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First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
There's an interesting anecdote in a recent Politico article about how Jon Schnur, co-founder of New Leaders for New Schools, once tried to recruit Michelle Obama to join his organization:
"Back in 2000, Jon Schnur was looking for someone to head up the Chicago branch of his fledgling nonprofit for training inner-city principals, New Leaders for New Schools. "People told me the most talented person I could find was someone named Michelle Obama," Schnur recalled. "I was able to reach Barack Obama, who put me in touch with her," but the future first lady couldn't be persuaded."Wow. Imagine if that'd happened. Even more pub for New Leaders than it already has. Sort of explains how Schnur got into the Obama campaign so early and so deep.
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Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 11:45 AM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
Glad she didn't take it. New Leaders for New Schools is an insidious principal training program. Their statistics are squishy. They believe in Stepford-Wife-Toe-The-Line obedience to scripted curricula. Most of their current rave publicity is self-generated, or from lazy media who will not question them as they should, or from ideological partisans. NLNS is the political arm of Center for American Progress.
Their educational plan is educationese claptrap. They are like any other lobbying group. Follow the money. They want a school district's human resources' money so they can train principals, who will in turn "counsel out low-performing teachers" (read that as tenured teachers making big salaries) and then hire ingenues who will never rock the authoritarian boat.
All new principal training organizations, teacher training organizations and charter school creators have one common theme:
Show Me The Money!
Their educational plan is educationese claptrap. They are like any other lobbying group. Follow the money. They want a school district's human resources' money so they can train principals, who will in turn "counsel out low-performing teachers" (read that as tenured teachers making big salaries) and then hire ingenues who will never rock the authoritarian boat.
All new principal training organizations, teacher training organizations and charter school creators have one common theme:
Show Me The Money!
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 11:49 AM
Rito was a New Leader 2
Fatso Rito Martinez is also a New Leader and now a displaced/fired and bad educator living at home with an enormous mortgage for his one-million dollar home while his ex-students live in the guetto.
By the way, where is he going to get a job?
By the way, where is he going to get a job?
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 1:45 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
Damn!
You guys sure are some haters! All of you need to retire and go sit your behinds down somewhere and let the New Leaders bring it on in Chicago! New Leaders know what to do, how to do it, and they are not afraid to take risks! True leaders have to be willing to do whatever you have to do to get it done, and they do that. They don't always follow the book, but it gets done. You old timers are the ones that have following the books, rules and procedures for years, and the kids just got more and more ignorant. You baby-boomers are not willing to take a risk and stand up for whatever and whoever you believe in to make education happen for these children nowadays. You all need to join New Leaders and bring a change to public education in Chicago.
You guys sure are some haters! All of you need to retire and go sit your behinds down somewhere and let the New Leaders bring it on in Chicago! New Leaders know what to do, how to do it, and they are not afraid to take risks! True leaders have to be willing to do whatever you have to do to get it done, and they do that. They don't always follow the book, but it gets done. You old timers are the ones that have following the books, rules and procedures for years, and the kids just got more and more ignorant. You baby-boomers are not willing to take a risk and stand up for whatever and whoever you believe in to make education happen for these children nowadays. You all need to join New Leaders and bring a change to public education in Chicago.
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 2:32 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
Haterism? As compared to the soft tones voicing the support for NLNS?
Alexander wrote an article in 2004 called "The Waiting Game." Here is just one of his comments. Read the whole article.
"The New Leaders training, while intense, will not make them curriculum experts. They get enough training and experience to talk the talk and are expected to learn along the way. And so, despite the widely acknowledged need for better-trained principals, reports of shortages, and waves of retirees, New Leaders candidates can end up seeming green. 'Everybody just wants experience,' says one Chicago school administrator who has observed several of the principal searches where New Leaders fellows were interviewed. 'The bottom line is that schools want someone to run the school, not just theories.'"
