DC's 266 laid off teachers got a raw deal earlier last year when they were terminated in November 2009 by the Rhee administration after school began. Given that lay-offs in our public schools have historically taken place at the end of the school year in June, rif'd teachers were hit with a double whammy of having to search for new jobs during a economic down turn after school had already begun. An ousted teacher recently contacted me to say that she attended the March 12 meeting for laid off teachers with hopes of hearing some good news from our union president. This meeting was conducted by the Washington Teachers Union to address laid-off teachers appeals and legal matters, etc. One of the issues that was addressed in the meeting was that 10 to 12 rif'd teachers had been re-hired by DC schools according to George Parker, WTU President. I was alarmed to learn that these rif'd teachers were required by DCPS administration to sign a contract so that they could be re-hired as temporary teachers in at at will status (until the end of the school year in June). Other draconian conditions reportedly have been imposed to include: lesser pay and a clause which would subject them to immediate termination should they receive a poor IMPACT rating score, unlike their teacher counterparts.
It doesn't sound much like these teachers will be bonafide members of our union any longer and certainly they do not retain the due process and contractual rights of newly hired WTU teacher members. I can't help but wonder what WTU president George Parker is doing to address this matter. Unfortunately the WTU Executive board has not been apprised of this situation and discussions have not been held since no board meetings have been called in months by Parker.
Refusing to rehire certified and qualified teachers in regular full time teaching positions while scaling back employee rights certainly will harm retention of teachers and future recruiting efforts. Ultimately it will have an adverse impact on our union membership. Perhaps that's the point. As I see it, this ongoing torrent of abuse inflicted upon DC's teachers is just another raw deal.
Posted by The Washington Teacher, featuring Candi Peterson - blogger in residence
23 comments:
This is horrible; so this is what at-will status looks like for teachers. Though I am glad that these teachers are employed, with today's economy and in the middle of the school, plus neighboring counties are cutting.
Does anyone know about any master educators either quitting or being let go? The one I had is especially known for giving low scores.
I haven't heard about ME's quitting or being let go.
I don't understand. If the teachers were rehired, obviously there was an error related to their dismissal. So how do they become rehired without their previous union membership and due process protections?
George Parker, your days as WTU president are numbered.
My friend teaches ESL in another school. She told me all about her ME, who's notorious for being petty and inflexible. And I heard that she's gone. Plus, her bio isn't on the DCPS website any longer. Wish mine would do the same thing and leave town, taking IMPACT with her.
Based on the last article I read and sent to this blog a massive amount of teachers and or DCPS workers will be fired.
Current teachers really have targets on their backs. It's obvious that there will be more firings and that IMPACT is part of the plan to get rid of us. I'd advise teachers to read the rubric and try to adhere to it and not give principals ammunition against us.
Probably not much can be done in the present economy where people are desperate for jobs. However, I expect all teachers are warning their talented relatives and friends about conditions in DC. In the coming years, when over one million teachers will be needed to replace the baby boomers, I hope no one accepts a job in DC or any district that mistreats its teachers.
I understand that change is needed in DCPS, but effective change takes time. This is not the way to go about it. Once again when the sh*t hits the fan, those persons who implemented the changes will be long gone leaving the mess to be cleaned up by some else.
Hopefully that someone else will hold the proper credentials and has adequate experience.
My ME is no longer in the program. I was told that there were many problems with him.
Also, I was told that one was fired for showing up with liquor on his breath.
My ME is great, the administration that observe - not so great as they don't understand the content.
Anon...4:39... Can you give me the first initial of your ME's name? I was trying to figure out if my ME stayed with the job!!!
Obama overhauls NCLB and blueprint being sent to Congress this week ! Hope to see this copy posted he's sending to Congress.
Anon art 4,39 ... I think it was the Indian guy for Math or scince
The ELL ME who left has the initials LG. I heard she was given the door due to her low ratings. Her scores and those of principals consistently differed, with the principals rating ELL teachers much higher than this ME. Kind of feel sorry for her: where else can someone like this get that high ME salary? (saracasm, for sure)
The male ME who's gone I believe had an (East) Indian last name, and if memeory serves me correctly, an Ivy League (Princeton?) background. I believe he was a secondary math ME.
