Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:From my view since he got here:
Move to DIEBELS and math inventory. Relying on PALS was a joke. We used to get no objective info on math progress.
Move away from crap-tastic Lucy Calkins curriculum and back to teaching reading properly.
Middle school intensified classes (this is huge and if you're not there yet you don't know how huge it is)
Much clearer and more consistent communication about things I actually care about
The recent announcement about the ability to lock down the school ipads and laptops at home is a big improvement
I am impressed with his budget proposal this year and how much it is focused on the reality of the drug and mental health situations in the middle high schools. Some things that should make a real difference.
Eh the move to phonics based instruction was state mandated, not anything to do with Duran although I agree that phonics instruction IS reading instruction, I wouldn't give that to Duran as a win. I also am not anti-Duran, but cautiously optimistic that after growing central office, he will start to control and tame the beast. I'm willing to give him more time especially in the current hiring environment.
Duran was hired BECAUSE of his expertise in literacy. Look at all the other school districts and you'll see how far ahead APS is on reforming its curriculum, testing, etc. Sure, the NAACP advocated, but that is a far cry from getting it done. He's done so much for literacy in a short time. APS is light-years ahead of the rest of the state on this issue.
Nope APS did this, it was not state driven.