As a concerned taxpayer of Iredell County, I am writing to you with concern about the raises that certain administrative personnel received. During this difficult economic time when everyone is being asked to do more for less, I feel that it is a slap in the face of our dedicated teachers when raises are given at the central office. Teachers in grades 4-12 are being told that their class size will increase and that TA's will not be available to help. Not only will these teachers have more students to teach, but will have an increase in paperwork, phone calls to parents, and discipline issues to deal with. Unfortunately, they are not being given a raise of any sort to compensate for the extra work that will now be put on them.
Central office staff who are asked to do more should be held to the same standards as the teachers. If they don't feel that they can do their job without more money, then I am sure that there are plenty of people in the unemployment line who would be more than happy to give their jobs a try. With or without these people, school will go on and learning will take place. The same cannot be said about teachers.
Sincerely,
Janey Munday
There are plenty of people in the unemployment line who would be more than happy to have a teachers slot as well.
ReplyDeleteUntil their families never see them again and begin to wonder if they have a life.
ReplyDelete"Until their families never see them again and begin to wonder if they have a life.
ReplyDeleteAugust 29, 2009 1:28 AM "
Not sure to whom you are referring here, but many teachers that I know worked days from 6:00 am to 8 pm this past week. With larger class sizes, if you teach at a school that has a large population of students who come from socio-economically disadvantaged homes, then it is very probable that little actual teaching is going to get done this year. When there are 6 to 8 students in a classroom of 29 students who require pretty much CONSTANT close supervision ---that takes up a very large portion of available teaching time.
If one teaches at a huge "mega-school" that has a large percentage of socio-economically disadvantaged students (such as Troutman or Cloverleaf Elementary) then you can pretty much forget about referring discipline problems to administration, they have their hands full handling all the many other responsibilities that go with managing these enormous schools. This leaves teachers AND students in the lurch, once again.
The decision to increase class size in grades 4 through 9 was left up to local school districts. I-SS did not HAVE to increase class size---but they did. In education, it should be all about students getting the best education possible with the dollars that are available, unfortunately I-SS has and continues to have its priorities all out of whack.
As long as class sizes continue to go up, while top administrators get double digit percentage salary increases---then none of them should be allowed to say that it is "all about the children." To some, it is obviously all about the money.
*correction
ReplyDeleteshould read--- grades 4 through 12...
You guys do understand that they received a promotion right? Do you think if a teacher was promoted to AP or an AP to principal that they wouldn't receive a pay raise?
ReplyDeleteThere is no understanding on here, only feelings. Kind of the way a 3 year old functions. They get upset and throw themselves on the floor and pitch a fit completely void of any reasonable thought process.
ReplyDeletemoney waaaahhhh salaries waaahhhh. Yaaaaawwn.
ReplyDeleteI totally understand that these people all received promotions. Interim postions. But they all received large raises for the 2008-09 school year. Lets look at these raises. Brady Johnson: last year 17%, this year 34.8%==51.8% in raises in one school year. That totals to $59,225. Ron Hargrave: last year 40%, this year 15.9% =65.9%. That totals to $40,464. Dale Ellis: 34% last year, 5.4% this year =39.4%. That totals to 32,600. Melanie Taylor: 15% last year, 4.2% this year=19.2%. This totals 20,619. Bill Long: 13% last year, 12.3% this year=25.3%. This totals to 21,626. If you total all this up, the administrative cost for these 5 positions has gone up $174,534.00 since the end of 2007. How many people in Iredell County can say that they have received these kinds of raises. Everyone was outraged when they read about the bonuses that banking officials received. Can we do no less?
ReplyDeleteAdmin gets raises, teachers get more headaches? I would hate to think that my children's teachers were viewing them as a headache. Unfortunately, most of the teachers who do comment on here do not have a positive view of children, only what a headache teaching is. We've heard that over and over on here. That is the only thing this blog is really uncovering.
ReplyDelete1:26, I don't believe anyone is calling a child a headache. All of the extra responsibilities that come along with have a larger class does, however, become a headache. Most people only deal with their 1-3 children per day, and they can still get exhausted, which is why most people don't have families of 30 kids. Thirty children can take a lot out of a person, and the responsibility of making sure they are all taken care of is what leads to headaches. One child is a delight, so is two, three, four, etc... It does get to a point, however, when delight slips into the overwhelming territory. That is all that was being expressed. No one child is ever a headache.
ReplyDeleteI certainly did not say that teachers are getting more headaches. The newspaper puts the title on the letters, not the writer. Thank you 2:41 for understanding what the letter is all about.
ReplyDeleteThose that do not deal with a classroom are spinning. As long as they can put all the work upon a teacher and keep their cushy job, then they can voice an opinion about classroom teachers. They chose to leave the classroom ,so do not profess that the clasroom teachers on this blog do not care for their students.
