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I think even the most casual observer of PPS can see what is going on within the strata of employment via the inception of this new initiative: indoctrination of new teachers and forced capitulation of existing teachers identified as "needing refinement". In essence, we are going to teach you what to do in the classroom. Of course, this is just the final cog in the overall wheel. We saw many longtime principals ushered out the door in favor of the new PELA prototype. The only requirements to be such a principal seemed to be that you spent a few hours in the classroom, swallowed your sense of comradeship where teachers were concerned, did not have the personality that lent itself to expressing dissent and more than anything else, had the keen ability to continually nod in agreement and occasionally mutter, "yes" and "good point." As stated many times before, you have a great number of people at the administrative level in PPS now who simply were wash-outs in the classroom. You have people who could not connect with kids, could not devise a way to communicate effectively, could not build rapport, could not exude empathy and more than anything else, could not observe and decipher what works in the classroom. Now these people are making judgment calls as to what is effective teaching, and we have a union leader who agrees. Again, it's like a Yankees coach attempting to re-teach A-Rod to be a "better hitter." It would be funny if it were not true.
I feel badly for any individual who wishes to teach in PPS and is looking to come in now. I feel badly for the students of PPS.
Teaching is an art--you either have the ability or you don't. You either understand how to bridge the chasm between imparting information and building trust/confidence/thirst for knowledge, or you don't. And you either understand the bigger picture---that education entails the very act of thinking for one's self, beyond borders--or you are simply trying to form opinion.
In trumpeting the idea that it is "progressive" to the point that a "progressive philanthropist" like Bill Gates will approve with funding, PPS has essentially sold its soul for a few dollars more. It's forgotten what education is all about and it's forgotten exactly who the main focus should be.
A corporate structure that stresses oversight of teachers... sorry, call it what you want, but it is not academia.
I think even the most casual observer of PPS can see what is going on within the strata of employment via the inception of this new initiative: indoctrination of new teachers and forced capitulation of existing teachers identified as "needing refinement". In essence, we are going to teach you what to do in the classroom. Of course, this is just the final cog in the overall wheel. We saw many longtime principals ushered out the door in favor of the new PELA prototype. The only requirements to be such a principal seemed to be that you spent a few hours in the classroom, swallowed your sense of comradeship where teachers were concerned, did not have the personality that lent itself to expressing dissent and more than anything else, had the keen ability to continually nod in agreement and occasionally mutter, "yes" and "good point." As stated many times before, you have a great number of people at the administrative level in PPS now who simply were wash-outs in the classroom. You have people who could not connect with kids, could not devise a way to communicate effectively, could not build rapport, could not exude empathy and more than anything else, could not observe and decipher what works in the classroom. Now these people are making judgment calls as to what is effective teaching, and we have a union leader who agrees. Again, it's like a Yankees coach attempting to re-teach A-Rod to be a "better hitter." It would be funny if it were not true.
I feel badly for any individual who wishes to teach in PPS and is looking to come in now. I feel badly for the students of PPS.
Teaching is an art--you either have the ability or you don't. You either understand how to bridge the chasm between imparting information and building trust/confidence/thirst for knowledge, or you don't. And you either understand the bigger picture---that education entails the very act of thinking for one's self, beyond borders--or you are simply trying to form opinion.
A corporate structure that stresses oversight of teachers... sorry, call it what you want, but it is not academia.
"The academy also will have a teacher certification program for people who are changing careers to become teachers and recent college graduates to pursue alternative certification in math, science or special education."
Sounds like how the Broad System works...and Roosevelt got to be a superintendent.
Wonder what the universities think about the PPS entering the arena of certifying individuals in the fields of education? First hiring a Broad foundation trained superintendant, next PELLA principles, now home growing their own teachers. If not an issue of indoctrinating an educational agenda, then what about stealing away business?
Materials from last night’s education meeting are posted on the PPS Web site under Board of Directors Committee Meeting Presentations. My concern as a parent, and a taxpayer -the superintendent’s constant change regarding school reconfigurations, closing are just for him and the district to make AYP every year. His game works. He is a master and a Pr so he and his head management team make AYP and bonuses. Finally, at the expense of our children-especially the Hill and East Pittsburgh, and North Side communities that service children not in magnet or specialized schools for assistive services. For example, this upcoming year at Northview ALA add sixth Grade - the PSSA scores are not going to be computed for the upcoming year’s AYP for that site and MLK ALA and Brashear because they fill the same criteria with the new teacher center designations, Weil ALA configures to K-5, U Prep at Millones to 6-12 not part of the AYP computation. Rooney ALA is now closed-so the ALA program is going under a lot of changes-but will be have a true statistical data on the ALA academic performance dynamics to gauge its effectiveness on student achievement and learning?
