Pam Schiffman recently sent an e-mail to I-SS teachers stating that Instructional Facilitator Training will begin in December. The e-mail is marked ‘** High Priority **.’
In the e-mail, teachers are asked if they are interested in becoming an I-SS Instructional Facilitator. Teachers are also informed that future Instructional Facilitators (IFs) are teachers who:
- Have had at least five years successful classroom teaching experience career status
- Are committed to continuous classroom improvement and the I-SS Model for Raising Achievement and Closing Gaps
- Exhibit strong people and leadership skills
- Enjoy helping fellow teachers develop high performing classrooms through training, coaching, & support
- Are willing and able to work and be paid August 1 through June 30
- Are willing to complete training in order to become qualified for future IF positions
The IF Training will begin in December and teachers are to contact Kim Rector or Sherrard Lewis if they are interested. According to the I-SS Organizational Chart, Kim and Sherrard are the Elementary and Secondary IF Coordinators, respectively.
This seems to be another example of the I-SS administration putting the cart before the horse. Most of the principals have indicated that the IF model needs to be tweaked and the teacher surveys have not yet been tallied. The roles of the IFs is still in question, yet someone in the Central Office has decided to go on with the IF training as usual. Shouldn’t the tweaking of the roles of the IFs be completed based on the results of the principal surveys and the teacher surveys before any IF training begins? Or, is that just too logical? Did Mr. Johnson approve this or is someone else running the Central Office?
When was that email sent out?
ReplyDeleteI am a teacher and I didn't receive it.
I believe most participating on this blog care very deeply for ISS and therefore, also believe that only full transparency can show geniune intent. That means backing what one says or walking the talk etc. That said, please provide an answer to the question that has been asked several times here...Are the central office employees who received "interim" pay raises for added responsibilities during the "interim" superintendent period going back to their original salaries as stated and if so when?
ReplyDeleteTeachers I know got the email and can't believe the audacity of whomever approved this. Yet another slap in the face for teachers and principals alike.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope that this is just a required exercise to use up the remaining "award" money. More waste.
Like December 2, 2009 7:34 PM, still waiting to hear when the I-SS upper admins will begin to "walk their talk" and do more with less!!
The interim is over....
I guess I don't really understand how it is a slap in the face. I don't think the district ever gave the impression that they were going to get rid of the IF position, just change the role. I would assume this email was intended to see who is interested and move on from there. Maybe they have planned to offer a different style of training this year, I have no clue. Also, going into the IF training pool doesn't gaurantee anyone a job. At the end, if positions are open, they place people into those positions. Some people go through the training and then back in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteDec. 2, 6:46 PM - According to the date listed on the copy of the e-mail that was forwarded to me it was sent out on Monday, Nov. 30th, at 6:49 AM. The subject line was 'Calling All Teacher Leaders!' but I don't know why some teachers might not have received the e-mail.
ReplyDeleteDec. 2, 7:34 PM - As I posted back in August, Mr. Johnson told me that all the individuals in interim positions would revert back to their previous positions and salaries once the new superintendent was hired. However, if you look at the I-SS organizational chart that was originally posted on the I-SS web site on Sept. 1, 2009, the only person listed with an interim title was Mr. Johnson as interim superintendent. Thus I imagine that no one on the School Board or in the I-SS Central Office really thought that these reversions would ever take place.
To All - Please remember that I do not work for the school system and that this blog has no official connection with I-SS. Yes, I have communicated with Mr. Johnson on several occasions but that was just as a concerned citizen. Mr. Johnson has indicated that he welcomes questions from I-SS employees and from the public. Therefore, if you do have a question you can send him an e-mail or call and make an appointment. I will continue to answer questions that I can, but obviously, I do not have answers to all questions related to I-SS.
From: 12/2/09 at 6:46pm:
ReplyDeleteThank you...I found the email...I did receive it after all.
News flash! Paul Klaene doesn't have answers to all questions related to I-SS. I wouldn't have known.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe I'm A) actually reading this blog, and B) providing a response, but here goes... Though the organizational chart referred to above may sound like a conspiracy, the explanation is quite simple. The creators of the chart simply ran out of room. If you'll take a look at the titles of the folks that were moved (Taylor, Ellis, Hargrave), they're quite long. The word 'interim' simply wouldn't fit.
ReplyDeleteAs for whether or not folks will return to their previous positions, and thus their previous pay, the answer is most likely 'no'. They were interims due to the fact that Mr. Johnson would have returned to his position as deputy superintendent. Because he didn't, his old position must be filled (Dr. Hargrave would become the permanent deputy superintendent). And with Dr. Taylor, she is filling the void of Brenda Clark. Does anyone really want to see this shift back to the way it was previously? Dale Ellis is filling the curriculum void left by Dr. Hargrave. Again, probably not an interim thing anymore.