ReplyDeleteThe ones who left the classroom could not deal with students. They just can plan, do, study, and act on all the data teachers keep doing for them plus. teaching.
If you are not in a classroom working or volunteering, you are the one who needs to get another job, because the position you have
has nothing to do with loving students and wanting what is best for them. I say keep classroom teachers and get rid of the clutter, and keep to minimum the Indian Chiefs at the Central Office. In fact, those employed at the Central Office need to get out and volunteer and work in a classroom one week a month, and perhaps, eyes will open and see the real true picture of a classroom teacher. Come on down.
9:45 and 9:48 could you be anymore disrespectful to teachers? I don't know what you do for a living, but you do it because of the teachers that you had growing up. The reason people are supporting teachers and upset about them having more responsbilities (not headaches) and less pay, is that is it our teachers who give us the tools to learn and grow and hopefully grow up to become respectful, caring, successful and productive citizens. You can't put a price on that. These teachers are molding the lives of young people. Perhaps we should look to other countries where teachers are revered and held in high honor.
ReplyDeleteAs long as the constant complaint is how tough the job of teaching is, that will be the response you get. I would bet those in administration that you are so critical of were teachers. In fact, I've heard many people post on here that Brady Johnson was one of the best teachers they have ever seen. He didn't get where he is by constantly complaining about how tough teaching was. I'm sure if he were to post on here, he would say that he wants what is best for students. And from what I've seen on here, this isn't it. This is just a complaint mill. At one point in our history, teaching was a revered profession, up there with doctor and lawyer. Why do you think that has changed? Compare US results with those countries that you say revere teachers and you might see why reverence is there in those countries. Any attempts to improve is met with resistance. As is evidenced here. Benchmark assessments? We test too much. PDSA? Stifles classroom creativity. Reverence comes at a price.
ReplyDeleteLook how other countries test. They test the ones who are going to go to universities. Everyone is not educated nor tested. Those that qualify as students only. They do not take EC children. They send the students on a vocational path or an academic path. We as teachers in the USA try to educate all, and give all students opportunities.
ReplyDeleteGo to another country. They choose their students and their students choose to learn. Those are the only ones in the classroom. The others are working in the fields.
August 29, 2009 5:18 PM : Go buy a clue.You just don't get it! Teachers are the ones IN the classrooms WITH the students. And teachers want what is best for their students. The poster who mentioned cushy jobs is right on target. Some of the posters on here act as if it is, or should be the goal of all teachers to aim to be in administration...for most that I know that certainly is not the case. They'd rather stay in the classroom where they can affect the most positive change. That endeavor has been stifled over the past seven years.
ReplyDeleteBecause most teachers are women (also the reason for the low rate of pay!) the teaching profession has never garnered the respect that doctors receive. At one point in history almost all teachers were women (some things never change) and they rarely married. Why do you think that is? Teaching is an all-consuming profession, it is difficult to find time to live a normal life!
Today's teachers DO merit respect...the lack of respect in today's classrooms probably stems from opinions such as yours. What a great service you are doing for society...if you haven't already, please do the teaching profession a favor, and do not reproduce.
Families and student have changed over the years.
ReplyDeleteRespect for teaching has declined. It has not been because of teachers, but because of society.
Disrespect of adults is now the norm.Our TVs, plus multiple technologies(computers, playstation games, I-pods, etc.), have become their social and cultural teachers.
Anyone now who can make 30 years in a classroom now should be considered a master teacher. In other countries this would be so.
Well, I am a Master Teacher. 8:10 AM has it right. Most teachers have spent an enormous amount of time at their schools this week. Bottom line, they don't think about not getting a raise. They just think about having everything as ready as possible for the student who comes walking in the door.
ReplyDelete8:10 AM had it right also about the socio-economic impact at schools like Troutman and Cloverleaf. Teachers at Cloverleaf went from having 18 students in a classroom to 26 or more in a classroom.
They work hard and often have to explain to their wife and kids how they need to be at school to prepare. Sometimes their own families are frustrated by not having them at home.
What I hear all over the county for the past three years is that the joy of being in the classroom is gone! They begin to weigh all the circumstances and question whether or not they should stay in the classroom. And then they have central office personnel tell them that "if you are not happy, leave". "No one said you have to teach".
When will our students really come first? Not until someone uses common sense which says that veteran teachers can teach. Our new ones can use mentors and should be allowed to choose whom. We then learn from each other as teachers. This is colloboration. It is not a new thing. Everything that others continually suggest has already been used ,and continues to be done in the classroom if it really works for that class. We just keep reinventing the wheel. This is valuable teacher time that keeps being wasted at PLC meetings that say the same old thing and uses the same old datas. I would much prefer to be in my classroom teaching. I am a master teacher.
ReplyDeletewhat qualifies someone as a master teacher?
ReplyDeleteSee 10:48 PMs last comment.
