On another post Anonymous wrote:
"Westinghouse was never totally out of control with fights and fear the dominating climate.
Teaching
and learning are serious problems at both schools for whatever reasons,
but the total chaos described at UPrep is downright dangerous."
- If that is the case, it seems that people just do not understand. At the task force meeting there was a passionate description of students crying out for help, but there was no real reaction and speakers turned to other issues. Most, probably all, of those at the table are or were "involved parents" and likely assume that if conditions were really that bad parents would be out in force.
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28 comments:
A leader is needed. One who is fearless, visionary and politically astute in decision making. Until a leader emerges___ the desks, the fists, the chaos will continue to fly and fall like leaves from trees.
Since the district obviously believes in both Principals,(at U Prep and Obama) why not do a switch just to see if there is a change or difference at these two schools.
What would they have to lose if the District believes in the two Principals?
An interesting idea, although since the Obama principal is also an assistant superintendent this year with responsibility for U Prep, it could be argued that he already has influence over U Prep.
Do any of the 9 odd assistant superintendents have a record of success a challenging (ie, non-magnet or charter, 80%+ free/reduced lunch) school?
However, since Obama is said to be a good school, maybe this would give Hardy a chance to redeem himself. It would also test the influence of Walters (without Hardy) at U Prep and keep him in charge at Obama.
Walters has too much on his plate given the size of Obama and duties of Assistant Superintendent. This would narrow the scope for him as well as lessen the weight of problems for Hardy.
Switch the teachers: UPREP and Obama. Isn't that what A+ and Gates are telling us--all we need are highly effective teachers!
That is not a real possibility because the IB school requires the IB trained teachers.
By the way, a number of the current Obama teachers taught mainstream students at Schenley. They must have been doing something right because according to a Rand report, African American graduation at Schenley was 69%- higher than Allderdice at 60%, and higher than the rate now being celebrated as a possible effect of the Pittsburgh Promise, ie "The high school graduation rate ... has grown from 57 percent to 65 percent over the same period for black students."
Maybe we are looking at the usual 'suspects'. Perhaps what is needed is someone who has led in the past, loved and respected by his or her peers and can be coaxed into coming out of retirement until the situation is stabilized at UPrep. We need to think out of the box here. Does anyone come to mind?
Maybe the AIEU can be helpful in the search for a temporary 'game changer'; one who can lead UPrep from this crisis. A bold move is needed.
This is what has happened to U PREP.
The Principal treated the staff so badly and talked to them like dogs that now they are stressed and do no more than they need to too get through the day. They have lost their drive and respect!They know he is not a leader. The emotional damage is done and they need to heal. The kids yes are totally out of control. You have 600 kids with only four guards and a Police Officer that does not even walk around because he hides in his Office. Is that what a Police Officer is suppose to do? You need more security! Do they do hall sweeps? Tell the kids that they no longer have to change for gym and that handles the fights in the locker rooms! Split the lunches up! So many eat in gym and so many eat in cafeteria! The middle school kids need to be on lock down! NO RECESS for their behavior and stop the pizza! Have them behave because it's the right thing to do! The Security guard that is suppose to be there is never there and on another floor talking. Their are lots of problems!
What about the various consultants being paid to help- one was called "Success Schools" or something similar, then there was Pitt (that may have been on a volunteer basis), and another consultant as well? Are they still there and is there any accountability?
11:42 - Yes, several people come to mind and that has already been suggested. PPS got rid of competent people. Maybe there is a reason that is not so out of the box. All of the evidence points to a demise of PPS as we know it and a systematic RISE of charter schools (with more to come) in this region.
If that is the case, we can expect another generation or two of pre-determined failing schools. In fact, if charters are the goal, then the strategies currently in place are very, very effective.
But, how can anyone at all justify what is happening to generations of Black children? How? Human rights? Civil rights? NO RIGHTS AT ALL!
Did you know that PPS has one of the new State Academic Recovery Liaisons in our schools?
What is she doing to help schools "recover" and where has she been successful previously in helping schools "recover" academically? Is it working in PPS?
U Prep put the "Success Schools" model in place several years ago and this is a result of those consultants. U Prep has its share of consultants already, none of whom know what they need to know to change this environment.
People who claim to know what to do are not even allowed in the building.
The principal must know someone in central office, since he is surviving all of this chaos.
The same person from Pitt has been there for three years. Her background is early childhood in Hebrew schools. Go figure!