Discussion Next, year’s plans include closing the primary building site for Arlington ALA, and Woolslair Elementary-combing Woolslair with Arsenal. Now all the high schools closing and reconfigurations-for the following year-he are waiting he does bot need that approved now for his bonus in the next few weeks. At this time of the year-next week he will start his famous publicity tour around the city using the media how great this past year was and how he accomplished this or that for his bonuses-a well-crafted celebrity tour of his great relationship with the Union, etc., etc. We can all probably be his publicity agents give the glowing, etc. Add the little red head lady- will give her glowing remarks on every televised media broadcast and podcast with her cute little props and appropriate time giggles. Some of her comments were great regarding Pioneer-but is she working for the PR department and one of our superintendent’s talent agents as one poster made on another blog topic. Where is Peanuts?
It's more like Teach for America (TFA) model for certification -- along with going to the "Academy" those teachers will also be taking certification classes.
I believe they are only offering these certs in "hard to fill" areas, meaning math and science in the upper grades. Also meaning that those people have to (or should have to) have the required undergrad classes for their cert. area. As far as I know it still has to follow state guidelines.
If most of the students are the same, I believe the scores still count for the new school -- so I don't think they'll get *any* breaks in reporting scores for Brashear or King for instance.
But, the new version of at least the 6-8 at Westinghouse the year after would get that 3 year pass, since it's combining different students, has a new format and is in a different building.
From PPS Employment web site regarding teaching position for this fall or upcoming school year 2010-2011---Excerpts from PPS Sites addressing new teacher hiring needs. Very disheartening for new teachers and full-time substitute teachers PPS Excerpts Applying for a teaching position is faster and easier…. Sorry, there currently aren't any positions available. Please check back again soon. What are your hiring needs for the upcoming school year? We are committed to hiring top talent as we strive to be one of America’s premier school districts, student-focused, well-managed, and innovative. However, like many districts across the nation, our District faces budget constraints that impact our capacity to hire teachers and other certified professionals. What this means for you as an applicant is that we have leaner hiring needs than anticipated, making selection from our pool of external candidates competitive. Our teacher hiring for the 2010-2011 school year will be minimal due to the limited number of positions available.
What are Pittsburgh Public Schools’ critical need areas? What credentials are highest in demand? In prior years, secondary Math, secondary Science, and Special Education have been critical need areas for Pittsburgh Public Schools. However, this year, we are not hiring as many people as anticipated in any certification area. We do predict a small number of openings for nurses, speech pathologists, and dual certifications in secondary Science.
What is the use of teacher training academies-?? Take their current staff and re-staff MLK and Brashear for implementation purposes to start Teacher Effectiveness Program? The PPS management cn not even gauge their furlough needs.
Enclosed is an excellent article and great read. Uncertain if this article was cited on this blog under other posts. It was found in the Pgh Post Gazette-but picked it up in the NYT.
Excellent read as a comparative nature of teacher training programs. Broad and Gates want their own teacher Program. This is about Teach for America and candidate selection process.
A local University professor highly questions this methodology of choice for teacher training-it is becoming an alternative to a bad economy- the lack of solid economic recovery igniting production of steady and stabile job growth.
Chosen Few Are Teaching for America Monday, July 12, 2010 By Michael Winerip, The New York Times
On Education, a new column by Michael Winerip, appears Mondays. Mr. Winerip can be reached at oneducation@nytimes.com.
A Popular Principal, Wounded by Government’s Good Intentions http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/19/education/19winerip.html?ref=education This was in yesterday's column. Very sad.
"Ms. Irvine was removed because the Burlington School District wanted to qualify for up to $3 million in federal stimulus money for its dozen schools.
And under the Obama administration rules, for a district to qualify, schools with very low test scores, like Wheeler, must do one of the following: close down; be replaced by a charter (Vermont does not have charters); remove the principal and half the staff; or remove the principal and transform the school."
- Does anyone know if PPS is attempting to qualify for stimulus money? The admin said transformation of schools was necessary but did not mention removing principals. A cite to the relevant regulation would be most helpful.
In order to acquire the Gates $40M, the district needs to match it. Under Eddy Rendell, the state has been desperately trying to meet the requirements of the 'race to the top' stimulus money.
Yes, the district is trying to match the money with 'race to the top' money. Tarka, Roosevelts right hand man, eluded to it at a union meeting.
It must add a lot of stress to be going ahead with plans for the teachers' academy with no guarantee that the race to the top money will come through; unless someone gave private assurances that PA will get race to the top money.
17 comments:
It will be interesting to see whether and in what form this program exists in 5 years and in 10 years.
It won't exist; but even more interesting will be the results.
Wondering . . . how and to what extent PVAAS will influence the process of "teacher training" and evaluation.
Does anyone have a problem with the term "teacher training" as opposed to professional development?