The principal of Ravenswood had 4 years 2004-2008 to demonstrate the miracle education plan that he purchased through his training program at NLNS. His LSC booted him out. Whoops. Guess they all practice haterism, too. Maybe they should retire from the ranks of people who can think for themselves.
Alexander wrote an article in 2004 called "The Waiting Game." Here is just one of his comments. Read the whole article.
"The New Leaders training, while intense, will not make them curriculum experts. They get enough training and experience to talk the talk and are expected to learn along the way. And so, despite the widely acknowledged need for better-trained principals, reports of shortages, and waves of retirees, New Leaders candidates can end up seeming green. 'Everybody just wants experience,' says one Chicago school administrator who has observed several of the principal searches where New Leaders fellows were interviewed. 'The bottom line is that schools want someone to run the school, not just theories.'"
The principal of Ravenswood had 4 years 2004-2008 to demonstrate the miracle education plan that he purchased through his training program at NLNS. His LSC booted him out. Whoops. Guess they all practice haterism, too. Maybe they should retire from the ranks of people who can think for themselves.
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 2:33 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
New Leader crashed and burned at her first principalship (at Kellogg - she was in over her head and made a huge mess) Now she's taking it on the road as "Principal-in-Planning" at the turnaround, Bethune "School of Excellence." Good luck with that.
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 3:10 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
Where can we get all of theses stories to show the failures of these programs. yes I know why am i looking only at the failures.
Simply, when a principal works fours years and fails like some of the stories we hear, imagine all the children that were deprived of a good education by this malfeasance.
What should then happen is an investigation as to why the board of education allowed incompetent mangers to run a school without stopping it. Two issues here:
1. Contractual obligations of performance by principal
2. Damage to children(lack of proper education)
If the board was notified of the incompetence then I say it is even intentional misconduct by the biard and that may start falling under criminal law depending on the harm done to the children of a particular school. (sp ed issues, violence, non-certified staff, improper programming, etc......)
there is absolutely no transparency or accountability with programs like New Leaders for New Schools.
John Kugler
kuglerjohn@comast.net
Simply, when a principal works fours years and fails like some of the stories we hear, imagine all the children that were deprived of a good education by this malfeasance.
What should then happen is an investigation as to why the board of education allowed incompetent mangers to run a school without stopping it. Two issues here:
1. Contractual obligations of performance by principal
2. Damage to children(lack of proper education)
If the board was notified of the incompetence then I say it is even intentional misconduct by the biard and that may start falling under criminal law depending on the harm done to the children of a particular school. (sp ed issues, violence, non-certified staff, improper programming, etc......)
there is absolutely no transparency or accountability with programs like New Leaders for New Schools.
John Kugler
kuglerjohn@comast.net
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 4:27 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
New Leaders strikes again. Ravenswood, Ames, Hinton, Kellogg...a partial list of schools where New Leaders crashed and burned...as with any principal prep program, some candidates are good and some are not. My experience shows that most of the time, no one has any idea of how someone will perform as a principal until they get into the position. CPS attempts to create an eligibilty system for principals that is just as inaccurate at predicting success as the prep programs. That may be why we are seeing the 3rd or 4th version of the process. And in a couple of years when CPS cites unsuccessful principals who have been found eligible under the most recent process, they will change it again.
Getting back to NLNS, they do select some bright young individuals, and they do a great job of finding them jobs. One trick is to convince any New Leader that if you do secure a principalship, your only loyal candidate for assistant principal must come from New Leaders. They know data, but with possibly only 2 years of experience in the classroom, please tell me how they can know instruction and be competent instructional leaders. If you are in a school run by a New Leader, you probably know that the principal is in many meetings (how corporate), not very visible, and may not be very adept at human relations or navigating the political landscape. One may also question the loyalty of a New Leaders principal. My observations indicate that loyalty to New Leaders takes precedence over loyalty to CPS or the school. Just some observations.