ReplyDeleteEdward Deming's 8th Principle of Management states "Drive out fear of the workplace so that the workforce will work more effectively." The Baldrige presenters within ISS have failed to do this. They have instituted their own (Shipley's) brand of Baldrige with disregard to Deming's ideas. Ask Lee Jenkins. He certainly knows.
ReplyDeleteOver the last week, I have had the great opportunity to visit every school in my district at least once and in some schools twice to watch the opening of school. Regardless of the year, it looks so very familiar as teachers prepared their classrooms, students arrive oten very apprenhensive,the cafeteria served the first lunch of the year, and principals along with other administrative staff and office personnel spoke with parents about their concerns, and by the end of the first day if the buses returned empty with every child at the right house, the year is off to a great start. I was so impressed with how great each school looked, teachers seemed to be prepared and happy to be back at school, and I saw hundreds of children dressed in new clothes and new shoes busy in the classrooms, eating lunch, and getting to know new classmates. It brought back so many memories of my own teaching career that even though times do change, there are some things that still remain the same and in a sense, all of us can take safe comfort with a feeling of satisfaction that there are still many good things going on in the world around us. I am not writing to let you know that yes, board members do visit schools and are interested and concerned about the welfare of teachers and students. You can also take note that I was not the only school board member making visits in schools across the system.
ReplyDeleteVisiting in the schools only pointed out all the good things about ISS, but what really concerns me is coming back to this blog to find rumor, suspicion,doubt,accusations, and an inability to get passed what is passed. Dr. Terry Holiday is no longer the Superintendent of the Iredell/Statesville Schools and we can not do one thing about both the great successes and problems of the last seven years but the most pressing challenge is to move on and continue to educate all of our children and provide for them the best facilities and opportunities that this community can give to them during a time when the economy is in great stress and resources are limited.
There is so much concern and doubt about money spent almost two years ago, and questions continue about both the legality and the justification of the money as the system prepared for a site visit by a Baldrige committee. I am now writing as a school board member, a private citizen,but most importantly a retired educator who spent 35 years in the classroom.
One important thing to remember is that a school board in the state of North Carolina hires ONLY
one person in a school system and that is the superintendent. Once the ink is dry on the contract, that individual has tremendous power and control that often does not require board approval. In 2007, ISS paid Maryann Brennan of Brennan Worldwide two payments totalling $44,432.16 during both April and November to help prepare the application for the Baldrige visit. This money came from Title II which is a federal grant which provides for staff development. In part, the definition of Title II is to foster high student performance, the training of highly qualified teachers, and the development of professionalism among all school staff. This is the fund which provides for ALL staff development including the instructional facilitators found in all ISS schools. It is also to provide funding for community development. For those of you who want to know where the school board was in all of this, it is quite simple. This expenditure did not require school board approval by the superintendent, but we did approve the Title II budget as a total amount with general explanations as to how the money would be spent. The board is not in a position to oversee every penny spent from a specific fund.
This is a continuation of the last post.
ReplyDeleteWe can ask a member of the finance office a queston about money and they get a confused look on their face and tell us they will have to look it up and get back to us. At this point, was this expenditure legal and the answer is YES. Was it a good idea and this suddenly becomes a matter of professional and personal opinion. Will ISS ever do it again and this is a matter of professional and personal opinion on my part---I sincerely doubt it. The result was the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. The study that led up to the committee's visit was an exhaustive study to determine if the ISS schools worked in a systematic and systemic approach of best practice toward the achievement of high student performance. This is the same as most of us remember as a ten year study of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
By the way, the school system is up for a SACS visit next year.
One thing to remember--Dr. Terry Holiday accepted the job of Superintendent of this school system and clearly told the school board at that time that he would bring the Baldrige model to the schools. Good, bad, or indifferent, he saw this model as a means of making this a successful school system. One can not argue this point for the model has played a significant role. If you talked to employees across the system, about half do not like the model and the rest think it is greatest thing since "slice bread" For the sake of argument, it is a matter of opinion.
Title II money was definitely wasted. No wonder our economy is in the position it is in.
ReplyDeleteTo use it to win something that our students didn't need in the first place is not very smart.
Thank you Mr. Rogers for visiting our schools. That is a great step in seeing what the schools are doing for all these wonderful students.
Keep visiting and thank you for taking time to do this.
When I ran for the school board three years ago,I was very clear about baldrige and the positive and negative effects on teachers and students. I believe even more today in that IT IS NOT THE MODEL, IT IS HOW THE MODEL HAS BEEN DELIVERED!!! When I taught in the Rowan/Salisbury School System, I was already doing many of the things ISS began doing as this model was implemented.
