Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Does this sound familiar
The original principal at U Prep/ Milliones went on to head English High in Boston. An update:
"An extraordinary three-quarters of English High’s teachers and administrators have quit or been let go during the past three years, school records show, as headmaster Sito Narcisse pushed through one controversial initiative after another — from school uniforms to single-sex classrooms to eliminating the grade “D,” forcing students to earn a “C” or fail. Teachers who did not go along with Narcisse’s approach were “not the right fit,” in his words, and he sent 38 of them packing, while dozens of others retired or resigned.
Now, Narcisse himself is leaving for a new job amid questions about the wisdom of letting someone so inexperienced carry out drastic changes. Standardized test scores rose slightly under Narcisse, but so did the dropout rate, the course failure rate, and the absentee rate — while the experience level and morale of his teachers plummeted.
State education officials are so concerned about the lack of improvement under Narcisse that they are withholding more than $900,000 in federal funds until the school comes up with a better plan to fix its problems. If that fails, one of the oldest public high schools in the United States could face state takeover as early as next year."
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2012/06/24/troubled_english_high_school_showing_little_improvement_after_three_tumultuous_years_under_untested_headmaster_sito_narcisse/
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25 comments:
I sure wish the school board members would read this article carefully.
Can someone send it to them and urge them to do so? Or maybe read it at the next public hearing (July 22)?
His new job in Maryland:
- Sito Narcisse, currently headmaster, The English High School, Boston Public Schools, as director of school performance, Office of School Support and Improvement
Do you see a pattern here? Come in, make a bunch of (generally ineffective) changes, bail before the crap hits the fan, then take a better job where you tout the incredible changes you brought into your old job before it was discovered that you really screwed everything up.
Roosevelt.
Lopez.
Now Narcisse.
Who will be next to move on to bigger and better? Who else will capitalize on the failures of PPS?
Lane
Tremendous. He'll fit right in here in PPS.
This is nation wide, and has been for quite awhile
This is School Reform, the systematic dismantling and destruction of public education for the benifit of privitization.
Public Education is dying in America
With it comes the death of democracy and the freedom of independent thinking.
Sad
I liked this principal when I met him. But good intentions and hunches are not enough.
Narcisse's presentation at the University of Pittsburgh (after he left Pittsburgh) was very impressive.
He had a better grasp of educational issues than the current PELA principals in PPS. They pale by comparison, for what it is worth.
5:50
That is frightening.
"He had a better grasp of educational issues than the current PELA principals in PPS. They pale by comparison, for what it is worth."
The ability to do well in an interview, or to give a great presentation on educational issues use entirely different skill sets than being a principal.
It's like the difference between being a knowledgeable and engaging sports commentator and being a world class athlete. You really can't switch in the commentator for the athlete.
The description of the halls and classrooms of the school near the end of the article sound like many of the PELA run schools. Kids not where they should be because they know there aren't true consequences.
The uniform thing is like this too. If there isn't a backstop of a consequence for not being in uniform, it's counterproductive to even attempt it.
Now that's not to say that he isn't a smart man, with plenty of good things to say, but there's a HUGE difference between the talk and the walk.
I wish more people in our administration were forced to walk what they're asking others to do.
Same old, same old, 7:57. Teachers can't teach because administrators can't control kids.
Well, Success Schools will take care of all the problems. Right?
Sounds like no one gets it. Sad. Sad. Sad.
I'm struck by the article's use of the phrase "change without progress."
The ranking of Pittsburgh relative to other school districts in the Commonwealth frankly has not moved at all during the Roosevelt/Lane era. How sad is it that millions of local and national foundation dollars, several very large federal grants, an endless stream of "next big thing" plans and a cast of over-compensated, under-qualified administrators that we rank number 474 in student performance.
We are in the early stages of a new educational paradigm in America and cities like Pittsburgh are the launching point for philosophies driven by think tanks, foundations, entrepreneurs and corporate entities.From what I am reading, what we have seen in Pittsburgh is taking place in other urban districts or is looked upon as a model for other such districts.
There's a danger in handing education over to these other types of interests, of course. The imparting of knowledge carries a responsibility that entails the idea of providing students a well-rounded education devoid of opinion or propaganda. It entails equipping students with tools they will need for the future. Has this been the case with Gates/Broad? Certainly not.
Three decades ago, an education professor foretold something that no one put much stock in during our class: the government is getting out of the education business. God rest his soul, 30 years later and it is clear that he was right.
With the amount of pressure and legislation being applied by federal and state government, the decision to tighten funding and the influence of big money thanks to people like Gates and the foundations, this isn't going away anytime soon.
I would hope Narcisse will make a huge difference, but is clear that we all need to change our perceptions to address the current philosophy of educational success, no matter our opinions of it.
I'm a teacher. I think we were better off a decade ago, but I think that era is long gone.
Move forward, and adapt...or pay.
Moving forward is a given; but it is not clear what is being learned? Please provide examples.
We are adapting (or not), but to what should we be adapting?
Please provide examples.
"Or pay"? Pay what? Pay how?
Please project examples.
And most importantly, give us the short view of the "education" that will prepare our young for the new "era" that we are moving toward.
In a nutshell, please enlighten us regarding the "current philosophy of educational success" that you reference.
It was hard to not be impressed when Narcisse hosted an EFA meeting at UPrep when he first became principal and now it is hard to figure out why he is moving on to an even more influental position when his arrogance has been so obvious. Stakeholders, incuding parents, had no input into policy is a violation to Title I. His pushback excuse is flimsy and that he was such a poor leader is shameful. The "nobody gets a D and must get a C project" resulted in students getting an F? Guess what? The teachers giving the F grades showed integrity.
"I'm struck by the article's use of the phrase "change without progress."
The ranking of Pittsburgh relative to other school districts in the Commonwealth frankly has not moved at all during the Roosevelt/Lane era. How sad is it that millions of local and national foundation dollars, several very large federal grants, an endless stream of "next big thing" plans and a cast of over-compensated, under-qualified administrators that we rank number 474 in student performance.
July 3, 2012 10:52 PM".
Our tax dollars are going to consultants and bloated administration staff numbers and salaries. This really is about diverting tax dollars from the private sector to the public sector. It is amazing how few people see this.
looks like Narcisse made a lot of mess for others to clean up
To answer the question, yes it does sound familiar. Sounds exactly like Westinghouse.
Please provide examples?
Talk to any veteran teacher, friend.
Enough said.
11:41
The examples requested were for all of the new good things that PPS is providing to students that will move them into the new "era" and with an "philosophy for educational success" changing our perceptions---that 6:46 says are happening now in PPS.
July 3 7:57
You got it right. Our principal was replaced with a PELA this year. The school has been turned upside down by the students who are now in charge. The consequence for behavior that is off the chart is responded with conversation between the principal and student about displaying appropriate academic behavior. Really?
Our seasoned principal led with clear expectations and talked to the students in a language they all understood. The vast majority of students never crossed the line with her. They knew there would be a consequence that was immediate and the parent was expected to meet with her with their child. When the principal is in charge students, staff and parents understand the expectations, responsibilities and consequences. This provides a school environment in which teachers can teach and students can learn. I'm glad to have had the opportunity to work for such a prepared, knowledgeable, consistent and dedicated principal.
Sounds like Minadeo.
Hey the Clayton, Success Schools model will put kids under control. You don't need a "seasoned principal" he/she might know more than Central Office and that cannot be permitted!
Arsenal.
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