Ruth Wattenberg for Ward 3 Board of Education

[Anonymous]

I support Ruth Wattenberg, the most qualified and experienced candidate in for Ward 3. Here something she posted elsewhere in DCUM.

Hi, this is Ruth Wattenberg! I wanted to respond to the concern that I might have a limited Janney/Deal/Wilson view. First, I have of course been very active at those schools. I chaired Janney's Spanish committee, which brought Spanish instruction to Janney. I chaired Deal's local school restructuring team during the first year that it enrolled 6th graders, a pivotal year in its transformation from a so-so junior high to an increasingly excellent middle school.

My experience in education goes well beyond my involvement in improving my kids' local schools. I have 30 years of experience in education policy and school reform. I edited a magazine on educational issues, the "American Educator," for the American Federation of Teachers for many years. As editor, I was in touch with the top researchers and thinkers in education in an effort to bring their work to larger audiences. For example, I published a version of the now well-known research that has established the existence of a "30-million word gap" between low-income and affluent children at age 3. In fact, that research is an important basis for DC's expansion of its early childhood program. I learned about and published on a wide variety of subjects, but focused heavily on issues that were relevant for improving high-poverty schools (very important in DC of course) and issues that focused on the importance of a curriculum that is rich in science, history-social studies,and the arts--not just narrowly focused on basic reading and math skills. My website, ruth4schools.com, includes a page devoted to this issue, including links to articles I published in our magazine and that I have written myself. (It includes an article I recently wrote on the importance of implementing Common Core's English standards in a way that doesn't squeeze out these less-tested and untested subjects, but strengthens them.)

In addition to editing American Educator, I was educational issues director for AFT, where my job included such work as bringing together teams of superintendents, teacher leaders, and school board members from the country's largest cities to find ways to redesign--and sometimes shut down-- low-performing schools.

Since leaving AFT six years ago, I have worked with various national education reform organizations, including serving on the national board of the Core Knowledge Foundation (probably the most respected national advocate of a rich curriculum for all kids) and working with the Education Trust, Achieve, and the Fordham Institute. These are groups with divergent viewpoints, but they all agree on the need for rigorous standards and a rich curriculum. All are concerned about the erosion of science, history-social studies, and the arts, which is the issue that I have worked with them on.

I'm the only person running who has experience both in improving our local schools and in broader education issues.

Why does it matter that I have this broad experience that spans both our local schools and national education policy and research? For one thing, it means I'll know what questions to ask. One role of the State Board is to provide oversight to all of our DC schools. Here's a question I'll ask: We have undertaken this huge, and potentially powerful and meaningful early childhood program. (Under this initiative, all our 4-years olds and low income 3-years olds have access to pre-k). It is probably the most ambitious in the country. But, big, new programs like this don't just work because you legislate and pay for them. They need to be based on the best knowledge of what works, be well-implemented, and constantly monitored and tweaked. I'm not aware of any wide-ranging independent research that has been undertaken to monitor the effects or implementation of this potentially great and successful program. It would be tragic if five years from now, we get student achievement results and find out that the effect of the program has been minimal--because we didn't pay attention and correct shortcomings as they developed. That's the kind of questioning I will bring to the State School Board--on this and other issues.

The combination of both national policy experience and local school improvement experience also puts me in a unique position to advocate for what our local schools need. Take the improvement of Hardy, for example. This has got to be a top educational priority in this ward (along with finally renovating Murch!!!!). On that issue, I bring my experience with Deal's transformation which is very substantial--and which taught me a lot about how to get things done here, in DC, in Ward 3. And, I bring an extensive background and understanding about school improvement generally. I will bring unique understanding, credibility, and knowledge to advocating for the support that Hardy needs to become a very strong, highly in-demand middle school.

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share my unique, broad background. For more info, please visit my website, ruth4schools.com. If anyone has additional questions, please feel free to email me at [e-mail].

Ruth Wattenberg

[Anonymous]

Letter of endorsement by Wilson/Deal PTA presidents

October 14, 2014

To Ward 3 Voters,

On November 4, Ward 3 voters will elect our new member of the DC State Board of Education. Ward 3’s incumbent, Laura Slover, is not running for reelection. With her experience in education policy and as a DC Public School parent, Laura has been a strong representative for our ward. As current and former parent leaders in our Ward 3 schools, we believe it is vital to elect a new Ward 3 representative who has both the experience that comes from being a public school parent and parent leader–and the knowledge that comes from long professional and personal experience working to improve and reform public schools.

Ruth and her husband David Kusnet are the parents of children who attended Janney, Deal, and Wilson. While their children were at Janney, Ruth chaired the school’s Spanish Committee, bringing Spanish instruction to Janney.

At Deal, she chaired the Local School Restructuring Team (LSRT) in 2009-10, the first year Deal enrolled 6th graders and a pivotal year in Deal’s transformation. As LSRT Chair, Ruth proved herself an effective advocate for our kids and schools and an effective leader of the broad-based LSRT team, which includes representatives of parents, teaches, the school administration and the community.