11:42, you are right by saying we would need to coax someone out of retirement at this point. PPS has gotten rid of or forced out most of the strong, dynamic, do whatever it takes sort of veteran principals. Todd Van Horm successfully turned around Columbus Middle School when it was as bad as U Prep. And he was respected and loved by every student, parent, and student. And he is gone.
The problem is the district doesn't want radical dynamic leaders, they want sheep who will blame everything on teachers. The old school veteran principals were the right balance of tough love. Discipline was tight but the children felt safe, secure, and loved. We are letting our children down with this lack of discipline. it sends the mesasage that the adults don't care. They need tough love to grow and learn. As teachers, we know this. We send the message that we care about you and love you and we will make you follow these rules to keep you safe and make sure you can learn. These new PELA type principals do not enforce strict discipline which sends a message to the kids that we don't care.
Two other retirees, besides Van Horn, who I am sure could the job done are Regina Holly or Cheryl Atwater.
I truly believe at this point, though nothing will really be done. I am starting to believe that failure of some scools must be the goal of PPS in order to justify pushing some new agenda or reform(like TFA or new evaluations) There is no other way to explain why or how they are allowing this mess to continue.
Exhaustion is probably the explanation. A zillion reforms were started at once based more on ideology than on logic and experience, and there just seems to be a lot of burnout. The superintendent is expected to retire within a year/ year and a half, and there is constant turnover in other administrative positions. That leaves everyone just waiting things out.
2:18 - approach these individuals and start the conversation. We can blog until the cows come home but until we begin to take the needed steps the situation has no hope for change. Surprisingly when we begin the search in seriousness ____ a leader will emerge.
2:18 - well said.
Reminder: Just because it hasn't been posted on this blog does not mean that searches have not been in process nor that actions have not been initiated by community groups. Searches and ACTIONS have been undertaken--to no avail.
Remember it takes Central Office, HR and the PPS Board to make any of these blog suggestions happen.
Do we not know who is in control? It certainly is not a group of bloggers!
So far there have been almost 300 post on the subject of UPREP. Obviously, the board does not care. If the principal of UPREP was white there would have been a great outcry from community leaders. Since he is African American, this continues to go on and on. What has Thomas Sumpter said or done? This is his district and, after all, he is president of the school board. Perhaps this is where the problem begins.
As has been said and asked in this blog many times_____ Who in the black community is willing and able to serve their most needy? The generations of black children continue to be under served by their own.
HDEC has been MIA.
How about this u prep; have the high school kids come in then the middle school, this way its structured! Start using the bells for accountability! Open a middle school and high school detention room and have the two coaches watch the rooms. All day detention or half a day. For this year no changing for gym and come through the fourth floor never entering the locker rooms! No child out of class for any reason even hanging pictures upon the walls. The candy store needs an adult there to tell the kids to go to class!why are teachers kicking kids out of class and not referral or call to security. Adults in the lunch room work together. I am about to have a nervous breakdown with these middle school. They fight, scream,crawl on ground, swear, and multiple other things. The middle school is suppose to have a security officer but she is really on the floor. We also need a security out at recess!
On another post Anonymous wrote:
"Why is the security guard [name removed] that is suppose to be on 5 never on the floor? She does not even come out at recess! Who is in charge of security?"
Oct.25 1:06 - How can the Black leadership who 'chair' the top positions of power within the PPS, School Board and the Hill District Community at large justify their lack of will and/or ability to change what is happening to generations of Black children?
Speaking Truth to Power.
Strategy___Post the UPrep thread as you would a flyer___on every telephone pole, meeting place cork board, church pew , local bars, hangouts, windshield wipers___ from one end of the Hill District all the way to 341.
Mr. Hardy,
Can you put a security guard on the middle school floor? We never have one to help us! We need one at recess. This would be a huge help and make a huge difference on the middle school floor. You have three security on four. Can the middle school have one of those security guards. The middle school students are out of control and we need more help.
The superintendents need to come visit the school now! It is much worse and they did not see much! The staff is depressed, stressed and ready to have a nervous breakdown. The kids are threatening the staff and their are fights and kids in the halls running around every where. What kind of district lets their employees deal with such chaos? UPREP is completely out of control and dangerous! The kids are scared and the staff are scared of the kids that say they carry guns outside of school. Their are students dealing marijuana in the hallways! The school board has done nothing! Hardy covers up all the fights!
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