Oprah must stand trail for words against one of her school teachers in her all girls school. Rhee you are next to stand trail. Click on link to read full article
http://www.comcast.net/articles/entertainment/20100316/US.Oprah.Defamation.Suit/
Vincent Gray asked George Parker about the lawsuit regarding the RIF Teachers. I was sad how Parker really couldn't explain the end result and he also said he didn't know how "they" were suppose to prove that DCPS did anything wrong. Thank goodness Mr. Saunders set the record straight when he testified before the dias. He informed them that WTU didn't make any attempt to prove that the budget was manufactured. Councilmember Barry said he asked Parker later on that eveing what happened and he said poor George I see why you all lost.
Rogue Teacher wonders if we can sue George Parker and the union officials for their lack of leadership and possible malfeasance? What the last poster posted, is sad and disturbing.
Anon at 9:14 pm
The ME initials are SR.
Ms. Gill??? OCTOBER 22??? Or do you mean MARCH?
I was also at the DCPS Performance Hearing and listened to George Parker (WTU President) responses in regards to the reduction-in-force matter. George was horrible.
FYI: Vincent Gray has a law degree. Do you think Mr. Gray knows the process of a TRO? YES!! That is the reason why he asked George for his perspective of the Reducton-in-Force outcome.
Chairman Gray asked George about the Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) and George was confused. Clearly, Attorney Lee Jackson or his partners never served the plaintiff documents to Michelle Rhee/Adrian Fenty (DC Gov.) to have DCPS legal representation at the TRO and it was dismissed by the Judge at that time on October 31 2009.
Also, Chairman Gray stated to George at Chancellor Rhee's Hearing on October 29, 2009 that the DCPS CFO, Noah Wepman, submitted a 2nd budget to Dr. Gandhi which the funds were not reprogammed for summer school and the DCPS budget isn't reprogramed for summer school as of today. The City Council approved the budget to avoid teachers' layoffs. Why didn't they use that evidence at the WTU hearing?
Also, Chairman Gray and Council Member Barry could not get a clear understanding of George Parker's testimony and stated that George needed to submit the TRO and Judge Bartnoff's ruling to each one of them at his earliest convienience.
How many WTU members believe that George will follow up with Chairman Gray or Council member Barry?
Council member Barry actually walked over to George after his testimony to have another dialogue with him for at least 20 minutes in the chambers area. It appeared to me that Council member Barry was still trying to understand what George was explaining. Again, it was a horrible scene to watch George explain why the evidence wasn't submitted to Judge Bartnoff.
My testimony clearly stated that it was a conspiracy to target veteran educators and Rhee manufactured a reduction in force
It was proven that the Chancellor's Administration over hired 1,698 new employees before the Reduction-in-Force and 513 new hires after the RIF from September 2009 - January 15, 2010.
Mary Levy certified the study and submitted written testimony with the data to the DC Council.
Kudos to Mary Levy for her efforts, integrity and professional work of supporting that the reduction in force was manufactured and Rhee never stopped hiring new employees.
Hardy MS Community will have a rally this Friday, March 18 in front of their school. Support our DCPS future leaders.
Rhee's hearing is on Monday, March 22, 2010 at 10:00 AM at the John R. Wilson Building @ 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW. All stakeholders need to be present by 9:00 AM.
No more EXCUSES, Just SOLUTIONS!
Enough is Enough, Rhee must GO!
I think the ME in question have the initials, shich are unusual, of ST FU. Who is the Gill woman, anyway? Have not had the plaisir.
@Sheila Gill Said, Thanks for sharing this valuable information!
George Parker, and the WTU union lawyers should be sued.
Just who is this wonderful person named MARY LEVY? Go to the link below and you will soon find out what a privilege it is to have her knowledge and experiences!!!!!
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/bestof/2008/peopleandplaces/show.php?id=35393
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