum is not the appropriate place to make your announcement.
I did a quick check on DOE for Licensure status of this pole dancing teacher named Sarah McClain-Fowler. She began her Indiana teaching career in 2002 under a Limited/Emergency License renewed on a yearly basis. In July of 2008, she finally was certified by IN as an Initial Practitioner for the Mildly Mentally Handicapped. That License expires in July of 2010.
She stated that she was lucky to leave IPS on May 14; I believe IPS is lucky to be rid of her and wonder why IPS retained a teacher who was not licensed for 6 years.
From the educational background licensure check, it appears this woman worked in IPS for 6 years w/out being 'highly qualified' or perhaps even minimally qualified as a classroom teacher.
She signed her name that way because many members of this forum and her school have referred to her that way and called her that on here. She is reprinting what many others have said to her.
Pole dancing is mild compared to some of the scandals in the Ed. Center and one high school principal who an affair with a teacher and had her transferred when he was tired of her.
Everyone including Eugene and Mary Busch and some of the Indianapolis Star staff know which principal was screwing one of his teachers and had her transferred when he was tired of her.......maybe it will be made public soon.
The principal works at Shortridge High School. The teacher has taken a leave of absence. The Principal is a good friend of Jane Kendrick. Therefore, don't expect anything to happen.
Musicals/plays that were written by students were performed at BRMHS last weekend. Some students had solo performances singing, ballet dancing, playing the violin and so on. The evening was a wonderful example of what the students at IPS are able to achieve. There are teachers throughout the system that can and do motivate their kids to excel. Sort of a boring post but just wanted to thank the folks at IPS that get it done despite all the crap. This year ended well.
Is it the head principal at Shortridge? The same principal who wanted teachers to teach using Ebonics instead of Academic Language? The same principal who had a Facebook page filled with obscenities and the "N" word? Classy.
There's no doubt that our children are capable of great things. Our children are creative and talented. To be honest, most of our teachers are too. The problem is that neither party is able to use these strengths. Teachers are stuck in a Pacing Guide rut. In between assessments, we are left with mere minutes of instruction. That instruction must be "relevant" and "intentional". I guess in this day and age, it means that we are no longer able to be creative.
Is it just me or as the district imlemented pacing guides and benchmarks has the scores gone down. Along with getting rid of trades and other things that complimented the core classes also goes along the same period.
Just maybe we should get rid of our plethra of administrators throughout the district and bring business, home ed, trades back.
In addition to getting rid of the administrators lets get rid of all these pacing guides and benchmarks that get in the way of true teaching.
These are just other ways of administrators justifying their jobs. These do more harm to the education process than positives as teachers are not allowed to slow down and work on kids poorer areas while. These do not work.
Get department heads who can evaluate if a teacher is truly teaching and get rid of all this B.S. that hinders education.
Just my wish for next year while sitting here reading to my daughter and looking at these post. (kinda like work doing three things at once)
The teachers that are transferring and leaving JMCHS are glad the year is ending. MS is taking back restroom keys, removing them from staff emails, and making them take chips from students. Goodbye MS!
Our building is completely out of control. It really is frustrating when the principal will not suspend students who are out of control. What happen to the 6 step discipline plan? Wonder if White knows it isn't being followed? And I am not talking about the uniforms.
The 6-Step Policy has been a joke. We have a dean who continually puts down a kids is put at inschool suspension.
The kid never meets with the dean nor is aware he/she is ever aware. Our in-school suspension has been shut down since mid-April when the gentleman took a medical leave of absence.
Since he has been gone we receive no suspension lists or any response.
In addition with so many bleading hearts in the building giving these kids excuses the policy was ignored anyway.
Kids are smart and learned how to play the game early on this past year.
I think it's so ironic that the same teachers who post complaining that IPS bullies teachers with negative-based accountability and hostility, which breeds bad attitudes, lack of cooperation, and mediocre performance (which I agree with) repeatedly post that the solution to the bad attitudes, lack of cooperation and mediocre performance from STUDENTS is... you guessed it... bullying students with negative-based accountability and hostility. In management, you get what you give, people. Whether you're an administrator or a classroom teacher, or a supervisor in the private sector.
I agree. And the same people who scream about "bleeding hearts" excusing kids are the same ones who wanted leniency from their excuses, er, I mean, circumstances when they were coming in late over the winter. The same people who are outraged by the idea that more teachers need to be kicked out of the system are the ones who are outraged that more students are NOT being kicked out of the system. It's obvious that they don't see the double standard here, but I assure you, the rest of us do.
It's funny you mention this, because I was a teacher who became an administrator, and now am retired. And a teacher friend of mine compared today's kids to kids 40 years ago and said they had so much more respect for authority back then. And I told him so did everyone else, including teachers. We as a society demand more respect as individuals and we feel no obligation to be loyal and obedient to everyone in authority. This blog is evidence of that. Our entire business and legal system has changed to recognize the rights of people and attempt to protect them from hostile workplaces. Yes, we used to paddle kids, but bosses used to be able to grab, shove, and sexually harass employees as well, and nobody ever talks about that in their "good old days" recollections.
