The article starts with the statements:
Iredell-Statesville Schools officials aren't completely satisfied with the district's showing in the Adequate Yearly Progress report for 2008-09.
That's the right and politically correct thing to say, but the results - combined with rising SAT scores and graduation rates - provide another sign that I-SS is moving in the right direction.
The article then ends with the following statement:
Parents, teachers, and taxpayers should expect Mr. Johnson and other top administrators to continue on the course set by Dr. Holliday until the school board advises otherwise.
Yes, I-SS has had a number of successes over the last few years, but as has been pointed out in this blog, many of those successes have been in spite of Dr. Holliday's initiatives rather than because of them. As the records have shown, Dr. Holliday has spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer's dollars to implement his version of the Baldrige plan. A plan that has alienated many students, parents, teachers, teacher assistants, and other Iredell Citizens.
As many people have commented on this blog, Mr. Johnson is known to be an honest and professional man who has the student's best interests at heart. I personally hope that Mr. Johnson is given the freedom to change the focus of the administration away from the superintendent and toward the students.
I suggest that we thank Mr. Johnson for agreeing to take the interim position and offer him our support.
We should all thank Mr. Johnson. He has an opportunity to lead Iredell Statesville Schools on a path to success without Baldrige. Of course even though the Hollidays are gone there are some who remain with their new interventions/innovations to introduce to ISS for the sole purpose of data collection to present at Conferences and make a name for themselves. Beware!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a waste of paper - literally. We had it in our classroom and it was mostly used to cover and protect desks during art. How much money could be saved by doing away with that cost? No wonder they love Holliday, he's (or was) their number one subscriber!
ReplyDeleteDuring this time of transition. Mr. Johnson and the BoE have an opportunity to take a triage approach and stop the bleeding of hundreds of thousands of wasted I-SS dollars.
ReplyDeleteGet rid of the waste at the top:
1) Release all who were hired to implement Baldrige (this will take real straight-forward honesty)
2) Reassign all IF's; if not to classrooms, then as reading, math or science tutors. (this would directly, immediately provide REAL help with student learning, and with scores as well)
As to the S R&L editorial...go to the Transylvania County Schools web site, you'll see that out of every single school in the system, only one has a lead teacher. And Transylvania Schools has no "Quality Department," yet their quality is higher than that of I-SS.
Proof --> Their AYP percentage for 2008-2009 is between 11 and 12 points higher than that of I-SS.
I-SS..............................77% AYP
Transylvania County Schools.......88.9% AYP
If there is true interest in using data to guide our school system, shouldn't this DATA be used to determine who has the more effective system?
Let's face it, I-SS has been (and will continue to be as long as the sham of Baldrige has a place in our school system) the victim of 'corporatization' ...where the top layer --administration--just keeps getting thicker and thicker and TAKING a higher and higher percentage of the funds....funds that should be used to help students be successful...NOT paying for the 'prettying-up' of resumes via purchased awards.
No one is empowered in the system. Most teachers have a masters degree yet they were not even allowed to change the toner cartridge in the copier when it ran out. Please do not even ask about the laminator. So as to them doing their own planning . . . please. Such waste and this clearly impacts morale.
ReplyDeleteWaste. Time is wasted on meetings only to forward the Baldrige agendas. Nothing more.
ReplyDeleteThis was to forward Holliday's credentials and nothing more. Students morale and teacher's morale were last on his list. Money and paper waste gone and cannot be replaced.
IFs were the biggest waste of money ever spent in ISS. It is time to change now. Continuous improvement is going forward and not backward.
Baldrige will drag this system down if it continues. The last few superintendents have not been the best choices by our BOEs for ISS. BOE, so please be more careful when choosing our next superintendent.
From the KSNC (Kentucky School News and Commentary)website - responses to Holliday topics - A teacher from Kentucky sent 25 random inquiries to teachers in the I-SS system. Nineteen teachers responded of which 18 were very negative (now that is data I can believe). The 19th response was from a second year teacher(what do they have to compare?). This person stated they also are considering sending the same questions to random teachers in Transylvania County. I think the IF's and the BOE should "ANALYZE THAT" and make a chart. The BOE should send a simple survey to teachers regarding job approval ratings for Holliday. The Kentucky teacher stated they were having doubts about this new hire.
