A blog designed to facilitate communication about education, teaching, schools, labor issues, social justice, politics and ordinary life. Statements or expressions of opinions herein 'do not' represent the views or official positions of DCPS, American Federation of Teachers, Washington Teachers' Union or its members. Views are my own. Anyone who claims otherwise is violating the spirit and purpose of this blog.
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Dec 4, 2008
Guess What A Little Birdie Told Me Today ?
..... that Principal Linda Williams of Patterson Elementary School will be resigning her administrative post due to her concerns that Chancellor Rhee is mandating principals to place a quota of DC teachers on a 90 day improvement plan. Seems like this climate of fear may be more than some are willing to tolerate. Believe it or not ? Stay tuned for more on this story. (Posted by the Washington Teacher).
Good for her!! I bet this principal can get a job as principal in another jurisdiction. This is not the first I've heard about the 90 day plan and quotas, especially for schools which did not make AYP last year. I know principals are under the gun to find teachers who are ineffective and to put them on the plan, to them move them out of the system. There is some timeline principals are to observe and I think tomorrow is one of the dates to be adhered to. Does anyone out there in DCPS-land know? BTW, I'm on a planning period now, for y'all who wonder why I'm on the computer at this time of the day.
ReplyDeleteWhile I applaud the principal for her "principles," I wish she had stood her ground and forced Rhee to fire her. Resigning, though noble, makes Rhee's job much easier. Besides, she can't fire everyone. Imagine what would happen if all principals took the same stand. It's not like people are lining up outside of 825 to take these jobs. In the end, I think it would not serve Rhee well to have as her only "accomplishments" during her tenure "firings" (many without cause) and school closings. I wonder how far such a legacy would take her?!
ReplyDeleteAs a DCPS employee I was given a needs improvement on my evaluation. This was not based upon my work but because "the ninth floor" said that if the system is failing then no one could earn above a meets expectations therefore my supervisor rated me with 9 meet expectations and 1 needs improvement = overall needs improvement. I am livid!
ReplyDeletefascinating -- I heard from a DC teacher at the beginning of the year, that their principal told all the teachers, before classes started, that they would all receive "needs improvement" evaluations, because all teachers need improvement. After that, if they didn't improve, they would be put on 90 day plans.
ReplyDeleteNo surprise, as is now obvious, it came straight from the top.
Nice way to start the year - threatening all the teachers. I wonder what effect this had on the students -- whom Rhee says she always puts first.
Document every single thing and tape record all business communications and take your lawyer into every conference. What kind of building conditions are going on for these extreme upper management 90 day action plans ? Business is business and you want to play capricious and unjust fairly ? Video instruction and get observations moving by non bias evaluators.Make sure you have all data on instructional accountability. God Bless you guys and this is not okay !
ReplyDeleteOh lau ! Everybody do the Original Hampster Dance ! The DC teachers and principles have a needs improvement list and send it to CNN ! Oh yes and we definitely see across the US the "needs improvement list" under NCLB !
ReplyDeleteObama says we get our school buildings fixed up ! That's what I'm talking about ! Butter bing butter bang !States use it or lose it !
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