Getting back to NLNS, they do select some bright young individuals, and they do a great job of finding them jobs. One trick is to convince any New Leader that if you do secure a principalship, your only loyal candidate for assistant principal must come from New Leaders. They know data, but with possibly only 2 years of experience in the classroom, please tell me how they can know instruction and be competent instructional leaders. If you are in a school run by a New Leader, you probably know that the principal is in many meetings (how corporate), not very visible, and may not be very adept at human relations or navigating the political landscape. One may also question the loyalty of a New Leaders principal. My observations indicate that loyalty to New Leaders takes precedence over loyalty to CPS or the school. Just some observations.
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 4:33 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
What amazes me is that so many of you hate the wrong people for failures within the system. New Leaders for the most part have done well in Chicago. So the principal at Ravenswood has moved on and secured another principalship. Someone somewhere liked him. The principal at Kellogg took on the incredible challenge of running a Turnaround School. She is not in over her head, but capable and has stepped up to the plate for this incredible endeavor. Lastly, if Jesus was a principal, you would still complain and put out he was fired too. Get a real life and dedicate yourself to your craft and not bashing organizations that try and succeed at making our system better for children.
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 4:44 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
Close observer you are well past the fortune telling stage. You speak so much about what will happen in the future. YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 4:46 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
in the people who finish it--Rito lied and lied and lied and look at LVSJ stats--the dropout rate, the failure rate and an ACT average of 13! But fight on children for the people though you will have no skills for employment and you will continue to live in poverty. It is True, the Kellogg principal was a BIG mess and Roche almost crashed and burned a school and is trying, with the AIO's blessing to do this to another. The founder of NL was out of a job when Bush came in so he came up with this 'idea.' What a mess he has made. It is good that he does not live in Chicago--there would be parents with pickets at his house everyday. Sour grapes? Well, I was a successful AP when I applied for NLNS. I had great references and was a proven leader--after the interview, which included actors, yes, actors, I was told that I had too much expereince and did not qualify for their program.
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 4:50 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
consider NLNS when she had a cush job at the Uni of Chicago Hospitals for $350,000 per year? (And her job--marketing and positive relations...) yes that much and her children went to the lab school for FREE--how many thousands of $ is the tuition there? FREE. And remember, UC Hosp was just sighted for sending away the poor over and over, who came to them for treatment. They had to somehow recoup her salary. Never NLNS--they could have never paid her enough!
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 4:52 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
Now I see. You were REJECTED. New Leaders would never tell you about too much experience. I'm still laughing about this one. Who were the actors? No Emmy for you. Some people are not ready for this type of move and program. And who said you were a successful AP. You should not need New Leaders to apply for a principalship. REJECTED
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 4:54 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
this program has lots of failures--the kellogg principal left before she was thrown out. Rito, Gunsaulus, Ravenwood, Prescott and more--and some they hwho are in the program CANNOT write --do they take the test for them too? It is a poor progrm even for all the extra help they give to these new principals. I hope they run out of money, becasue they are hurting the children and great teachers.
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 4:57 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
If parents would picket Jon Schnur's house, why not Daley's house or board members. It sounds even more comical the second time.
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 5:01 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
They won't run out of money. Cite two children hurt by New Leaders.
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 5:02 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
parents were so outraged at Ravenswood and now at Prescott. Parent realize that this 'new leaders' prgram took in a very bad person and supports him no matter how bad he is. Daley is too big and so to the Board--all politics are local.
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 5:08 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
Hip Hip Hurray
To This is hateism.
You wrote this:
“ You guys sure are some haters! All of you need to retire and go sit your behinds down somewhere and let the New Leaders bring it on in Chicago!”
Nice try, but, the street lingo is a bit dated and too hip to be believed. I wonder how many of
The new wiz kids in this program will still be around in 5 years?
Everyone is still looking for the silver bullet, or the Salk vaccine, to fix some of our schools.
Many new teachers are sure that the only think the damaged kids of Chicago need
For their redemption is a dose of them. I would not call it arrogance, but a deep
misunderstanding of the stupendous baggage so many of our kids carry into school
every day.
