Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Changes in administration

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/education/pittsburgh-schools-lose-8-top-administrators-in-2013-700115/

58 comments:

Anonymous said...

Some may be "helped" out the door, and others are getting out while the getting is good.

Anonymous said...

Interesting that even the highly qualified mediator/consultant hired to establish good working relationships among folks at Central Office was not able to bring that into reality.

Anonymous said...

Can't speak to many of the admin but in terms of Ms. Reed I would expect to see more than just her own position posted to fill the void. She did the work of about 3 people.

Questioner said...

What were her notable accomplishments?

Questioner said...

When it comes time for her kids to go to high school she's really gonna miss Schenley.

Anonymous said...

@3:05pm

You are being rediculous or ironic. Regardless, I appreciate the chuckle.

I worked in her vicinity for a few years and was in her company at least monthy. I was never impressed. Please point me to a board meeting where she communicated clearly, succinctly, knowledgeably and without obfuscation or, like Questioner suggested, share her major accomplishments to justify her $90k + salary and newspaper article?

Anonymous said...

It is interesting that she is returning to Teach for America, an organization that is rife with problems and is now experiencing an overwhelming lash back from its alumni. A mere 6 weeks of training does not an educator make, and sadly this is the amount of training that this person who has influenced such devastating decisions has had in the field of education. She was never qualified for her position or salary, but neither was the man that hired her.

Anonymous said...

Think just teachers are being singled out? Not so fast. School based administrators are threatened yearly with the phrase, "If you don't resign/retire next year you'll be on a plan."

Veteran principals have been leaving well before their time because they refuse to get caught up in the tactics CO is spouting. These early admin retirees refuse to compromise their values. They genuinely cared about the students, staff and community. These were principals with principles!

Although several are enjoying their new found life as a retiree, those choosing to remain employed have moved on to positions outside of PPS. Local suburban districts are thrilled to hire PPS principals who opted to jump ship. These school based administrators refuse to inflict the same intimidation and fear tactics upon their staff as CO admins have done to them.

The first question asked by CO Assistant Superintendents in September of principals is, "Who are you putting on an improvement plan." I wonder if the Board Members ask Superintendent Lane this question regarding the CO Team? Probably not because the gang is still intact minus French who went on to greener pastures. Now how can the Board continue to keep CO admins status quo happen when PPS was 494 out of 500 districts in PA last year? What about this years standing? Does PPS CO ever plan on releasing the district and school based data to the Board and community? Why isn't the investigative reporting by the PG, Trib, or KDKA's hosts Marty Griffith, Mike Pinteck or Chris Moore asking PPS, what is the data?

Anonymous said...

10:14. Her starting salary was close to 90k. She was well over
120k. She also got some nice bonuses.

Anonymous said...

It is disheartening to see the people who signed off on the current reform path that PPS is on, up and leave. But it should be no surprise because both Roosevelt and Tarka did the same thing. They trumpeted how this ground breaking contract would be emulated by school districts across the country. Yet neither lasted to see how it would pan out. Now we see others abandoning the ship. What message does this send? Of course when your skill set is only to plant the seeds, why stick around to help see the garden grow.

Anonymous said...

Just noticed an article in the PG South section that announces Ms. Murphy who was a principal on special assignment this past year in pps, accepted a position in Peters.

Apparently pps grows good talent.

Anonymous said...

Yes PPS might not want "old style" principals who were bright enough to solve everyday problems without calling their coach-- but suburban schools are snapping them up. They seem to like really smart educators.

Anonymous said...

8:59, Ms. Murphy showed some strength when it came to student discipline, but I would not categorize her as an "old style" principal by any means.

The old style principals knew the importance of employee morale. They respected the opinions of their staff, and were willing to buck the higher-ups for the good of their buildings.

None of that describes Ms. Murphy. She is, pure and simple, a careerist.

There is nothing wrong with that. After all, it's the American way. But she is not an old style principal.

Most of the PPS administrators who are going to the suburbs are going there because they talk a good game and use all the correct buzzwords.

It's not because of any lasting, concrete accomplishments.