Ruth brings even more to this job than being a parent leader and strong team leader. As a long-time activist and professional in educational policy, Ruth has enormous breadth and depth of knowledge in the educational issues that matter to Ward 3 and our city, including the importance of both rigorous standards in all subjects and a rich broad curriculum, which is being eroded in our city as our schools feel pressured to focus only on reading, math, and test preparation. Ruth understands the importance of “right-sizing” our current approach to testing, so that we have excellent end-of-year tests and high-quality, non-intrusive mid-year assessments that track student progress—but without the current barrage of tests that steal time from the curriculum, often without even providing the information teachers need!

Ruth Wattenberg is the Ward 3 representative that we need. We urge you to vote for her.



Signed,

Kim Bayliss, President, Wilson High School Parent-Teacher-Student Organization 2014-15
Albert Shuldiner, President Wilson High School PTSO, 2013-2014
Ruth Ernst, President Wilson High School PTSO, 2012-2013
Cathy House, President, Deal Parent-Teacher Association, 2014-15; Co-president 2011-13
Addie Schmidtt, Co-President, Deal Parent-Teacher Association, 2013-14
Diana Rojas, Co-President, Deal Parent-Teacher Association, 2011-13
Jane Meroney, Co-President, Deal PTA 2009-11
Diane Torresen, Co-President, Deal PTA 2009-11
Ruth Ernst, Co-President, Deal PTA 2007-09
Sally Greenberg Co-President, Deal PTA 2007-09

(Organizations are listed for identification purposes only and are not meant to imply endorsement of the PTA itself, which does not make endorsements.)

[Anonymous]

Ward 3 State School Board: A Vote for Ruth Wattenberg is a Vote for Decisions Based on Evidence and Knowledge of Educational Research
by Erich Martel, Ward 3 resident [e-mail]
Retired DCPS history teacher (1969-2011: Cardozo HS, Wilson HS, Phelps HS)

As a longtime DC Public Schools teacher and parent of a DCPS graduate, I discovered how school superintendents and chancellors routinely adopt instructional and management policies that haven't been tested in classroom conditions with real teachers and students or that actually have a record of failure. It is frustrating to then see elected representatives defer to school officials without doing the due diligence that we expect of them. Ruth Wattenberg will ask questions and will know if the answers make sense!

The State Board will be facing major policy changes, particularly in the area of subject standards, graduation requirements and standardized tests. A member who can distinguish well-grounded research from claims based on a few classroom anecdotes or political influence will make a great difference.

As editor of the American Educator, the professional journal of the American Federation of Teachers, Ruth Wattenberg established and maintained high standards in selecting research-based articles on teaching and learning for publication. As a result one can find articles ranging from research on how to teach reading and why it's important for children to be exposed to of art, music, history, literature and physical activity from the earliest grades. Links to some of these articles are on Ruth's website (http://ruth4schools.com; check the "what I'm for" tab).

In 2002, Ruth inaugurated what may be the most reliable and informed column in any education journal, "Ask the Cognitive Scientist" by University of Virginia cognitive psychologist Dan Willingham. Each column examines specific educational issues that parents and teachers often find perplexing, such as ADHD, how the brain retains knowledge, the achievement gap, reading deficiencies and more. He explains what the research says - or doesn't say, thereby helping teachers and parents distinguish educational fads and unreliable anecdotal accounts from practices that have a well founded history of success. After having read a few of his articles, you may wish you had known of them earlier: http://www.aft.org/search/site/willingham .

In 2002, I reported that teachers' grades at Wilson High School had been changed and that students were being certified for graduation despite having failed or never taken mandatory courses. Four years later, it happened again; half of Wilson High School's seniors listed on the 2006 graduation program had not completed all requirements (203 out of 420). Ruth asked me to I describe these experiences and the subsequent audits, which I wrote up as "Protecting Academic Standards" (http://www.aft.org/periodical/american-educator/wi.../protecting-academic-standards ).

Ruth understands what we all know to be true: Changed grades and unearned diplomas are like counterfeit money: They undermine teachers' authority, poison a school's atmosphere and cheat the students who receive them.

The State Board needs to be guided by integrity and knowledge of educational research, good reasons for Ward 3 residents to Vote Ruth Wattenberg for State Board of Education!

[Anonymous]

Thank you for this info b/c I am feeling overwhelmed by all the decisions to make. Is there only one we vote for in Ward 3? Are there any at large ones? If not, thank you so much

Ward 3 DCPS and DCPCS parent

EXCEPT - I guess the only question is how she feels about charter schools

can anyone tell me about that?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:




Letter of endorsement by Wilson/Deal PTA presidents

October 14, 2014

To Ward 3 Voters,

On November 4, Ward 3 voters will elect our new member of the DC State Board of Education. Ward 3’s incumbent, Laura Slover, is not running for reelection. With her experience in education policy and as a DC Public School parent, Laura has been a strong representative for our ward. As current and former parent leaders in our Ward 3 schools, we believe it is vital to elect a new Ward 3 representative who has both the experience that comes from being a public school parent and parent leader–and the knowledge that comes from long professional and personal experience working to improve and reform public schools.