ReplyDeleteWow! So a Kentucky teacher has figured out a way to conduct a survey in which honest, open opinions can be gathered. Wonder why I-SS has not done something like this over the past seven years? I think we all know the answer to that question...they don't care.
ReplyDeleteI went to the KSNC website and read all the comments pertaining to Holliday. It seems he has a few non-fans in SC ....
ReplyDeleteHere is the anonymous post in its entirety:
Wow! So the people of NC did see through the facade. Ask Dr. Holliday about his ex-wife, two grown children, and two grandchildren in SC. He forgot all of them a long time ago. Just ask these children what he did for their educations...NOTHING!!!
To the above poster, please post entire website post. I would like to read it.
ReplyDeleteWhere is this website? Hey, so Holliday is a true politican.
ReplyDeleteI had included the link to the Kentucky School News and Commentary in a previous post to this blog but that was a while back so here it is again.
ReplyDeletehttp://theprincipal.blogspot.com/
News is....Denise Holliday is not leaving on Aug. 5th.....Also Brenda Clark has already informed staff tht she is not going anywhere and things are going to proceed just as they have been.
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting the web address Mr. Klaene
ReplyDeleteHere's the specific page where you'll find the comment
http://theprincipal.blogspot.com/2009/07/terry-holliday-selected-as-education.html
From whom did Brenda Clark get the authority to make such "announcements"? Last I heard, Brady Johnson had be named interim superintendent...am I wrong? I prefer to hear how things are going to proceed from him, not her.
ReplyDelete*had been named* (correction in post above)
ReplyDeleteWho is the boss? We all want to know. Denise just leave with your husband. You are the perfect pair. Adios.
ReplyDeleteBrenda Clark, go too. We do not need you. Goodbye.
Mr. Johnson get rid of those who no longer belong here. You are the boss,not them .Thanks.
Fascinating news from South Carolina!!! Thanks for bringing this to Iredell County's attention. It figures!!!
ReplyDeleteThe news for SC is most interesting...how can someone who claims to care about children ignore his own children and grandchildren?
ReplyDeleteThe poster said he hadn't contributed to their educations in any way.... This is the height of hypocrisy.
As skeptical as you all are of the facts, it is amazing that you take one comment from a website and assume it is the truth. Not to mention how incredibly inappropriate and rude it is to speak about Dr. Holliday's family or attack him personally. Please remember that he is a human being just like the rest of you. How would you all like to be spoken about in this way? It is no wonder you all are not making any strides with the board and have only 3-4 "supporters" show up at board meetings. The "hight of hypocrisy", in fact, lies within your group who assures the public you are seeking the truth when in fact you are spreading lies and defaming rumors taken from an anonymous comment on a random website or those spread through the grapevine.
ReplyDeleteTo the post above 7/31 12:28:
ReplyDeleteLa De Da Da . . . If you don't like it then don't read it! It's called a blog, not the gospel truth. If you are correct that there are only "3-4 supporters" then why should you care? Perhaps the blogger that referenced the situation in SC could post where and when they found the information. Would that then make you happy? Most of the information has been referenced back to other websites or articles. We will try to satisfy your need for accuracy. So if everyone could please back up their comments for the above blogger.
Actually, I'm sure there are more than 3-4 supporters. I don't go to the meetings because I'm afraid of losing my job or not receiving tenure. I know others who have because they've disagreed with "the man." There are many teachers who feel the same way. We have no voice because we have no protection. Is this the type of man you are defending? That's a pity.
ReplyDeleteExactly, hence my sarcastic reply to 12:28pm. The blog from kentucky has a wonderful entry from Richard Day, the moderator, titled "Reflections of an occassional semi-journalist". In the piece, he reflects on the differences between a journalist and a blogger. I would suggest many read the article. It is especially interesting when he outlines the responsibilities, as he sees them, of a true journalist and how it differs from bloggers. I think most people on this blog have felt that they had no voice in the system and no journalistic oversight from their local paper. Perhaps if a true journalist had asked the "tough" questions, then there may not have even been a need for this blog. We will never know and we can only move forward.
ReplyDelete