Some of you guys should use some good, old-fashioned logic and common sense before making the assumptions that you all make. Imagine how productive the entire district could be if we all spent less time pointing fingers and creating conspiracy theories, and more time working to give people (mostly good people, too) the benefit of the doubt and finding ways to help our children learn.
Dec. 3, 12:30 AM- I appreciate that you are reading this blog and that you have written a comment. However, you said that the creators of the I-SS organizational chart simply ran out of room and that the word 'interim' would not fit. If you actually look at the organizational chart you can see that there is plenty of blank white space and there was room to put as many 'interims' as needed and then some. I have placed an image of the organizational chart on the left side of the blog. (You may click on it to see it in full size.) Thus, I stand by original statement that I sincerely doubt that there was ever any intention of these individuals going back to their former positions and salaries.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in that I don't want to see things going back to the way it was previously. That doesn't mean that what we have now is really better. There is still a lot of room for improvement.
I wonder how long it will take for the system to tally the teacher surveys? I am very curious to see what the teachers have to say about IF's. Will they want to continue the positions with some tweaking or will they overwhelmingly say do away with the positions? Will the system even take their suggestions to heart? I guess we will just have to wait and see.
ReplyDelete12/3 12:30am There is no doubt that most want children to learn. You seem to divert in your post from the main issue regarding the interim salaries. Whether or not the "interim" folks will remain in their current jobs, or whether they will retain their "interim" salaries is something that the administration owes the public an explanation. It was the administration that outlined the moves and they were very adamant that after the new super was chosen then the positions would revert back. If what you post is the case and these CO folks will remain in their "interim" position, then let the administration come forward and announce that. It is the vagueness and lack of announcement that causes many questions i.e. were the positions ones that should be posted for applicants. is just one that comes to mind.
ReplyDeleteDecember 3, 2009 6:52 PM you are wasting your time trying to reason with this bunch. Stop while you still have hair left.
ReplyDeleteThanks 7:43pm I agree with you, but we still have to call a bluff when we read one!
ReplyDeleteMr. Johnson was set to retire at the end of the year. I heard him say it several times, so any notion that he was expected to go back to his position is yet another twisted fallasy. As for the interims, they will be called interim for the rest of the year, then next year be made permanent at an increase of salary of course. That's the way it works. As I said before, anyone who actually thought these were interim positions were kidding themselves. They were only called that so next year they can be called a promotion and CO can still get raises while teacher salaries are frozen.
ReplyDeleteHence the silence from the administration possibly. Once again without any announcement, people are left to guess and speculate.
ReplyDeleteMountains out of molehills.Paul Klaene's specialty
ReplyDeleteA reasonable person making an average income ($24,000 per year) would not use the word "molehill" to describe the tens of thousands of dollars in 'interim' raises for top administrators in the midst of a budget crisis while hypocritically telling those beneath them on the totem pole to "do more with less."
ReplyDeleteDefine reasonable. It is a definition that has been so blurred over the years that you can no longer apply it. You want to go after waste send Paul Klaene after Obama. Instead of tens of thousands of dollars wasted we are talking trillions. As I remember Paul Klaene voted for him. Talk about unreasonable. Paul wears a stupid hat most of the time yet wants to pick on the school system to boost his waning ego.
ReplyDeleteThe word 'reasonable,' of course means:
ReplyDelete"not extreme or excessive...possessing sound judgment"
Sound judgment in this case would be to expect those who should be leading to lead by deed...empty words carry no weight....
You failed to address the blatant hypocrisy of these money grabbers...
Money corrupts and those that cannot teach go where they make money. Teachers who teach and love their students have long known that you do not stay in the classroom excpecting to make money. That is just the way it goes. Honesty and decency have vanished with the dinosaur in this culture. One day this system will finally fail, and I do hope that it is not at the expense of our students.
ReplyDeletePrograms built on manipulations will not be here forever. Lies are lies, and that will not change.
11:23 So much wisdom in your post!
ReplyDeleteI must say you people crack me up. I can always count on a good laugh reading the posts... Paul is nothing more than an alter ego moron that thinks he runs the show but is to spineless to do anything other than run his mouth here, "Money corrupts and those that cannot teach go where they make money." thats just funny, you have got to get a life, if you really like or only have a degree to be a teacher don't insult the people that actually want to improve themselves. you all for the the most part sound like a bunch of self deserving arrogant pricks from generation me that thinks everything should be handed to them who would complain in any situation, it's like you all have the mentality of a seven year old school girl. I am sure if you all would clear you're mind and just read these posts you would agree that you all are being a tad bit obtuse.