Ruth and her husband David Kusnet are the parents of children who attended Janney, Deal, and Wilson. While their children were at Janney, Ruth chaired the school’s Spanish Committee, bringing Spanish instruction to Janney.

At Deal, she chaired the Local School Restructuring Team (LSRT) in 2009-10, the first year Deal enrolled 6th graders and a pivotal year in Deal’s transformation. As LSRT Chair, Ruth proved herself an effective advocate for our kids and schools and an effective leader of the broad-based LSRT team, which includes representatives of parents, teaches, the school administration and the community.

Ruth brings even more to this job than being a parent leader and strong team leader. As a long-time activist and professional in educational policy, Ruth has enormous breadth and depth of knowledge in the educational issues that matter to Ward 3 and our city, including the importance of both rigorous standards in all subjects and a rich broad curriculum, which is being eroded in our city as our schools feel pressured to focus only on reading, math, and test preparation. Ruth understands the importance of “right-sizing” our current approach to testing, so that we have excellent end-of-year tests and high-quality, non-intrusive mid-year assessments that track student progress—but without the current barrage of tests that steal time from the curriculum, often without even providing the information teachers need!

Ruth Wattenberg is the Ward 3 representative that we need. We urge you to vote for her.



Signed,

Kim Bayliss, President, Wilson High School Parent-Teacher-Student Organization 2014-15
Albert Shuldiner, President Wilson High School PTSO, 2013-2014
Ruth Ernst, President Wilson High School PTSO, 2012-2013
Cathy House, President, Deal Parent-Teacher Association, 2014-15; Co-president 2011-13
Addie Schmidtt, Co-President, Deal Parent-Teacher Association, 2013-14
Diana Rojas, Co-President, Deal Parent-Teacher Association, 2011-13
Jane Meroney, Co-President, Deal PTA 2009-11
Diane Torresen, Co-President, Deal PTA 2009-11
Ruth Ernst, Co-President, Deal PTA 2007-09
Sally Greenberg Co-President, Deal PTA 2007-09

(Organizations are listed for identification purposes only and are not meant to imply endorsement of the PTA itself, which does not make endorsements.)

I think this letter highlights Ruth's strengths and weaknesses. She would be a wonerful rep for Janney/Deal/Wilson, but she doesn't recognize that Ward 3 and the city are bigger than that. I think her perspective is VERY limited to what has worked at those schools.

[Anonymous]

Tricia Braun has my vote.

[Anonymous]

I like Stephanie Lilley, who is also a candidate for Ward 3 Board of Ed. She has a lot of experience improving schools in other Wards/parts of the city (not limited to Ward 3) and is already working on some interesting initiatives to improve access to high quality education for more students. She has my vote.

[Anonymous]

I'm really torn. Ruth seems smart, but not so up on the issues. Tricia seems smart and informed, but she sold out Eaton parents on the boundary process while refusing to send her own kids to Hardy. Lilley did not support the boundary process, but she is very closely tied to charters more than anything. It's a tough call.

[Anonymous]

I'm voting for Tricia Braun. She was also endorsed by the Northwest Current.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm really torn. Ruth seems smart, but not so up on the issues. Tricia seems smart and informed, but she sold out Eaton parents on the boundary process while refusing to send her own kids to Hardy. Lilley did not support the boundary process, but she is very closely tied to charters more than anything. It's a tough call.

Just in my humble opinion, as a parent who went to some of these events where we were "invited to participate," who feels like they did not listen at all but I gave them a way for them to claim that they had listened to "feedback from the community," I feel like anyone who supports the demented proposal now on the table does not deserve my vote, and I feel like I was coopted and betrayed because I participated in the process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm voting for Tricia Braun. She was also endorsed by the Northwest Current.

Stay doesn't mean a whole lot. I mean, so was Bowser.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I like Stephanie Lilley, who is also a candidate for Ward 3 Board of Ed. She has a lot of experience improving schools in other Wards/parts of the city (not limited to Ward 3) and is already working on some interesting initiatives to improve access to high quality education for more students. She has my vote.

i looked at all of the candidates and finally settled on Lilley as well

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm really torn. Ruth seems smart, but not so up on the issues. Tricia seems smart and informed, but she sold out Eaton parents on the boundary process while refusing to send her own kids to Hardy. Lilley did not support the boundary process, but she is very closely tied to charters more than anything. It's a tough call.

Not just Eaton -- she was part of the boundary process that also screwed Oyster and the Woodley Park community.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm really torn. Ruth seems smart, but not so up on the issues. Tricia seems smart and informed, but she sold out Eaton parents on the boundary process while refusing to send her own kids to Hardy. Lilley did not support the boundary process, but she is very closely tied to charters more than anything. It's a tough call.

Not just Eaton -- she was part of the boundary process that also screwed Oyster and the Woodley Park community.

Tricia Braun, that is.

[Anonymous]

Are oyster parents upset about the loss of deal or will Adams improve?