On the July "Start a new post" what next wrote:
This question concerns PELA. The PPS website provides minutes of legislative board meetings and the ability to watch previous board meetings. PELA was mentioned during the press conference at Sunnyside on the PSSAs. The June legislative meeting included time spent on PELA (pages 313-315 minutes). Is PELA to principals as Broad is to superintendents? IS PPS in such dire need of principals that we open PELA to non-PPS principal recruits? How do individuals outside PPS even know how to apply to PELA? Do we advertise in a magazine that we have the academy available? When the grant money used to begin PELA is all gone will it continue?
7 comments:
I can't answer your questions about PELA and outsiders. I can tell you this: at its core, PELA is concerned with reigning in teachers. It is a program that screams the idea that teachers and administrators are not fighting for the same cause but rather, focuses upon teachers as the reason why kids aren't achieving.
I will say this about PELA---it seems to allow 'outs' for teachers who can't cut it in the classroom or for young people who spend a couple of years and realize they don't have the gumption for being a teacher. There are only a couple of PELA principals who were worth their salt as teachers. Ask yourself why.
I don't have any official answer but my guess would be that PELA principals are hand chosen to follow the party line. We certainly don't want anyone who would try to think for him/herself.
Does anyone know what PELA training consist of? PELA principals do seem to serve first as assistant principals, and so in that way the program is different from the Broad training which consists of weekend sessions.
As part of our next Transparency Watch, PURE can ask for specifics about the program and how it is advertised to potential applicants.
During a recent board meeting there was discussion concerning a local university providing some support or program as a part of PELA training. I hear the term "PELA resident" used, is that what is referred to as a VP in addition to the traditional VP? Also what is a "DEAN" in PPS-world?
The PELA resident program seems to involve more than serving as an assistant or VP; and of course there are many VP's who are not PELA residents. But all of this should be better explained.
"Dean" seems to be a new term. Which school has a dean?
I have heard parents of students bound for the Sci-Tech building use DEAN in conversation. It could be that it is just being repeated. I know it was once a common term and you might still find parking spaces reserved around the district under a DEAN sign.
"Dean" was simply the "VP" of the middle schools. It's terminology and nothing more. It wouldn't surprise me to hear of parking spaces reserved for deans at schools that are being converted from middle to high schools.
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