Fired DC Teachers: Which Schools?

[Anonymous]

Is word getting out as to which schools have lost specific teachers?

I think this system is so unfair. How does a fired teacher get rehired?
Who are these evaluaters anyway?

[Anonymous]

It is never published as to which schools. Not sure if you have been under a rock but ...

The evaluaters are people deemed "master teachers" with a certain amount of teaching in their past and the principal of the school for which the teacher worked. If they are not effective I hope they don't get rehired, I hope they rethink their career choices. As for fairness, I tell my kids all the time life is not fair it is about prepared to deal with life not being fair.

[Anonymous]

DCPS children deserve good teachers, but the system doesn't. I'm SURE that not only have they lost a few good teachers today, but more importantly, they have demoralized a whole bunch more with this terrible IMPACT. The funny thing about DCPS is, ask yourself if you think the best teachers aren't surfing jobs boards and looking at 'Plan B'. If what the system communicates is 'life ain't fair', you'd better believe they are keeping their resumes updated and are ready to bite as soon as they see a tempting offer. And for teachers, a tempting offer usually involves a supportive, professional environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS children deserve good teachers, but the system doesn't. I'm SURE that not only have they lost a few good teachers today, but more importantly, they have demoralized a whole bunch more with this terrible IMPACT. The funny thing about DCPS is, ask yourself if you think the best teachers aren't surfing jobs boards and looking at 'Plan B'. If what the system communicates is 'life ain't fair', you'd better believe they are keeping their resumes updated and are ready to bite as soon as they see a tempting offer. And for teachers, a tempting offer usually involves a supportive, professional environment.

You hit the nail on the head! I have scored very well on IMPACT the last two years and I will jump at a great offer. The culture in DCPS is so punitive and admin could care less.

[Anonymous]

The DCPS Jedi Mind Trick is to try to convince you that you are never, ever doing enough. Smile and wave. Don't burn bridges, keep your head held high, keep your resume polished, and get out when you find an employer who treats teaching as a vocation and is there to support you in realizing it. They're out there. Good luck! DCPS is out of control ...it's not you; it's them!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DCPS children deserve good teachers, but the system doesn't. I'm SURE that not only have they lost a few good teachers today, but more importantly, they have demoralized a whole bunch more with this terrible IMPACT. The funny thing about DCPS is, ask yourself if you think the best teachers aren't surfing jobs boards and looking at 'Plan B'. If what the system communicates is 'life ain't fair', you'd better believe they are keeping their resumes updated and are ready to bite as soon as they see a tempting offer. And for teachers, a tempting offer usually involves a supportive, professional environment.

You hit the nail on the head! I have scored very well on IMPACT the last two years and I will jump at a great offer. The culture in DCPS is so punitive and admin could care less.

Where do they care? Not in Mo Co.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is word getting out as to which schools have lost specific teachers?

More importantly, who are the highly effective teachers in my school and how do I get my child transferred into that classroom? (It's only a matter of time until this info gets out, right?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is word getting out as to which schools have lost specific teachers?

More importantly, who are the highly effective teachers in my school and how do I get my child transferred into that classroom? (It's only a matter of time until this info gets out, right?)

Really, everyone already knows who the good teachers are and they might not be the ones designated by DCPS as "highly effective."

but it would be interesting to know if DCPS will publicize this info, at least school wide. I wonder if there are legal issues with labeling teachers.

[Anonymous]

I heard Henderson during a radio interview this morning saying, "The goal of IMPACT is to raise test scores." If that's the goal, then our kids are screwed. The goal should be improving each child's education. Saying that the goal is to raise test scores is like an oncologist saying the goal is to help cancer patients gain weight.

[Anonymous]

There's a disconnect.

[Anonymous]

DCPS hasn't met their "goal" 2 years in a row.

A termination is in order.

[Anonymous]

"22% of teachers in the affluent Ward 3 were rated “highly effective.” In contrast to only 5% in the high-poverty Ward 8 were ranked highly effective."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/post/the-real-problem-with-impact-teacher-evaluation/2011/07/17/gIQAj6cpKI_blog.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard Henderson during a radio interview this morning saying, "The goal of IMPACT is to raise test scores." If that's the goal, then our kids are screwed. The goal should be improving each child's education. Saying that the goal is to raise test scores is like an oncologist saying the goal is to help cancer patients gain weight.

I heard that too. Then she said that they never expected to see results in 2 years, in order to explain the declining ES scores. This means that DCPS lied on their race to the top application, since Rhee promised big gains.

Wonder who is lying?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I heard Henderson during a radio interview this morning saying, "The goal of IMPACT is to raise test scores." If that's the goal, then our kids are screwed. The goal should be improving each child's education. Saying that the goal is to raise test scores is like an oncologist saying the goal is to help cancer patients gain weight.

I heard that too. Then she said that they never expected to see results in 2 years, in order to explain the declining ES scores. This means that DCPS lied on their race to the top application, since Rhee promised big gains.

Wonder who is lying?

Wow - Henderson is sounding desperate. Was this on Kojo? I'd like to listen to it. SOunds like she's being incredibly candid about her expectations of IMPACT and backtracking like crazy on her expectations of results.

Keep in mind that for reformers improving education = improving test scores.

She's got a little problem now, because cheating to get the scores up is not as easy as it used to be, and after the Atlanta fiasco, it looks like the feds might be taking an investigation here seriously. Plus all her and rhee's reforms of firing teachers and principals are proving to be a bust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DCPS hasn't met their "goal" 2 years in a row.

A termination is in order.

Minimally effective for two years?

Sorry, our children deserve better