Not to single out Ms. Murphy, but if you don't believe me, just look at the student scores at her last school, Carrick. Nothing to brag about there.

Anonymous said...

This article explains Jennifer Murphy's new position at Peters.
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-south/reorganization-expected-to-save-43000-for-peters-schools-700357/

Note some of the same "buzzwords" from PPS with the changing of positions/titles. I wonder if this is French's influence? Will other PPS people follow French to Peters?

Anonymous said...

It will be a good day for Pittsburgh families when Linda Lane, Geri Lippert, David Stein and Christina Otuwa follow them out the door.
Our city has never seen a more inept, short-sighted and ethically bankrupt administration in its history.
These people have only a dual mission in mind: how do we continue to attract big-name entrepreneurs (because it is good PR in the face of failing schools) and how do we keep our jobs.
Horrible, horrible leadership in a time where true leaders are needed.
Do Pittsburgh a favor: resign immediately Nd find your life's work. It sure is not education of young urban students.

Anonymous said...

When Lane retires in 2016, they will be forced to hire a new superintendent who will continue to follow the Gates/Broad initiatives. Why? Follow the money - PPS is in too deep by taking their money. PPS can't just walk away from them because of the money they invested in us. They bought us and own us now. We are stuck I'm afraid. Don't be surprised if Lippert becomes the new superintendent... The only way PPS will ever get out of this mess is by disolving and becoming charter schools. Maybe that was the game plan all along?

Anonymous said...

10:40 Bingo, that is the goal for all urban school districts.

Anonymous said...

I guess I want to still have hope-- and I cant figure out what happened to all the -for want of a better word-- strident strong parents-- that populated our PSCCs when they started. Yes - it was confrontational, and yes it was still our urban district-- honestly the city hasn't gotten worse-- if anything it has gotten better.. sure we closed schools then,-- and all staff worked hard to blend students, faculty and parents... Not kill what worked. Where are the parents to say-- hey, only urban districts are returning to k-8= WHY? Our hs students are less prepared because they haven't had the independence and the exploratory nature of middle schools. Our parents didn't all stop caring-- I know they care-- but they just shake their heads. We dont have more money for private and parochial schools-- so it is the hope of charters taking out our tough parents?
I just cant believe they all see this, and say...well we are getting the promise so I take substandard everything?

Anonymous said...

Parents DID (and do) fight -- against the closings, the K-8 (and even more the truly crazy 6-12), and many of the other cuts and bad changes.

But, it doesn't make it on the news or in the newspaper as a valid concern. When it's big enough that they have to report it (like the Schenley closings) they continually paint the parents as ill-informed: "They don't care about asbestos! They don't care about safety!" Oh, wait, 5 years later we learn that there was no asbestos problem as described...

Parents that speak up in school meetings -- aren't heard. It's not that there aren't angry parents, it's that they don't have any way of making their voices loud enough to get past the District PR machine.

Mark Rauterkus said...

Perhaps many of the strident strong parents strode out if the city?

About 1,000 students depart PPS every year. Many have voted with their feet.

Anonymous said...

One of the best thing any school district or organization, for that matter, can do is ask a simple question to those who depart: Why are you leaving?

PPS has never done this. They are afraid of what the answers would be.

Yes, the district has short-sighted, self-serving leadership that has failed its students. It believes that the Promise should be the butterfly bandaid for the 20 inch wound but the mass exodus should speak volumes. People aren't buying it and many are cognizant of the idea that a canned, poorly planned curriculum will not prepare Johnny for college, no matter how much money you throw at him.

Funny the PG doesn't report the decline of student population. I guess if the PR office doesn't send a press release, the PG doesn't believe it happened.
Horrible newspaper in a time when it should be exploring the problems.

Like Lane and her people, Shribman has done Pittsburghers a disservice.

Questioner said...

The PG usually has an article about yearly enrollment. How many of those students actually live outside pittsburgh or are attending on paper only is another matter.

Anonymous said...

other than Wilkinsburg, it has been a dacade-- back to they heyday of Schenley! that kids were using false addresses to fake into PPS-- maybe some students with family distress--
even with the promise. They also need to explain schools that had 600, now down to 400 -with right sizing and adding about 150 -- they dont want to hear that it is poor admin. How many schools can you walk into "cold" and see orderly school happening?