I'm in the camp that if we got rid of about 10% of the teachers and put about 10% of the students in alternative school, we'd be golden. I think without the worse of the worse, many of the borderline students and teachers would shape up. I don't want to bring back the paddle or put anyone under my thumb. But a little common sense would go a long way.
It's clear that we have lost the premise that the students are the most important people in this educational project: Eugene White is jockying for a national profile by getting media coverage for uniform enforcement; teachers are bullied into canned curriculum and the principals are strapped into buying into White's fear tactics and the students are losing out! Alas; alack!
Good luck as you move forward with your educational career. You have always advocated for our kids. Your methods may not be of the norm, but they have been effective. You will be missed.
Don't hate: for those that don't know, IPS has retired many teachers with a limited/emergency license.
The comments regarding Sarah's incompetenance are very disturbing. She was very effective in the classroom and loved her job. Each studet's success was very important to her. Why is it so difficult for "professionals" to believe that a new teacher can be effective? If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what have always gotten. It is time IPS has some teachers with new and innovative ideas.
slowly; the last couple of weeks have actually slowed time so much that i'm surprised nasa isn't studying the effects. i can't speak for everyone but i know i'm very ready for it to end.
ReplyDeleteNot with a bang,
ReplyDeletebut with a whimper.
Mr./Ms. Blogmeister:
ReplyDeleteI stumbled across this article, and sadly, it reminded me of my years in IPS, particularly my last year at Marshall... Thought you might give it a read and perhaps share some of your thoughts...
http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109519/5-ways-to-ensure-mediocrity-in-your-organization?mod=career-leadership
As a very lucky person whose last day with IPS was May 14th- I just want to say good luck to all of the teachers that I had to leave behind @ school 15... You are all some great teachers and wonderful people.
ReplyDelete-Sarah "pole dancer" McClain-Fowler
@Sarah above
ReplyDeleteYour signature is disturbing.
As IPS attempts simultaneously to retain quality teachers and to dispel Department of Education and Central Office accusations that our teachers are incompetent, the 'pole dancer' reference serves little more than a validation that IPS teachers are unprofessional and perhaps even 'loose cannons'.
I am not an administrator, but rather, I am a classroom teacher with 27 years experience. This forum is not the appropriate place to make your announcement.
lol get real...what's another pole dancer in the crowd.
ReplyDeleteI did a quick check on DOE for Licensure status of this pole dancing teacher named Sarah McClain-Fowler. She began her Indiana teaching career in 2002 under a Limited/Emergency License renewed on a yearly basis. In July of 2008, she finally was certified by IN as an Initial Practitioner for the Mildly Mentally Handicapped. That License expires in July of 2010.
ReplyDeleteShe stated that she was lucky to leave IPS on May 14; I believe IPS is lucky to be rid of her and wonder why IPS retained a teacher who was not licensed for 6 years.
From the educational background licensure check, it appears this woman worked in IPS for 6 years w/out being 'highly qualified' or perhaps even minimally qualified as a classroom teacher.
She signed her name that way because many members of this forum and her school have referred to her that way and called her that on here. She is reprinting what many others have said to her.
ReplyDeletePole dancing is mild compared to some of the scandals in the Ed. Center and one high school principal who an affair with a teacher and had her transferred when he was tired of her.
ReplyDeleteOh, come on people, let's name some names! Who's screwing who?
ReplyDeleteHeck, I expect Sarah McClain-Fowler will tell us. Evidently she is totally uninhibited in her comments on Internet blogs.
ReplyDeleteEveryone including Eugene and Mary Busch and some of the Indianapolis Star staff know which principal was screwing one of his teachers and had her transferred when he was tired of her.......maybe it will be made public soon.
ReplyDeleteYou keep saying it will go public. When?
ReplyDeleteThe principal works at Shortridge High School. The teacher has taken a leave of absence. The Principal is a good friend of Jane Kendrick. Therefore, don't expect anything to happen.
ReplyDeleteMusicals/plays that were written by students were performed at BRMHS last weekend. Some students had solo performances singing, ballet dancing, playing the violin and so on. The evening was a wonderful example of what the students at IPS are able to achieve. There are teachers throughout the system that can and do motivate their kids to excel. Sort of a boring post but just wanted to thank the folks at IPS that get it done despite all the crap. This year ended well.
ReplyDeleteIs it the head principal at Shortridge? The same principal who wanted teachers to teach using Ebonics instead of Academic Language? The same principal who had a Facebook page filled with obscenities and the "N" word? Classy.