ReplyDeleteTo: December 6, 2009 at 7:33am:
ReplyDelete"Seven year old school girl"? Please leave the children out of these childish conversations. There are many "seven year old school girls" who are smarter and more mature than some on this blog.
This one is for the blogger that suggested going to www.ncreportcard.com for info regarding teachers and their number of years teaching. Take a look at ISS as a distict and under safe,orderly and caring schools, they report zero acts of violence per 100 students for the entire district for the 2008/09 year, yet look at each school and most report at least one act of violence for the same time period. How can you have numbers reported at each school yet claim no acts of violence for the district? Another example of how the data can be manipulated.
ReplyDeleteRe: the discussion of whether the interims will or will not return to their former positions. Let me correct some misinformation. Brenda Clark has not left a void. Brenda Clark is still very much here and working at Race Street. She is still the associate superintendent.
ReplyDeleteA fool is a fool when she or he cannot see past their own being. If you would ever listen to or read a newscast, any fool could see that money has corrupted many people in this world.
ReplyDeleteTeachers do not receive great salaries, unless they go beyond the classroom. Many beginning teachers never stayed in a classroom long enough to be a great influence on the students of today. Those teachers went on because of the money issue. There still remains many faithful teachers that would not leave their classroom for money, but money hungry people see them as fools. Money does corrupt. Just read your Bible or read your newspaper. There are always exceptions to the rules ,but many still fail.
My generation was the caring generation not the selfish one who never cared about anyone but their own self. It is all about Me, me, me!!! Not their family, not their chidren or not friends unless they were adoring you. Selfish is selfish. I would much rather come from my generation who has a brain that can analyze and solve problems using technology or without it,and still care about others. Yours is still all about you ,and the rest of the world can go to hell in a bread basket. One day too, you will meet your maker, and he will ask what did you give of yourself to the world to make it a better place? You will have no clue because it has nothing to do with being a taker. That is what you are and nothing more.
Nothing is going to change ,teachers, and morale will continue to be at an all time low. IFs are IFs, and have never contributed to our classroom anything that is or will be something that we as professionals did not already know. The Central Office has no clue and will continue to have no clue. This was done with no regard to the teachers' survey. What does this really say to you as a teacher? Your opinion is not valued. Period, end of case! As we have said before teachers are very skeptical of surveys from the Central Office, and do you see why?
ReplyDeleteLet there be peace on earth and let it begin with you. Merry Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteThere are many teachers in ISS that are teaching classrooms with many degrees. They could go else where ,but they prefer the classroom. Life is just a matter of choice. You go where your calling is, and then too, teachers are just like others who change jobs. It is called burn-out.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes , some teachers do need to make more money to help with retirement plans and their families. As I said , life is full of choices.
We all make choices, some are good and some are bad. ALL TEACHERS DO NOT FALL IN THE SAME CATEGORIES.
Dec. 6, 2009 8:53 P.M. regarding acts of violence. I am glad someone else noticed that. Actually that is filing a false government document, a chargeable offense. It has been going on for years. If funding is increased or affected by those reports than it is obtaining property by false pretense. Since Principals get a 1% salary bonus for having a safe school, each principal can be charged individually.
ReplyDeletenc report cards lists the data as "per 100 students", not the total number per district. ISS typically has about 100 (+ or - )yearly. Say ISS had 100 incidents, and ISS had 21000 students then the rate of incidences per 100 students would be less than 1. Just thought I'd point that out.
ReplyDeleteDec. 14 5:47pm not sure that makes any sense especially without a side note
ReplyDeleteDecember 14, 2009 5:47 PM if you have a child in a school and you know firsthand who has been in trouble for what, then you know that they don't report everything as they are supposed to. That is fact in at least some of our schools. I can't speak for all.
ReplyDeleteTo December 6 7:33AM
ReplyDeleteI object to your name-calling on this blog. Your point can easily be made without resorting to playground vocabulary.
You have to speak the language of those you are speaking to.
ReplyDeleteridiculous
ReplyDeleteName callers have no respect for others. It is still all about me!
ReplyDeleteBut perhaps, mentally,
you are still that little seven year old child.
So you are calling me a seven year old child? I believe that makes you a name caller. Some more hypocritical ISS Retort crap.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy 7 year olds and they can be very intelligent and entertaining. Some are much wiser than adults.
ReplyDeleteSome names are respectable and very complimentary. It is all about how it is used in the sentence context of the writer. Everything is not in the negative because of what you want to believe. You can make good out of anything.
ReplyDelete