I don’t hate anyone. But, All these new Leaders better wake up and realize that being a boss does not make you a leader.
To This is hateism.
You wrote this:
“ You guys sure are some haters! All of you need to retire and go sit your behinds down somewhere and let the New Leaders bring it on in Chicago!”
Nice try, but, the street lingo is a bit dated and too hip to be believed. I wonder how many of
The new wiz kids in this program will still be around in 5 years?
Everyone is still looking for the silver bullet, or the Salk vaccine, to fix some of our schools.
Many new teachers are sure that the only think the damaged kids of Chicago need
For their redemption is a dose of them. I would not call it arrogance, but a deep
misunderstanding of the stupendous baggage so many of our kids carry into school
every day.
I don’t hate anyone. But, All these new Leaders better wake up and realize that being a boss does not make you a leader.
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 5:15 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
when I was finished with the mock meeting where the actors portrayed parents and LSC members, they were very complimentary towards me and my reactions, speaking ability, and 'handling' of them. They even asked me to give them a few pointers on their acting so that they could act more like an angry LSC member or concerned parent. Fun.
Oh and for fact, I know one NL member who had someone else write the essay—NL never checked. Now that’s really fun.
Why do you think CPS had to kick out the last list and make the requirement tighter? Although, anyone can be an interim now--EVEN if you do not live in the city after 11/1996 and cannot get on the list. It is a shame and a sham.
Oh and for fact, I know one NL member who had someone else write the essay—NL never checked. Now that’s really fun.
Why do you think CPS had to kick out the last list and make the requirement tighter? Although, anyone can be an interim now--EVEN if you do not live in the city after 11/1996 and cannot get on the list. It is a shame and a sham.
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 5:16 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
For starters 16 children at Prescott in the two successful special ed programs that New Leader principal, Roche, closed in hopes of getting rid of their teachers. These children have been scattered all over the city. In some cases they were autistic students who had taken months or years to trust their circumstances.
There's a nice file of evidence from teachers and parents being built up that New Leaders can't lead unless they can terrorize. They have no people skills.
There's a nice file of evidence from teachers and parents being built up that New Leaders can't lead unless they can terrorize. They have no people skills.
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 5:28 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
the money is gone and there is a glut of TYPE 75s in CPS. There are and will be plenty on the new list. 67 now when only 24 retired, plus they closed some of these schools when the principals retired.
There will be more added to the list by the fall. AND ANY AIO or MSD or BIG administrator who does not keep their job now, will be an interim principal --so even LESS need for new leaders. it is a waste of money. I mean look, they put Don Anderson in a school--CLASS could NOT afford him-- wasn't he to be the new wonderboy of HR?--he is not even on the list and does he live in Chicago? Come on donors--look for someplace else to donate--like elder care or orphanages--or someone honest for US Senate from IL....
There will be more added to the list by the fall. AND ANY AIO or MSD or BIG administrator who does not keep their job now, will be an interim principal --so even LESS need for new leaders. it is a waste of money. I mean look, they put Don Anderson in a school--CLASS could NOT afford him-- wasn't he to be the new wonderboy of HR?--he is not even on the list and does he live in Chicago? Come on donors--look for someplace else to donate--like elder care or orphanages--or someone honest for US Senate from IL....
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 5:49 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
My kid was hurt by Zipporah Hightower at Kellogg. New Leader I & II, enjoy your Kool-Aid. Yum. Smack!
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 7:02 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
teachers their principals to hit--don't they at least give them a personality test? i bet hightower os over her head at her new school--however, they allow hitting there.
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 8:47 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
As I read these comments, I’m wondering how many are, or ever been, a principal. The principalship is not some game won or lost based on your principal training—and for the many, if not most, of you that have not traveled this path, would not understand.
What is also unfortunate is how you “contributors” throw names out as if you are the master of the game of omni-educator. PLEASE WITH THE SLANDER.