ReplyDeleteThere's no doubt that our children are capable of great things. Our children are creative and talented. To be honest, most of our teachers are too. The problem is that neither party is able to use these strengths. Teachers are stuck in a Pacing Guide rut. In between assessments, we are left with mere minutes of instruction. That instruction must be "relevant" and "intentional". I guess in this day and age, it means that we are no longer able to be creative.
ReplyDeleteIs it just me or as the district imlemented pacing guides and benchmarks has the scores gone down. Along with getting rid of trades and other things that complimented the core classes also goes along the same period.
ReplyDeleteJust maybe we should get rid of our plethra of administrators throughout the district and bring business, home ed, trades back.
In addition to getting rid of the administrators lets get rid of all these pacing guides and benchmarks that get in the way of true teaching.
These are just other ways of administrators justifying their jobs. These do more harm to the education process than positives as teachers are not allowed to slow down and work on kids poorer areas while. These do not work.
Get department heads who can evaluate if a teacher is truly teaching and get rid of all this B.S. that hinders education.
Just my wish for next year while sitting here reading to my daughter and looking at these post. (kinda like work doing three things at once)
Try not to smack the kids who tell you daily to F**K off or you. We need a new principal.
ReplyDeleteThe teachers that are transferring and leaving JMCHS are glad the year is ending. MS is taking back restroom keys, removing them from staff emails, and making them take chips from students. Goodbye MS!
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of chips are they taking from students?
ReplyDeleteOur building is completely out of control. It really is frustrating when the principal will not suspend students who are out of control. What happen to the 6 step discipline plan? Wonder if White knows it isn't being followed? And I am not talking about the uniforms.
ReplyDeleteThe 6-Step Policy has been a joke. We have a dean who continually puts down a kids is put at inschool suspension.
ReplyDeleteThe kid never meets with the dean nor is aware he/she is ever aware. Our in-school suspension has been shut down since mid-April when the gentleman took a medical leave of absence.
Since he has been gone we receive no suspension lists or any response.
In addition with so many bleading hearts in the building giving these kids excuses the policy was ignored anyway.
Kids are smart and learned how to play the game early on this past year.
I think it's so ironic that the same teachers who post complaining that IPS bullies teachers with negative-based accountability and hostility, which breeds bad attitudes, lack of cooperation, and mediocre performance (which I agree with) repeatedly post that the solution to the bad attitudes, lack of cooperation and mediocre performance from STUDENTS is... you guessed it... bullying students with negative-based accountability and hostility. In management, you get what you give, people. Whether you're an administrator or a classroom teacher, or a supervisor in the private sector.
ReplyDeleteI agree. And the same people who scream about "bleeding hearts" excusing kids are the same ones who wanted leniency from their excuses, er, I mean, circumstances when they were coming in late over the winter. The same people who are outraged by the idea that more teachers need to be kicked out of the system are the ones who are outraged that more students are NOT being kicked out of the system. It's obvious that they don't see the double standard here, but I assure you, the rest of us do.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny you mention this, because I was a teacher who became an administrator, and now am retired. And a teacher friend of mine compared today's kids to kids 40 years ago and said they had so much more respect for authority back then. And I told him so did everyone else, including teachers. We as a society demand more respect as individuals and we feel no obligation to be loyal and obedient to everyone in authority. This blog is evidence of that. Our entire business and legal system has changed to recognize the rights of people and attempt to protect them from hostile workplaces. Yes, we used to paddle kids, but bosses used to be able to grab, shove, and sexually harass employees as well, and nobody ever talks about that in their "good old days" recollections.
ReplyDeleteI'm in the camp that if we got rid of about 10% of the teachers and put about 10% of the students in alternative school, we'd be golden. I think without the worse of the worse, many of the borderline students and teachers would shape up. I don't want to bring back the paddle or put anyone under my thumb. But a little common sense would go a long way.
ReplyDeleteNo improvement will be made until Eugene White and his mafia is removed from this system.
ReplyDeleteIt's clear that we have lost the premise that the students are the most important people in this educational project: Eugene White is jockying for a national profile by getting media coverage for uniform enforcement; teachers are bullied into canned curriculum and the principals are strapped into buying into White's fear tactics and the students are losing out! Alas; alack!
ReplyDeleteGo back to talking about Sarah McClain-Fowler. I am highly amused by what has been said about her!
ReplyDeleteSarah,
ReplyDeleteGood luck as you move forward with your educational career. You have always advocated for our kids. Your methods may not be of the norm, but they have been effective. You will be missed.
Don't hate: for those that don't know, IPS has retired many teachers with a limited/emergency license.
The comments regarding Sarah's incompetenance are very disturbing. She was very effective in the classroom and loved her job. Each studet's success was very important to her. Why is it so difficult for "professionals" to believe that a new teacher can be effective? If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what have always gotten. It is time IPS has some teachers with new and innovative ideas.
ReplyDelete