ReplyDeleteThe realization is now that there was an extremely narrow view of the model, it was entirely driven from the top down, and no other approach was acceptable. It was one way or no way. Teachers suddenly got the idea that everything they had ever done with students was no longer acceptable. However, even this description is not always accurate for in many schools with the principal and the IF, it worked well depending on the approach. This goes back to the idea that it was not the model but the methods to make it work. I said from the very beginning that, "Train every teacher to use the model but allow for individuals to take from it ,what works for them and leave the rest." Every teacher is different and every subject is different so what works one place does not work everywhere else. I realize that some will argue with me that this is the way it worked all along
but that is just not the case. Along the way, it was forced down teachers throats, and then the fear factor set in, and people became almost paralyzed to open their mouths to offer a differing opinion. This is where we find ourselves at this very moment.
The bottom line all along was student performance. How best to get kids to learn and achieve. Baldrige is a model with many other models that could have been just as effective. The failure was the implementation. A softer approach might have made all the difference in the world and we would not be left with a school system divided and in turmoil over how best to teach children. There are many school systems doing exactly what ISS is doing without even giving it a name. We must have a means for results and there are many teaching/learning models to use and be effective. We got so caught up in the means that we forgot about the ends in terms of children learning and being successful each and every day in schools regardless of the level across the system.
Meanwhile, back at the Ranch!!
ReplyDeleteThere is discussion across the system and in most schools where I visited about all the "changes" that is to happen in the coming months. The evening we hired Brady Johnson as Interim Superintendent, the board was very clear about the direction we wanted to see in the school system as we begin the search for the next superintendent of ISS. This set off a fire storm and the rumor mill was in high gear about what was to happen. Brady barely had the superintendent's seat warm before he was being accused of everything from dismantling all the work of Dr. Holiday to being partners in crime with three board members and Paul Klaene. I am sure I was one of those board members since I agreed to meet with Brady and Mr. Klaene to offer him an apology for his treatment at Race Street.
Brady Johnson was as I said earlier a "perfect fit" for the job. I believe he understood the board's directions and most likely agreed with what needed to be done in the coming months.
He hit the ground running and has kept us posted at every point about any and all changes needed to be made.
I have been at Race Street on a number of occasions and have been called into his office so he could tell me what he was doing, and he later shared with the entire board in detail all the changes he was making along with his reasons for doing so. In that, I support him 100 percent.
The most criticism up to this point has been his decision regarding the raises he gave to the central office staff. He shared with us his reorganization of the central office and even though he did not have to, he wanted our approval. We gave that without reservation. He has the authority and the power to raise the pay of central office staff. I realize many people do not agree with that, but they are considered promotions. If you have questions, he has agreed to meet with Paul Klaene's group on September 3 and I am sure he will have an explanation at that time.
There has been a great deal of discussion regarding the salaries of central office and teachers. The superintendent sets the salaries of central office and the state determines the salaries of teachers. Teachers did not get a raise this year not even the normal step in regard to experience. During the 1970s, teachers did not get a raise for three years in a row and so this is not anything new. My salary increase was never determined by the increase of the central office which is totally separate in any budget discussion.
There has been so much discussion about salary increases and increase in class size. I can fully relate to that because I was at West Rowan Junior High at the time when Fiber Industries was being built and people moved into the western part of Rowan County almost overnight and we suddenly were dealing with 35-40 students in a class. Yes, you read it correctly. The truth is that class size has little if anything to do with student performance. It is the behavior of the teacher each and everyday that determines how well students learn. Remember, I dealt with large classes in times more difficult than today. Resources were slim. I loved small classes, and it does make the job easier, but 30 students rather than 26 never seem to make much difference to me. Class size was a year to year situation depending on the numbers and most school systems do not provide an additional teacher just because the group just happened to be larger that year. Many a year, I taught over 150 students per day. Also, my salary was not increased not one penny. I fully understand the situation of teachers and I support them totally but many times, it is what it is, and we just deal with it. You don't teach because it is easy, you teach because you love children and get a bang out of seeing them sucessful. That was worth more than all the money in the world. There is absolutely nothing more exciting than watching a child's face light up and he says, "I got it." Money can't buy that!!!
Thank you Mr. Rogers for taking the time to visit and blog with us. Your explanations are exactly what we all need to hear. You have said what teachers have been trying to tell administration at school level for 7 years. Let us take the model and make it work for our particular class. In so many schools, this was never allowed. Hopefully, the message will begin to sink in and teachers and administration can come together to meet the needs of students. With all working together, I-SS can and will become a top district for learning as well as for working.
ReplyDeleteAugst 29, 9:48AM: "Waaahhhh, Yaaaaawwn." Now there's a "reasonable thought process." (Just imagine that uvula, yuck)! If you are REALLY BORED with this blog, then go find something else to do! HA HA!!! You keep letting everyone else know that you are obsessed with this blog, yet you say "Yaaaaawwn." That is funny. What else can you POSSIBLY say?