What is also unfortunate is how you “contributors” throw names out as if you are the master of the game of omni-educator. PLEASE WITH THE SLANDER.
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 9:45 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
A type of defamation. Slander is an untruthful oral (spoken) statement about a person that harms the person's reputation or standing in the community. Because slander is a tort (a civil wrong), the injured person can bring a lawsuit against the person who made the false statement. If the statement is made via broadcast media -- for example, over the radio or on TV -- it is considered libel, rather than slander, because the statement has the potential to reach a very wide audience.
- Nolo Press
Now, if the statement if factual...
- Nolo Press
Now, if the statement if factual...
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 10:09 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
I was a successful principal in CPS, just retired. I had been applying for principalships long before new leaders appeared on the scene. Members of CPAA were not happy because this program seemed unprofessional, too fast track, and took people with very little teaching or leadership expereince. The excuse then was that the former president of CPAA allowed LAUNCH, so NLNS could not be stopped. That ‘excuse’ was disappointing. The CPAA president assured that her daughter got into the first LAUNCH program. Assistant principals were hurt and felt betrayed, since for years we were doing the grunt work in the schools and felt we were being passed by and unappreciated with all the talent and experience we had. (For decades APs only received $1.00 a day as an AP with CPS. Yes, $1 per day.) Then a LAUNCH person would walk in our schools and want to be called co-principal. Some of these candidates actually tried to sabotage the principals they worked for. I saw this myself. Some deal would be struck with an LSC to hire new leaders, etc. Those with 2 years of teaching experience and no certification were getting into new leaders. So I thought, if you can’t beat them join them. To the posters above, indeed my interview used actors and I was unprofessionally treated. Easily, I had much more experience and know-how than those running the show. I was a bit shocked by all the Clintonesque intonations they made and was told politely that I was overqualified.
I was blessed to become a principal on my own, no special program, no relation to the alderman or to the former CPAA president. On my own—proud of that. Loved it, served a number years and did not want to leave, but CPS has its ways of grinding you down. There is no doubt that my past experience as an assistant principal and knowledge of the system got my school further than ANY launch or new leaders program. Being a principal is a hard work, harder than a number of other professions. We constantly must stay current and fight all battles as CPS (tries to) takes from our students. Going through a summer program and an internship here and there is not concrete well-worn experience. And as someone said earlier, CPS has enough principals now. We have knowledgeable assistant principals who are ready and able to take the helm—I have personally trained 2 of them as they are now successful principals today. I have trained 2 others who are fantastic student-centered APs.
Experience is sold short in these programs and that is most unfortunate. So I am not surprised when these new leaders create and find themselves with deep problems in deep holes.
I was blessed to become a principal on my own, no special program, no relation to the alderman or to the former CPAA president. On my own—proud of that. Loved it, served a number years and did not want to leave, but CPS has its ways of grinding you down. There is no doubt that my past experience as an assistant principal and knowledge of the system got my school further than ANY launch or new leaders program. Being a principal is a hard work, harder than a number of other professions. We constantly must stay current and fight all battles as CPS (tries to) takes from our students. Going through a summer program and an internship here and there is not concrete well-worn experience. And as someone said earlier, CPS has enough principals now. We have knowledgeable assistant principals who are ready and able to take the helm—I have personally trained 2 of them as they are now successful principals today. I have trained 2 others who are fantastic student-centered APs.
Experience is sold short in these programs and that is most unfortunate. So I am not surprised when these new leaders create and find themselves with deep problems in deep holes.
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 10:12 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
was not cast out from Ravenswood? And the principal at Ames who was politically connected & not renewed by her angry LSC...please this is not slander--ALL NEW LEADERS!
Mon Jul 20, 2009 at 10:29 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
Stating the truth about principals that fail at their jobs is not libel (or slander).
Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 1:19 AM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
Has NLNS ever been sued for age discrimination? It seems there is a pattern of being "over-qualified" and "too experienced" (who ever heard of that as a reason not to be a principal?) as reasons for not being accepted into the program. Afraid they can't be brain-washed into the "data, data, data business model" of education?? Don't forget the NLNS principal that quit after 1 year at Hinton and the one at Passages this year, who left before 1 year was completed. And everyone was happy to see them go.
Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 6:15 AM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
Just like the NLNS principals in Chicago, the NLNS principals in New York City are also a pretty lousy bunch. The two NLNS trained principals that I know the best, both have schools that have serious student violence issues. Moreover, both of these principals refuse to take any real responsibilty for the things that happen in their schools. In fact, they both spend considerable time blaming the teachers for anything and everything that happens within their schools. However, that isn't the worse thing about these two principals; the worse thing about these two principals is their true lack of leadership skills and their minimal levels of classroom and teaching experience. For example, one of these two principals has only taught for two years. Meanwhile the other principal has only taught for 5 years. Clearly these two do not have enough classroom and/or teaching experience to have been placed as principals in the NYCDOE.
Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 6:39 AM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
why do they exist. Anyone care to make one full list gathered from the scattered names above? If so, I promise to copy it and send it to Michael Scott AND to Ronnie and to the mayor. Heck, I will even send it to CPAA! This is sad, very sad. This program must go--what a waste. Alexander--who are the funders? They need this list too. I will send it, I just need 1 list.
GEORGE, do you have a list ???
GEORGE, do you have a list ???
Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 6:46 AM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
to MO. the list of new leader failures and chaos in the schools just keep growing. Come on people --lt's get 1 list togther. Michael Scott does not have time to read this blog, but I bet he will read a list!
Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 7:22 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
I hate to spoil this conversation with some facts, but when you put together your list please include all 64 current NLNS principals and all 20 plus NLNS assistant principals. I read through this entire blog and I believe you names 5 NLNS principals. If my math is correct that is less than 1% of CURRENT NLNS administrators. Also Principal Hightower was handpicked to lead Bethune, in case you didn't know they inly ask the BEST principals to come lead those very troubled schools. I don't think you can charecterize that as being run out. Also the principal at Perspectives is now a CPS principal. If they are so bad then why do they keep getting offered new principalships? Ames Principal is now a principal in Elgin. The article that was referenced was published over 5 years ago when NLNS allowed non-teachers to apply that is not the case now. But if you like to go back that far did you note that in 2004-05 the school with the highest reading gains in the STATE was ked by a New Leader- Dodge Renaissance. A few bad apples doesn't spoil any bunch and I wonder how you would feel if someone lumped everyone on your job in with 1 or 2 bad apples? Get your facts straight before you post because every once in a while someone who knows facts and not opinions may read this blog. Get your list together -just know that I'll be sending one with yours with all of the names of New Leaders not just your 5.
Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 7:44 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
But if you like to go back that far did you note that in 2004-05 the school with the highest reading gains in the STATE was ked by a New Leader- Dodge Renaissance.
Your larger point is well taken - don't assume a few bad apples spoil the entire basket.
But the problem with facts like these, and other facts based on standardized high stakes tests, is that they don't account for what is happening outside of that testing room...for instance, the purging of students at Dodge since the "turnaround", a major factor in test score increases.
KIPP Ascend, despite its charter status, is another more easily documented example. Test scores go up and up and up for each grade level. AMAZING! But ignored is the fact that the number of students in each successive grade level goes down and down and down - nearly 30% of students end up elsewhere by the time their KIPP peers graduate. Not surprisingly, it is not the best and the brightest from KIPP that move back to their neighborhood schools or move on to other schools.
Magnets and neighborhood schools, especially those that are massively overcrowded, are not immune to this purging, either. Many schools boot the riff-raff before testing time so they don't bring the scores down.
Your larger point is well taken - don't assume a few bad apples spoil the entire basket.