Anonymous said...

We moved out of state last year. PPS still has him enrolled despite numerous phone calls and emails. We now get mail from CAPA and PPS directly mailed to us in Chicago. We keep joking that our son will get a degree from PPS regardless.

Anonymous said...

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/life/seen/the-butler-premiere-proceeds-benefit-pittsburgh-promise-699989/

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and PNC sponsored the premier showing of "The Butler" to benefit the Pittsburgh Promise. With that being said, do you really thing the P-G will print anything negative about PPS? And don't forget that Jody Spolar's husband works for the P-G.

Mark Rauterkus said...

What puzzles me is how great the PPS manages the positive PR spin in the P-G and how poorly it does everything else.

Humm...

Meanwhile in other circles there is lots of complaints that the media only publishes bad news about PPS.

Hummm 2.

Anonymous said...

Isler inferred in the PG that PPS has groomed several great CO admins that other employers offer them more lucrative positions so they move on. I guess Bill's head is still in the sand. Thank heavens he's selected not to run again for school board just like Colazzi, Fink, and Shealey.

The departing CO folks have jumped ship because they took all they could from PPS economically and know that next year the boom just may come down on them and the other 700 or so PPS employees that contribute nothing but make a salary of 90,000+. Just look at the folks who are being hired from no experience to just a few years teaching. But hey, MR was never an educator, Lane taught 1st grade and was in charge of curriculum but never a building principal, French was a school psychologist, Lippert was a physical therapist turned PE teacher brought here by French and she was appointed as an Assistant VP, May-Stein did move up the ranks teacher, VP, principal but never had a successful track record of growing student performance. So why not bring in young, inexperienced want-to-be educational administrators, principals, curriculum specialists, media experts, and any other positions that CO keeps filling that never touches a student.

Oh, our Board Members have on blinders. Maybe the newly elected board members in the fall will take the lead with Holley and Brentley asking the "difficult" questions. Then again, two retired PFT members are expected to win. We can almost bet it will be business as usual since CO and the PFT officers enjoy the cozy relationship that continues today. RISE on, pay those high union dues only to be furloughed or forced to resign or retire.

Anonymous said...

http://causes.msn.com/august/education_in_america_2013?dl=gallery_259575014

from MSN - great cities that support excellent public schools

Pittsburgh is one of the 10 cities - but no mention of PPS just North Allegheny Schools and suburban school districts in general

Anonymous said...

2 retired PFT members? Who are the 2?

Anonymous said...

9:00, the two retired PFT members running for Board positions are Sylvia Wilson and Cynthia Falls.

The 10:52 poster is partially correct. Wilson is a long-time union staff member. Like the rest of the PFT staff, she is fully invested in the failed and demoralizing RISE program.

But Falls is a different story all together. She retired as an active teacher, not as a union staff member.

Since retiring, Falls has spent a lot of time working with her district's community organizations, and she is a big believer in vocational education. At Carrick she ran a Health Tech program. It prepared students for jobs in Pittsburgh's growing health care industry. So naturally the Roosevelt administration defunded it.

Falls should be a natural ally to Mark Brentley. So there is still some hope that things will change.

Anonymous said...

Thanks 10:52 for putting it out there one more time. Blinders, ignorance, racial distancing, personal agendas,but NEVER is education the agenda at CO. In truth, they and that means CO and the majority of Board members fit the category of "don't have a clue" or we wouldn't be 494th our 500.

Wonder how much further we dropped this year; no news about PSSA and Keystones can't be good news!? PPS has known since early June whether students improved; but it sure is on the "down-low" for a district that LOVES PR!? Hmmmmm.

The kids deserve better and the rampant use of consultants cannot and will not put good education in place in Pittsburgh.

PPS NEEDS EDUCATORS that DO NOT NEED CONSULTANTS-period. Hope Board new members will keep that mind.

Anonymous said...