ReplyDeleteAugst 29, 9:45AM: 3 year olds? Your proponents have obviously graduated to the "tween" stage. Congratulations. Feelings + sass! (It's OK - classroom teachers deal with it everyday - and they keep on teaching - and CARING -- they just don't want to be saddled with superfluous Baldrige wallpaper).
ReplyDeleteJohnny,
ReplyDeleteYou have made some good points! Particularly about the model and its implementation. So many things have been forced on professional educators. The whole concept of Professional Learning Committees as discussed by Rick and Becky Dufour is foreign to our system. Instead, the PLC is run by an IF and real conversation about change does not always exist in every school. That is why you have so many teachers on this blog. They have no other outlet they can trust. The IF runs to the coach and the coach runs to her husband. Catch my drift of thought?
"Yaaaawwwn." Hello! Show us your tonsils! What exactly would you like to say? Cute, cute cute!
ReplyDeleteAugst 29, 9:48AM I finally had something to wake up over. John Rogers post was refreshing and encouraging. Finally some good input on here. It was well worth skimming through all the junk. I didn't yawn a single time while reading it.
ReplyDeleteChecking over posts I see that there has been some effort towards (my favorite word) resolve and positive direction.
ReplyDeleteJohn, thank you for a well written post. It explained alot and also showed that you are very aware of both the struggles of the teachers, the workings of upper management and the limitations that the BOE has.
As usual, the posts seem to die when the finger pointing stops and fact posting begins. How unfortunate that progress can't be seen here. However, I am hopeful that there is widespresad progress being made across ISS that can't really be seen or measured at the moment.
I watched the ISS welcome back video this morning and it is very clear to anyone that if they need to talk to Brady Johnson, he is available. I also hope that those with questions and a bad taste in their mouth will go to the meeting Thursday night and give Brady a chance to shed light on things, maybe bringing us to a common starting point for growth.
Larry,
ReplyDeleteI would encourage everyone to attend the meeting with Brady Johnson on Thursday at 7 pm in the media center at Statesville High School. I talked with him this morning and I believe communication is the key to improving the feelings and attitudes toward our school system. I did the posts because I was so frustrated with all the rumor and misinformation out there that only leads to more conflict and mistrust. We just have to look at each other eye ball to eye ball and deal with all the issues with the realization that WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. We are messing with our children's lives and they need and desire the very best we can give them. I hope to see a large group on Thursday night seeking understanding and a common ground to get pass some of this stuff that keeps us away from the real job that we are suppose to be about. See you on Thursday.
John Rogers
BOE-Iredell/Statesville Schools
I hope it goes well. Good wording about "seeking understanding".
ReplyDeleteWhere are those other districts? Time to run!
ReplyDeleteJohn,
ReplyDeleteYour comment at 4:47 "people became almost paralyzed to open their mouth to offer a differing opinion" is an understatement. This has not changed and the evidence to date is that it will not."
Mr. Rogers I appreciate your thoughtful post. I agree with you that Baldrige, in and of itself, if implemented correctly could have been a valuable tool. That is the problem, it was not implemented properly and you acknowledged that. I applaud you in your ability to do that. I think this blog has done its job properly in bringing to light these issues. It is not the job of this blog to solve all issues, only to highlight them. It certainly has done that. I believe that ISS is and will continue to move in the right direction. Again, thank you for your time and thoughtfulness.
ReplyDeleteThe problem at this point is where do we go from here. Members of the board have been very vocal about the problems with Baldrige and have made numberous suggestions, but they were largely ignored, or accepted with a nod of approval, and it was business as usual. That was proven three years ago when the Cool Spring Report was published with little follow through.
ReplyDeleteThe school system is at a crossroads with many successes, an accomplished building program, and improvements in all areas. One could see it in schools throughout the system. The summer had been months of planning and preparation, and it was obvious in every school I visited. We DO IT about as well as anyone. It shows.
The continuing problem is the division,lack of trust, and the inability to come together to work toward a common good---each and everyone of those children who show up everyday to learn. We need dialogue and communication at all levels and most of all in each and every school--discussion between the principal,the IF, and each teacher. The QUESTION is how do we as a faculty continue the growth in every child with the model and all the tools we have at our disposal. We have all the processes perfected, all the examples of best practice, and we know how to get children excited about learning and achieving. But how do we get pass the past, learn from it, and move on. But to ask the question is a beginning. It is not going to happen over night, but it is a start.
We all know the problems that are in ISS. They have been written about, talked about and emailed about. For you Holliday fans, yes he did do much good and he made many improvements. For the Holliday haters; it appears to me that his purpose was for self promotion and that he did what he needed to do, in his time frame, regardless of the affect it had on people (teachers, students, parents and those in administration who were not part of his inner circle). All of this is the past.