Just wondering . . .
I think even the most casual observer of PPS can see what is going on within the strata of employment via the inception of this new initiative: indoctrination of new teachers and forced capitulation of existing teachers identified as "needing refinement". In essence, we are going to teach you what to do in the classroom.
Of course, this is just the final
cog in the overall wheel. We saw many longtime principals ushered out the door in favor of the new PELA prototype. The only requirements to be such a principal seemed to be that you spent a few hours in the classroom, swallowed your sense of comradeship where teachers were concerned, did not have the personality that lent itself to expressing dissent and more than anything else, had the keen ability to continually nod in agreement and occasionally mutter, "yes" and "good point."
As stated many times before, you have a great number of people at the administrative level in PPS now who simply were wash-outs in the classroom. You have people who could not connect with kids, could not devise a way to communicate effectively, could not build rapport, could not exude empathy and more than anything else, could not observe and decipher what works in the classroom.
Now these people are making judgment calls as to what is effective teaching, and we have a union leader who agrees.
Again, it's like a Yankees coach attempting to re-teach A-Rod to be a "better hitter."
It would be funny if it were not true.
I feel badly for any individual who wishes to teach in PPS and is looking to come in now. I feel badly for the students of PPS.
Teaching is an art--you either have the ability or you don't. You either understand how to bridge the chasm between imparting information and building trust/confidence/thirst for knowledge, or you don't. And you either understand the bigger picture---that education entails the very act of thinking for one's self, beyond borders--or you are simply trying to form opinion.
In trumpeting the idea that it is "progressive" to the point that a "progressive philanthropist" like Bill Gates will approve with funding, PPS has essentially sold its soul for a few dollars more. It's forgotten what education is all about and it's forgotten exactly who the main focus should be.
A corporate structure that stresses oversight of teachers... sorry, call it what you want, but it is not academia.
I think even the most casual observer of PPS can see what is going on within the strata of employment via the inception of this new initiative: indoctrination of new teachers and forced capitulation of existing teachers identified as "needing refinement". In essence, we are going to teach you what to do in the classroom.
Of course, this is just the final
cog in the overall wheel. We saw many longtime principals ushered out the door in favor of the new PELA prototype. The only requirements to be such a principal seemed to be that you spent a few hours in the classroom, swallowed your sense of comradeship where teachers were concerned, did not have the personality that lent itself to expressing dissent and more than anything else, had the keen ability to continually nod in agreement and occasionally mutter, "yes" and "good point."
As stated many times before, you have a great number of people at the administrative level in PPS now who simply were wash-outs in the classroom. You have people who could not connect with kids, could not devise a way to communicate effectively, could not build rapport, could not exude empathy and more than anything else, could not observe and decipher what works in the classroom.
Now these people are making judgment calls as to what is effective teaching, and we have a union leader who agrees.
Again, it's like a Yankees coach attempting to re-teach A-Rod to be a "better hitter."
It would be funny if it were not true.
I feel badly for any individual who wishes to teach in PPS and is looking to come in now. I feel badly for the students of PPS.
Teaching is an art--you either have the ability or you don't. You either understand how to bridge the chasm between imparting information and building trust/confidence/thirst for knowledge, or you don't. And you either understand the bigger picture---that education entails the very act of thinking for one's self, beyond borders--or you are simply trying to form opinion.
A corporate structure that stresses oversight of teachers... sorry, call it what you want, but it is not academia.
"The academy also will have a teacher certification program for people who are changing careers to become teachers and recent college graduates to pursue alternative certification in math, science or special education."
Sounds like how the Broad System works...and Roosevelt got to be a superintendent.
Teacher Academy FAQs
http://www.pps.k12.pa.us/170220210151928197/lib/170220210151928197/Teacher%20Academy%20FAQ%20V.pdf
Wonder what the universities think about the PPS entering the arena of certifying individuals in the fields of education? First hiring a Broad foundation trained superintendant, next PELLA principles, now home growing their own teachers. If not an issue of indoctrinating an educational agenda, then what about stealing away business?
Materials from last night’s education meeting are posted on the PPS Web site under Board of Directors Committee Meeting Presentations. My concern as a parent, and a taxpayer -the superintendent’s constant change regarding school reconfigurations, closing are just for him and the district to make AYP every year. His game works. He is a master and a Pr so he and his head management team make AYP and bonuses. Finally, at the expense of our children-especially the Hill and East Pittsburgh, and North Side communities that service children not in magnet or specialized schools for assistive services. For example, this upcoming year at Northview ALA add sixth Grade - the PSSA scores are not going to be computed for the upcoming year’s AYP for that site and MLK ALA and Brashear because they fill the same criteria with the new teacher center designations, Weil ALA configures to K-5, U Prep at Millones to 6-12 not part of the AYP computation. Rooney ALA is now closed-so the ALA program is going under a lot of changes-but will be have a true statistical data on the ALA academic performance dynamics to gauge its effectiveness on student achievement and learning?