But the problem with facts like these, and other facts based on standardized high stakes tests, is that they don't account for what is happening outside of that testing room...for instance, the purging of students at Dodge since the "turnaround", a major factor in test score increases.
KIPP Ascend, despite its charter status, is another more easily documented example. Test scores go up and up and up for each grade level. AMAZING! But ignored is the fact that the number of students in each successive grade level goes down and down and down - nearly 30% of students end up elsewhere by the time their KIPP peers graduate. Not surprisingly, it is not the best and the brightest from KIPP that move back to their neighborhood schools or move on to other schools.
Magnets and neighborhood schools, especially those that are massively overcrowded, are not immune to this purging, either. Many schools boot the riff-raff before testing time so they don't bring the scores down.
Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 8:25 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
this list here is just the start and first: "Principal Hightower was handpicked to lead Bethune, in case you didn't know."
UNTRUE--I was there--Arne asked at an AMPS meeting for principals to come forward if they were interested in a turnaround school--and she went to him. She was having problems at Kellogg and burned parents--she was smart to take this opportunity. Worth it to watch the scores there. As for Ames, ASK the LSC about it. She HAD to go to Elgin--she was run out of town. The problem is that when they fail, they really fail and they do not know how to correct this learned behavior from their nl program. They are usurpers and egoists--bad for schools, bad for students.
UNTRUE--I was there--Arne asked at an AMPS meeting for principals to come forward if they were interested in a turnaround school--and she went to him. She was having problems at Kellogg and burned parents--she was smart to take this opportunity. Worth it to watch the scores there. As for Ames, ASK the LSC about it. She HAD to go to Elgin--she was run out of town. The problem is that when they fail, they really fail and they do not know how to correct this learned behavior from their nl program. They are usurpers and egoists--bad for schools, bad for students.
Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 8:29 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
"Magnets and neighborhood schools, especially those that are massively overcrowded, are not immune to this purging, either. Many schools boot the riff-raff before testing time so they don't bring the scores down."
Right on on all you say above. But guess what--the charters are taking away selective enrollemnt students--what will we do whne the selective enromment and lottery schools' socre go down--oh what will we do?
Right on on all you say above. But guess what--the charters are taking away selective enrollemnt students--what will we do whne the selective enromment and lottery schools' socre go down--oh what will we do?
Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 8:35 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
the low scoring schools, but it was not my school so I was not concerend, then they went after the neighborhood school, good scores, but I did not care becasue it was not my school, then they went aftet the lottery schools, but we have even higher scores, so who cares, then they want after the selective enrollment schools and I had to try to get a job at a charter school. Or there will only be hell holes of neighborhood on-probation-forever schools that have children that NO ONE wants!
Tue Jul 21, 2009 at 8:44 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
to "Charters came after":
That is a good parody (maybe too true to be parody?)!
That is a good parody (maybe too true to be parody?)!
Wed Jul 22, 2009 at 5:09 PM
First Lady Recruited For New Leaders Job
It's interesting that defenders of tyrannical or incompetent principals, whether they are NLNS or UIC trained, automatically assume that the entire faculty is lying and the principal is the victim. If these miracle principals are so great why wouldn't the teachers be delighted to have them leading them to the promised land?
Of course the usual answer is that teachers are lazy and old. Sure that's it. Tyrannical principals are just unlucky enough to be hired by an LSC that doesn't disclose what the new principal is in for.
Only people who are not involved with the tyrants feel the need to voice an opinion about how mischaracterized the principals are. Wonder why they don't apply for a job at these schools? After all, tyrannical principals are getting rid of veteran teachers as fast as they can.
Of course the usual answer is that teachers are lazy and old. Sure that's it. Tyrannical principals are just unlucky enough to be hired by an LSC that doesn't disclose what the new principal is in for.
Only people who are not involved with the tyrants feel the need to voice an opinion about how mischaracterized the principals are. Wonder why they don't apply for a job at these schools? After all, tyrannical principals are getting rid of veteran teachers as fast as they can.