ReplyDeleteOur focus needs to be on problems that remain in our system. One of the problems is distrust and in some cases, fear. Brady and John have both made it VERY clear that their door is open to anyone with concerns. Once trust is restored, the concerns of everyone can be heard, addressed and compromises made. Someone said that there are those who are still “almost paralyzed to open their mouth to offer a different opinion.” We need to know who is still in the system causing that fear. John and Brady both want the fear factor gone.
As someone on here said, there are people in the system who consider compromise to be a personal loss. We all know who they are and they know who they are. They are obsessed with their authority, motivated by self and need to be re-wired or removed. I know of two people that I intend to see changed or removed.
Another problem inhibiting forward motion is the constant dredging up of the past. We learn from the past but we don't dwell on it. Everyday that is spent whining about the injustice of yesterday is another day that becomes yesterday and the problems remain.
I am hoping that Thursday night will have a large turn out and a positive focus on today. I suggest sticking to the simple guidelines of discussing what has happened since Holliday left since that is all the current administration can be held solely accountable for.
I watched "Johnny" come into my school, meet privately with the principal, and walk right back out! we have a large staff and he did not bother to talk with one teacher, one staff member or any students..."visiting" sounds like witch hunting or gossip spreading. what happened to hearing from the teachers you represent! you must have been in too much of a hurry to go to all the schools, rather than taking time at those you represent. Why not visit with teachers? read a book to a child, eat the horrible cafe food with the students?
ReplyDeleteI am not sure which school to which you refer but I visited each school in my district at least once and in some cases twice. Those included East Elementary, Pressly (2), Northview (2), Statesville High, Statesville Middle, N.B. Mills, and Cloverleaf (2). Yesterday (Wednesday), I visited Harmony, Union Grove, North High, and West High. In the vast majority of cases, I visited the office, most of the classrooms, the cafeteria where I spoke not only with teachers and students, but also with cafeteria staff, and in most cases I tried to get to all the custodians. These are the people I always speak to and even seek out because a lot of the time, they are ignored or thought of as being unimportant.
ReplyDeleteLet me remind you that I REPRESENT ALL TEACHERS IN ISS whether I speak to them personally or even get to their schools in the first place. Also, I am not on a witch hunt nor do I spend my time gossiping with the principal. I almost always talk to the principal, and I can't even think of a single school where I arrived, talked to the principal, and left. If you have an issue with me as a board member, why don't you come out from behind that "anonymous" facade and talk with me about the real reason for which you think is necessary to make accusations on this blog. I hear from more teachers than you could possibly even imagine. You are not aware of the number of e-mails I have received or the telephones calls I have taken since school opened. Every e-mail has been answered or every phone call has been taken or returned. In a number of cases it was a number of e-mails and phone calls between a single school employee and myself.
Even with each visit, it took two days total just at the schools in my district. Now, if you are referring to the schools yesterday, I spoke with almost the entire staff at the elementary schools and a large number of school staff at
both high schools. The point is that "Johnny" just didn't arrive at a school, gossip with the principal, and leave. However, I returned to one school Friday afternoon after school was dismissed to have a conference with the principal about a private matter which concerned only that individual.
Before you draw erroneous conclusions or make innuendo about my real purpose for being in the schools, get your facts straight. I eat lunch in schools often and always speak to any teacher or staff member that I meet. It is not always possible to get to everyone during such a visit.
I am at Statesville High School so much, I may have to start paying rent and if you want me to read to a child, why don't you invite me. Remember, I have two graduate degrees in reading and taught reading for about 12 years, and also, I don't find the food in the school cafeteria as "horrible cafe food."
I take my role as a member of the Board of Education very seriously, and I attempt to help any employee that calls upon me for advice or
assistance. Problem solving often calls for getting involved and I would not characterize those situations as a witch hunt or gossip.
I find you to be mean spirited, angry, and making every effort to cast a negative light on me as a board member. Maybe, it is because of my views which I have expressed on this blog. I only did so to provide information or to reach out to citizens who should be involved in their public schools. My views are the direct result of 35 years in the classroom, and communication is the key to returning to an atmosphere of respect, trust, commitment, and the real reason for being involved in the first place-----Our children.
My number is in the book!!!
Mr. Rogers, do you wear a visitor badge identifying yourself when you visit schools? Some schools are very large with very large faculties and staff. It would be helpful to those who may not know your face if you wore name tag identifying you as a Board of Education member.
ReplyDeleteAlso, teachers are rarely available f conversation during the school day. If you could time some of your visits for after the students have gone, teachers would have more time to speak with you.
Just suggestions.
I often wear a badge, but I usually just introduce myself as other board members do. I visit at different times. One method is to go to a school during the lunch time, get a tray, eat lunch, and spend time talking to teachers, TAs, cafeteria staff, principal, Assis. Principal.
ReplyDeleteI can go after school but I often times feel that this is preparation time and don't want to bother trying to get the day over with and plan for the next day. Being retired, I can go at just about anytime.
Thanks for your suggestions and help. I will certainly try to adjust the times of my visits.