Re: The principal who was relieved of his duties (on the news today) - What is his background with PPS (teacher? VP? other?). He became principal of this K-8 this July.

Anonymous said...

He was a failed PELA applicant who was put back in the classroom then miraculously placed at Brookline as principal this year. I wonder who ever pushed for his placement as a principal will be called on the carpet? You fail PELA school and still get a principal position in PPS. Does this tell you anything about the PPS CO leadership?

Anonymous said...

@8:14

He was a PELA graduate. At the conclusion of PELA training, he was not awarded a principalship, directorship or even "special assignment" position. Instead, he was relegated to teach at King (teacher's academy). That he came out of PELA w out an admin gig is telling.

I didn't like him for the brief time I taught w him there. Didnt think he was that he was into masturbating in gym saunas.

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/pittsburgh-public-schools-puts-brookline-k-8-principal-on-leave-after-arrest-701054/

Anonymous said...

"He was a PELA graduate. At the conclusion of PELA training, he was not awarded a principalship, directorship or even "special assignment" position. Instead, he was relegated to teach at King (teacher's academy). That he came out of PELA w out an admin gig is telling."

I am confused, the article states he is/was the principal at Brookline.

Anonymous said...

Here's the best part of the Brookline story: PPS central office staff knew about the February police report and still promoted him to principal.

Questioner said...

The whole anything goes thing is getting ridiculous.

Anonymous said...

Robert Lellock gets into trouble, and central administration knows about it. Yet he is protected and promoted to superintendent's bodyguard.

Alfonzo DeIuliis gets into trouble, and central administration knows about it. Yet he is protected and promoted to principal.

Consider the PELA seminar incident in New Orleans.

There is an old saying. Once is chance. Twice is a coincidence. Three times is a pattern.

Others might reach a different conclusion, but I'm starting to connect the dots.

Anonymous said...

It has been mentioned twice now in this thread that the admin knew about the aberrant behavior of the principal. Unless someone can post more definitive detail of proof it doesn't help the situation to make statements that indicate fact. It can't be that the admin learned nothing from the Lellock situations and the crimes against children. If it is so, a blog is not the place to level those charges.

Questioner said...

Those with relevant information should contact mr. Zappalas office.

Anonymous said...

5:08,

Back in February of this year, a McCandless police officer took a report that named DeIuliis as the suspect in a lewd criminal act. That information comes from the link provided by the 10:52 poster.

So the question is this. Was the administration aware of that February complaint? Or did the Mccandless police just file the report away in a drawer somewhere and not tell anyone?

In the latter is true, then the administration is off the hook.

Anonymous said...

Hey everyone, the name of the PPS agenda is PR. (Check the amounts of money spent on PR.)

This administration's agenda (since 2005) has only and always been about projecting and protecting the image of CO.

The education of our children is at the very bottom of the agenda. In fact, if education is improved the money would stop.

Anonymous said...

Yes, this administration is "off the hook" in more ways than one.

Anonymous said...

1:09, what PELA incident in New Orleans?

Anonymous said...

http://ujsportal.pacourts.us/DocketSheets/MDJReport.aspx?docketNumber=MJ-05212-CR-0000201-2013

If you look at the docket sheet (public record) for Alfonzo Deiuliis, you can see the list of charges and the offense date (2/24/13). For whatever reason, the most recent August date isn't listed under offense date, but the charges are. The list of charges are combined for the 2 incidents but listed only under the Feb. date. This seems unusual to do it this way.

The several misdemeanors aren't as significant as the 2 felony 3s pertaining to the minor. The preliminary hearing is 9/4. It will be interesting to see what gets thrown out and if he is held for court.

Anonymous said...

A PELA candidate and a CO staff member (PELA's boss) making out at a bar in public. That's a bit of questionable behavior, isn't it? At least go back to a hotel room and keep it private. Bold and unprofessional yet swept right under the carpet and the beat goes on.

Questioner said...

The incident described for New Orleans is VERY different from the other two!

Anonymous said...

There was a principal whose school's growth on the PSSA improved and he/she was harrassed continuously by Ottuwa during SY 12-13. Linda Lane needs to check this out!!!!

