Anonymous wrote:
"New Post Please...
This in this mornings Post, http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2015/06/11/Pittsburgh-career-and-technical-education-programs-get-financial-boost/stories/201506110185
If PPS had this program in the past, why did they eliminate it? I thought this program was also at Langley High School. If it was a "robust" and "rigorous" program, why did it not survive. If it was not viable then, why do it again now? Once the AFT money dries up, will PPS continue to fund it?
How about the instructor. Will he/she be certified? Is there a vocational certificate to qualify one to teach this program? Is Angela Mike certified to be the director? "
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26 comments:
The statement that the public safety program at Peabody was discontinued "years ago" may give the impression that it happened many years ago. But actually this is another one of those instances when this administration, or the Roosevelt/Lane administrations, make a change and then a few years later claim credit for reversing the change, in this case terminating the public safety program and then bringing it back.
Allderdice seems like a strange place for the program. Why not put it with students who are most seeking career training opportunities?
Yup- everything ugly happened from 2006 onward-- rough 9 years--This adminsitration has had little regard for CTE porgrams, for technology growth, or for students being on an equal footing with students in other districts. The Promise is a great program-- but are our "promise ready" students on a equal footing with beginning college students across the state?
Also, many former students seem to have issues with qualifying tests- such as National Teacher's exam etc. If you talk to students who do well on these exams, most say that it was because alot of the skills required are those that they learned in comprehensive high schools, not college.
The article states that the program will be at Allderdice AND open to all PPS students. Parents wanting to get their children out of "bad" schools will see this as an opportunity to transfer children to Allderdice. Allderdice already has the 2nd highest high school enrollment. Where are they going to continue to put the additional students in this program? Maybe PPS needs to build an additional wing onto the school?
When the robotics program initially started at Allderdice, parents used that as an excuse to get children into Allderdice. Many of those students never belonged in the robotics program. They weren't interested or qualified academically.
In response to Questioner 10:53,
I agree. Also if these programs help to attract students to a school, why not house it at U Prep. Hopefully it is poised for a revitalization under new proposed leadership. Those students deserve first access to a new program such as this. It's the least PPS could do for them.
Why not find a central location for CTE programs for students only who wants to participate instead of putting it in certain schools for parents have excuse to transfer to another school this rate there be no excuse to transfer but really want to be in such an program like CTE
It be nice if PPS explore this option
Strangely that was the purpose of...Connelley Trade...centrally located, even "continuation school" for those who needed training but didnt want to stay in regular high school. Yes, in those fields there was a need to upgrade-- there always is! But this city allowed working programs to die -- because well why?
Yep, meant to note "That was Connelly." Great building, in the hands of a private owner now, doing good work buy why couldn't it have stayed a public asset?
Just one thing, the old public safety program at Peabody was discontinued due to lack of interest and could not draw students.
How much effort was put into marketing/ informing students about the public safety program v marketing sci tech for example? And peabody itself was not attracting many students.
Funny, Mr. John Tokarski, spoke at the agenda review, allegedly in attendance at the behest of Ms. Mike, but she had already left for the evening. Although Mr. Tokarski is quite popular, I wonder how many people are put out that speaking at an agenda review is limited to staff and board members and somebody can show up and speak during a meeting unannounced and without being on the agenda?
Absolutely! Angela Mike is certified and qualified! Why is that question being asked?
The question may just come from people who recall a non-certified superintendent at the helm. it will interesting to see where a public safety academy will end up. each argument in favor of a high school had merit, but I can see a negative with each location, too. as just a resident, with no horses (Kids) in the race anymore, it is hard to say that our most centrally located, easily accessed school, does not exist to make a choice of location easier.
Re: someone speaking at the agenda- back at the final Schenley meeting a Board member walked out rather than listen to a scheduled outside speaker who was trying to explain, as was later proven by testing, that Schenley actually had minimal asbestos.
11:29, it was my understanding that when Ms. Mike was appointed to the position of director, she did not hold a Vocational Education Directors certificate. There was one man in the district who did hold such a certificate. He was passed over by Mark Roosevelt, a Broad graduate. Mr. Roosevelt seemed to place plenty of people without credentials into various positions. Since it appears Roosevelt put CTE in the toilet and Ms. Mike pulled the handle, Is there any wonder why somebody has questioned her qualifications?
Here is the link to the PDE webpage outlining the various certifications.
http://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20–%20Administrators/Certifications/Pennsylvania%20Certification/Pages/Administrative-Supervision-Certification.aspx#.VYXBL43bLjJ
Point well-taken 3:45. I believe your statement of the situation is accurate and there may be a PG article bearing out those facts. While I do not recall the name I do know there was a CTE teacher certified as director who was passed over.
That CTE teacher actually sued and won a settlement- article was linked here on PURE Reform at the time.
And yet another link.
http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/05/15/former-pittsburgh-welding-teacher-sues-alleging-sex-discriminati/
6-19, 11:29, I hope you can see how someone might ask such a question such as this. Roosevelt had a way of putting people into administrative positions that he could work like a hand puppet.
He was not the first though. Years before, a handful of nurses were hired without the full certification needed. They were to complete a program to become a CRNP. None of that group completed the required program. Roosevelt and Lane were not part of that one.
The human resource history lesson above is awful and makes one want to pound a table. Is this typical of school districts?
This practice still occurs or they repost the job leaving out qualifications that were needed on the first posting. No one finds it funny that most PELAs had a direct tie/link to Lippert. VPs are hand picked by principals, who pick friends or someone they can puppet never someone who will question or push thinking or the most qualified. It is a shame to think of how many people were passed over because they thought outside the box, weren't afraid to question, are educated and can see the whole picture collectively. Imagine where we might be. .
I imagine that they who think outside the box, aren't afraid to question, are educated and can see the whole picture collectively aren't inside PPS's box to begin with.
I disagree 9:06...they are still in the classroom
What 6:46 describes is what most worried parents when RISE was even still in the planning stages. Unbiased evaluations seem impossible in our system. Relationships will always matter and connections shouldn't be important but are.
6:46...imagine where we might be...http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2015/06/24/Hill-House-charter-school-holds-first-graduation/stories/201506200048
In case anyone is questioning the certifications of the staff at the Passport Academy you can read the comment to today's PG article by Lucy Busch.
just a thought, pps seems to be unable to assess future needs and now will play catch up. had pps beefed up a public safety academy 10 years ago we might be closer to gaining a more diverse police force.
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