To be honest, I am going downtown in the next few days to get a new badge. One other board member has done this and it helps. However, a visit may come as I am riding around or out somewhere. I just stop to say hello. I have been coming home from out of town and will stop for a few minutes. Also, I usually call ahead to let them know I am coming especially it I plan to eat lunch.
Thanks For Asking!!!
Get 'em John. My number is in the book!!! I like that.
ReplyDeleteI don't normally get into this, but I see it as a necessity to speed everything the right direction. I had never met John, but I sent an email to all of the BOE members and he was the only one who replied. We talked on the phone to line up a time to meet and discuss things. That conversation probably ended up lasting an hour. Then we met for breakfast which I am guessing lasted another hour and a half.
I found John to be very down to earth, sincere and deserving of his position on the board. If I have any qualms with John at all, it would be that he doesn’t voice his opinion more often and more publically. If he did, he would have a huge following. He has a “back to basics” approach that can benefit the school system tremendously.
I also asked for some of Brady Johnson’s time and we met for breakfast at 7:00 in the morning so we could both have our day to use for work. Brady was more than willing to take time to meet and we talked for at least an hour. Brady, like John is very sincere and open with his opinion as well as open for suggestions.
I have not mentioned to people (until now) about meeting with John or Brady because I didn’t want them to be accused of being in my pocket or myself being accused of being a member of the head chopping squad or whatever it was called on here. John and Brady are both individuals with their own thought process. The difference between them and the past head administrator is that they try their best to represent the people they work for.
We are fortunate to have both Brady and John helping to guide ISS back on track. They are open to meet with anyone to get input. Those who post anonymously and attack either one are cutting their own throat and continuing the negativity that came about as a result of the past leadership. They can’t fix what is wrong unless you tell them. It’s a new day and a new way. Come to the meeting tonight to hear/talk to John/Brady. If you are still concerned about retaliation, call or meet with them in person. I am sure that you will come away with a better understanding of the overall picture and a refreshed hope for positive change.
"I know of two people that I intend to see changed or removed"
ReplyDeleteBe careful Larry, when you cite things like this you become exactly what you have chastised in your posts.
9:36 I haven't a clue what you are trying to say. The sentence you chose was preceeded by a statement about people who,
ReplyDelete"...are obsessed with their authority, motivated by self and need to be re-wired or removed."
People like those I described have no place in our school system. They aren't good for the students, teachers or parents. However being the fair, kind hearted person I am my first choice was for them to be re-wired. Removed was the second.
In the sentence you reposted my first choice was to see them change. My second choice was to see them removed. I don't want anyone to lose their job if it can be avoided. There are those people that leave no option, which again is my second choice.
Coover - you have so much to offer. How about leading your own blog? Then you could adequately clarify yourself and your opponents could have fun repudiating what you have to say.
ReplyDeleteLarry, you haven't a clue what was meant when your quote was repeated above regarding you knowing two people that need to be removed? Perhaps it could be that you threw out the phrase and then did not identify the people or the specific act. Isn't that exactly what you chastised some on this blog for doing? Fueling rumors, making vaque statements with no backup, and getting off point? Just trying to keep you honest.
ReplyDelete5:11 anonymous... get a name and we'll talk.
ReplyDelete6:08 thanks for clarifying. First of all, I'm not anonymous so I'm a whole lot less vague than most people on here and I'm not making statements anonymously so get off me and on someone anonymous.
As for getting off point I was responding to another post that stated, "there are people in the system who consider compromise to be a personal loss". If it was off point talk to the person who made the post.
And... I did not name the two individuals because I hope to see them make changes so that they can remain a part of the system. They know who they are and I have relayed the information to their superiors. Naming them here would serve no positive purpose.
Anybody else want to nit pick? The good thing about you being on me is that you are leaving someone else alone.
"get off me and on someone anonymous" You clearly show that you shouldn't lead anyone, anywhere!
ReplyDeleteCoover - you really don't need to worry about who is "anonymous," just speak for yourself. "Anonymous" seems to have too much power over you. Surely you can do more than just react to other posts, can't you? You are the nit picker. You are the one who keeps this going! You should consider Facebook or something equally meaningful.
ReplyDeleteThat's right Coover...stick to your agenda
ReplyDeleteCoover, Captain America and President Obama.
ReplyDeleteUsually... people who call me "Coover" are those who know me. If that's the case you really have no business being anonymous. I'm not hard to find.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous has power over me? Look at the response I got to my post. Good golly Miss Molly! Three instananeous responses and I am the one who keeps it going. That's rich. Get me back one more time so you can let it go and we'll call it even. Truce!
Back to "my agenda". I was thinking about this whole thing today. When I first suggested starting a group I was ready to light the torches and burn down Central Office if need be. Figuratively speaking of course. That was when Holliday was here and that was the only way we could get anything done. Here's the thing; Holliday is gone.