Discussion Next, year’s plans include closing the primary building site for Arlington ALA, and Woolslair Elementary-combing Woolslair with Arsenal. Now all the high schools closing and reconfigurations-for the following year-he are waiting he does bot need that approved now for his bonus in the next few weeks. At this time of the year-next week he will start his famous publicity tour around the city using the media how great this past year was and how he accomplished this or that for his bonuses-a well-crafted celebrity tour of his great relationship with the Union, etc., etc. We can all probably be his publicity agents give the glowing, etc. Add the little red head lady- will give her glowing remarks on every televised media broadcast and podcast with her cute little props and appropriate time giggles. Some of her comments were great regarding Pioneer-but is she working for the PR department and one of our superintendent’s talent agents as one poster made on another blog topic. Where is Peanuts?
It's more like Teach for America (TFA) model for certification -- along with going to the "Academy" those teachers will also be taking certification classes.
I believe they are only offering these certs in "hard to fill" areas, meaning math and science in the upper grades. Also meaning that those people have to (or should have to) have the required undergrad classes for their cert. area. As far as I know it still has to follow state guidelines.
If most of the students are the same, I believe the scores still count for the new school -- so I don't think they'll get *any* breaks in reporting scores for Brashear or King for instance.
But, the new version of at least the 6-8 at Westinghouse the year after would get that 3 year pass, since it's combining different students, has a new format and is in a different building.
From PPS Employment web site regarding teaching position for this fall or upcoming school year 2010-2011---Excerpts from PPS Sites addressing new teacher hiring needs. Very disheartening for new teachers and full-time substitute teachers
PPS Excerpts
Applying for a teaching position is faster and easier….
Sorry, there currently aren't any positions available. Please check back again soon.
What are your hiring needs for the upcoming school year?
We are committed to hiring top talent as we strive to be one of America’s premier school districts, student-focused, well-managed, and innovative. However, like many districts across the nation, our District faces budget constraints that impact our capacity to hire teachers and other certified professionals. What this means for you as an applicant is that we have leaner hiring needs than anticipated, making selection from our pool of external candidates competitive. Our teacher hiring for the 2010-2011 school year will be minimal due to the limited number of positions available.
What are Pittsburgh Public Schools’ critical need areas? What credentials are highest in demand?
In prior years, secondary Math, secondary Science, and Special Education have been critical need areas for Pittsburgh Public Schools. However, this year, we are not hiring as many people as anticipated in any certification area. We do predict a small number of openings for nurses, speech pathologists, and dual certifications in secondary Science.
What is the use of teacher training academies-?? Take their current staff and re-staff MLK and Brashear for implementation purposes to start Teacher Effectiveness Program?
The PPS management cn not even gauge their furlough needs.
Enclosed is an excellent article and great read. Uncertain if this article was cited on this blog under other posts. It was found in the Pgh Post Gazette-but picked it up in the NYT.
Excellent read as a comparative nature of teacher training programs. Broad and Gates want their own teacher Program. This is about Teach for America and candidate selection process.
A local University professor highly questions this methodology of choice for teacher training-it is becoming an alternative to a bad economy- the lack of solid economic recovery igniting production of steady and stabile job growth.
Chosen Few Are Teaching for America
Monday, July 12, 2010
By Michael Winerip, The New York Times
On Education, a new column by Michael Winerip, appears Mondays. Mr. Winerip can be reached at oneducation@nytimes.com.
A Popular Principal, Wounded by Government’s Good Intentions http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/19/education/19winerip.html?ref=education
This was in yesterday's column. Very sad.
The article says
"Ms. Irvine was removed because the Burlington School District wanted to qualify for up to $3 million in federal stimulus money for its dozen schools.
And under the Obama administration rules, for a district to qualify, schools with very low test scores, like Wheeler, must do one of the following: close down; be replaced by a charter (Vermont does not have charters); remove the principal and half the staff; or remove the principal and transform the school."
- Does anyone know if PPS is attempting to qualify for stimulus money? The admin said transformation of schools was necessary but did not mention removing principals. A cite to the relevant regulation would be most helpful.
In order to acquire the Gates $40M, the district needs to match it. Under Eddy Rendell, the state has been desperately trying to meet the requirements of the 'race to the top' stimulus money.
Yes, the district is trying to match the money with 'race to the top' money. Tarka, Roosevelts right hand man, eluded to it at a union meeting.
It must add a lot of stress to be going ahead with plans for the teachers' academy with no guarantee that the race to the top money will come through; unless someone gave private assurances that PA will get race to the top money.
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