Anonymous said...

Otuwa continues to cause far more problems than any CO administrator in memory.

How does she see her role in the district?

Is it to harass, to control, to blame, to reject, to refuse, to bring everyone down to lowest levels?

The results in her schools do not support the continuing "harassment" that has spread throughout system in schools where she is the Assistant Superintendent. The achievement is regressing instead advancing.

She is never able to provide support or advocate on behalf of her schools' needs. Its always been a harsh, negatively critical approach.
Why?

Anonymous said...

Further investigate the New Orleans incident. It's far more than what's been posted. Drunken revelry that did, indeed, make it back to the hotel. Bad blood between roommates there remains to this day. I understand there's some outstanding video available.

Anonymous said...

This administration needs to go--far, far away--for the sake of an education that is rightfully and superlatively due to Pittsburgh's underachieving students.

This administration is self-serving and ego-centric, individually as well as collectively, with very few exceptions. The students are not even an afterthought. Its a crying shame.

Anonymous said...

A PELA Principal has demoralized the staff at a PPS Elementary School. They were proficient, caring teachers in previous years. This Principal has ruined the staff morale. The teachers are now rated Basic and Below Basic. This is an Ottuwa School. Teachers are not permitted to talk to each other in the hallways. Good teachers feel defeated.

Anonymous said...

Questioner at 12:11,

"The incident described for New Orleans is VERY different from the other two!"

Correct in that the New Orleans incident was not criminal in nature.

But there is certainly a common thread in all three incidents.

I apologize for being so vague here. But I don't want to expose PureReform to any accusations of insensitivity (or worse). So I will have to leave it at that.

Anonymous said...

All PELAs decimate morale. Morale in this district has never been lower. If a staff member is humane to you, they are wotking on their "domain 5"-- otherwise they would run you over in the parking lot ( another place people have been reported for talking to each other). Conversations overheard in halls have been reported to PELAS. At another time, when this happened-- and I'm sure it did, a PRINCIPAL would not have lowered himself/ herself to call in a staff member over hearsay. The union acts as if these feelings will go away, if they just ignore them. But-- its been growing for seven years. We dont have an administration-- we have a regime.

Anonymous said...

Why does everyone talk in "Riddles" around the supposed "New Orleans Incident"? What happened? What is supposedly on the video? Names don't need to be stated but once and for all let's hear the story of what supposedly took place.

Anonymous said...

Alfonzo Deiuliis had his preliminary hearing today and the next hearing before the magistrate district judge is 10/2/2013. The charges are a M3 for open lewdness and a M2 for indecent exposure. It appears that the 2 F3s for unlawful contact with a minor were dropped.

The question will be - since there are only misdemeanors left, what will our Board of Education do with him? Will they continue to employ him when this is over in light of what these two separate incidents involved? Only time will tell...

Anonymous said...

10:20, I fully expect Deiuliis to be back in a leadership position among children after all the dust settles. It's just how PPS rolls.

Remember, Officer Lellock was allowed to return to school patrol after serving a pathetic short-term suspension for lewd behavior. Thank goodness DA Zappala put an end to that. If not for Zappala, Lellock would still be among children as a school policeman.

Consider this also. In 2001 the principal of Perry Traditional Academy, Robert Miller, was arrested for openly lewd behavior in Schenley Park. Miller pled guilty.

Four years later, Miller retired from PPS. Guess what as? As principal of Perry Traditional Academy.

Contrast all this with the fate of a dedicated teacher who doesn't devote quite enough class time to "group learning". That teacher is fired. Gone. Goodbye.

Here's a 2001 article that discusses the Miller arrest, among others.

http://old.post-gazette.com/neigh_city/20011109teachers1109p6.asp

Anonymous said...

http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/4647304-74/deiuliis-police-principal#axzz2dse2mn00

Today's Trib. relates that another person has come forward and that is why these new charges have been added. Maybe the felonies are still on the books? It's hard to tell the way the docket sheet reads. If his lawyers haven't already gotten the felonies dismissed, I'll bet they will. They'll make the young man look like a liar. You are only as good as your lawyer.