Last night there was one thing Mr. Johnson reiterated over and over; Stop looking in the rearview mirror. Many of the concerns that were addressed last night are old news. I think there is alot of outdated anger remaining.
He did not hesitate to address the things that were brought up that are current problems. He responded with discriptive terms such as mistakes, wrong, unethical and possibly illegal. He wants to hear what is wrong and he doesn't mind saying that it is wrong when he hears it. There is no more need to fight like we did before when Holliday ran the place. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Rogers have convinced me that their hearts are in the right place and they are committed to doing everything they can to fix what is wrong. I can't speak for the rest of the BOE because we never hear from them, which needs to be considered come election time.
Good response, Mr. Coover. As Mr. Klaene says, we are all in this together, and yes, there is a lot of outdated anger. Apologies from one of the above anonymous persons.
ReplyDeleteOk Larry, now that is the response that we have been waiting for. Great post!!
ReplyDeleteOne bad thing about reading someone's words is that you can't hear the tone in which they are being said. So before you read what I am about to say let me set the tone. It isn't anger and it isn't an attack on anyone. My tone is calm resignation and disappointment. If you could hear me speak, it would be softly.
ReplyDeleteI have made many posts similar to one above. Positive posts don’t attract much interest on here, so I have jumped into the fray several times to try to draw things a different direction. It's like trying to keep a pack of monkeys from flinging crap on each other. Many of the attacks on individuals are so emotionally charged that there is no logic in the post. I’m not being vague; I just don’t want to single anyone out.
This morning I was looking over the new posts for September. Brady and John extended a hand for everyone to share their opinions, frustrations and concerns. The reactions to their efforts are horrible. I understand residual anger, but much (not all) of what I see on here is pure meanness. Read over the responses to Paul’s September posts and tell me if I’m wrong.
Too many people are still in fight mode. Yesterday I was completing a patio for a customer. It’s the kind of basic job where you work really hard and have time to do some good thinking. I was thinking about how relentlessly I had to fight to change anything at ISS. That’s when I realized that Holliday is gone and as long as Brady is in charge; the fight with the school system is over.
This morning I had another realization. Now that I don’t have to fight with the school system I have been drawn into fighting with the very people I tried to organize into a group. There are two sides to every argument. I was already aware of problems with the Holliday administration and now I am seeing the problems on the other side.
I have no side other than that which is right. Right is usually somewhere in the middle of both sides. When Holliday was here, that was the case. Now that Brady is in charge, that middle right is where he is trying to be and there are too many people still trying to be for their side.
I suppose this is still another attempt on my part for “resolve”. We all know the problems and we need to form a group that can find solutions to take to Brady. I am positive he would be receptive. I won’t be drawn back into the fray, nor will I waste my time making positive posts that go ignored. Anyone interested in moving on can reply to this post or contact me at ISSResolve@yahoo.com to speak one on one. I’ll even be glad to take time to meet in person. I really don’t have any extra time but this is for my children whom I only get one chance to raise. I’ve got time for that.
I went to the hospital for a visit and saw only the vision and mission on the wall going in . I never saw a PDSA on any wall in the hospital, and then I went to the Doctor's office and waited for over an hour. I never saw 1 PDSA on any of his walls.
ReplyDeleteIf I have to do all of this as a teacher, then Dr. Cash ,you need to get busy and get a PDSA for every patient you have on the wall for all to read and then perhaps ,you'll feel overwhelmed, too.
Since I was told by someone who just loves Baldrige that all businesses use this model, I keep looking for it everywhere. What I see the most is only the vision and mission statement in most businesses, but not one PDSA is stuck on their walls. They also should know that businesses change all programs to suit their business, and so should a teacher be able to use what works in her or his classroom. What might work in one classroom does not work in all. We do not have the time that others do to do everything. If it is really essential to our classroom, we do it.
Oh, yes. Dr. Cash - supporter (and benefactor) to the bitter end of both Coleman and Holliday. I hate to think that he will be involved in the hiring of the next superintendent!!!!! Can't we just keep Mr. Johnson - the best decision Cash has made in his entire career as school-board member? Great idea, 11:53AM - a PDSA posted on the wall for each of Dr. Cash's patients! How about an "ofi" for that one hour wait?
ReplyDeleteWhy would anyone "just love Baldrige" unless they are at the top of the pyramid or aspiring to be there? Can you spell AMWAY??? (Sorry to disprect Amway - at least they have a viable product).
ReplyDeleteThe fact is teachers do not care if they all got a raise. All we want is someone to listen and help , and quit sending all the paperwork to the classroom teacher and prtending that they do not have any idea what we are talking about. Just listen and help solve the problems, instead of doing everything the same old way that really stressed many classroom teachers out. It seemed every week that the Central Office needed some more type of data. Excess is nothing but excess.
ReplyDeleteWe need some time to teach our students.