DC Loses Another Terrific Teacher

[Anonymous]

PP

Yes, briefly stated (which is good), but totally correct.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: Or is it really that opaque to you that teachers and their skills are no more interchangeable than other professionals?

Unless a teacher is hired specifically as an AP English teacher, it seems reasonable to me to require a high school English teacher to teach 11th grade English!

[Anonymous]

From reliable sources...many people of supervisory authority second-guessed Cahill's results regarding Mr. Reiner. There was some heated discussions and to Mr. Cahill's defense he had the documentation to support the IMPACT decision. Remember people...this is the type of reform in education we have been asking for over the years. Let's be real, if this was the old regime of DCPS...this would have went to WTU...and would have lingered for years and decades from now somebody would have been declared a winner. It is not a bad thing when a person can retire...and hopefully can become re-employed in another school district. What I found so ironic was the reference about the "clock" did you like myself ask the proverbial question...do the clocks in Wilson actually work? To earlier posters...I can't see where teachers are demanding what discipline that they will not teach.

At this stage of the game...with the WTU contract being so lucrative, there will be a plenty job-seekers who will say I'll teach that and whatever else you want me to teach...JUST SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!

[Anonymous]

Yes, there will be many young 20-somethings willing to do whatever a principal wants, but will these brave new teachers be the type of teachers we actually want, and will they be willing (or able) to stay under the current evaluation/contract, once they realize what they've bought into?

Take a look at the revolving-door faculties of our charter schools. This will give you an idea of what DCPS is going to look like.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He said:

"Their focus was completely on how I might motivate students in my grade level class. These are students who, while possessing various levels of skills and smarts, are quite challenged when it comes to motivation. I see my role is to expose them to as much reading, writing and thinking as I can. I try to make my classroom a welcoming place for these reluctant students. I don’t think anything is to be gained by greeting them at the door with lots of don’ts. I aim for a relaxed atmosphere, where young people might feel vulnerable to learning something."

Good riddance! His "role" is to teach, not just to "expose". It sounds suspiciously that this guy was wedded to the tenure system and, perhaps, did not want to submit to any further scrutiny. I'm a parent of one-grade level student and one "gifted" level student. I'm glad someone with his attitude won't be there to prejudge my kids.

[Anonymous]

On the "...show me the money..." vis-a-vis teachers, I believe there is some concern about when exactly, and who exactly will be getting some of that private funding that was to be made "available immediately"...to date none of have received anything as a result of the contract. If there is further development on this please post!

[Anonymous]

And of course, if Fenty loses and Rhee quits in a huff, the foundation money that is supposed to fund those pay increases is in danger of disappearing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And of course, if Fenty loses and Rhee quits in a huff, the foundation money that is supposed to fund those pay increases is in danger of disappearing.

Excellent point. Rhee should have turned down any money that foundations were willing to contribute unless it came with no strings attached. Those foundations and their ridiculous demands for accountability!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And of course, if Fenty loses and Rhee quits in a huff, the foundation money that is supposed to fund those pay increases is in danger of disappearing.

Excellent point. Rhee should have turned down any money that foundations were willing to contribute unless it came with no strings attached. Those foundations and their ridiculous demands for accountability!

I don't fault the foundations, I fault Rhee for not thinking ahead, and for not being willing to commit to serve the children of this city.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And of course, if Fenty loses and Rhee quits in a huff, the foundation money that is supposed to fund those pay increases is in danger of disappearing.

Excellent point. Rhee should have turned down any money that foundations were willing to contribute unless it came with no strings attached. Those foundations and their ridiculous demands for accountability!

I don't fault the foundations, I fault Rhee for not thinking ahead, and for not being willing to commit to serve the children of this city.

Let me clarify. I know that it's standard for foundations to have strings attached to grants, including requirements that staff currently in place remain in order for the payments to be made. But I don't understand why Rhee (or someone in her employ) didn't notice those criteria and point out to donors that she's a political appointee.

And having accepted those grants that won't pay unless she's around, she still all but announces that she'll quit if she doesn't like the next Mayor? Someone who actually cares about the children of this city wouldn't do that.

[Anonymous]

Are there any reliable statistics available for the percentage of "Teach for America" teachers who continue to work as classroom teachers after they have fulfilled the minimum terms of their contracts which is about two or three years?

Is it true that in addition to their salaries that they also receive student loan forgiveness or is that just urban legend?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it true that in addition to their salaries that they also receive student loan forgiveness or is that just urban legend?

Sort of. From the TFA website:
Teach For America is currently a member of AmeriCorps, the national service network. Through AmeriCorps, corps members are eligible for loan forbearance on federal student loans. Loan forbearance is a period of time during the repayment period during which corps members can postpone regular monthly payments. Corps members can use loan forbearance time to save for a major expense (car, grad school, etc.), pay off loans more efficiently, or put money toward other responsibilities.

In addition, AmeriCorps will pay up to 100 percent of the interest that accrues on qualified student loans during corps members' two-year teaching commitment. Some state and federal agencies also offer loan cancellation programs for corps members who complete their two-year teaching commitment. Corps members also receive an AmeriCorps education award, which they can also use to pay off loans.
The AmeriCorps education award is around $4,500/year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are there any reliable statistics available for the percentage of "Teach for America" teachers who continue to work as classroom teachers after they have fulfilled the minimum terms of their contracts which is about two or three years?

Is it true that in addition to their salaries that they also receive student loan forgiveness or is that just urban legend?

Don't know. You might want to read Learning on Other People's Kids (book on TFA)

http://eduratireview.com/2010/06/learning-on-other-peoples-kids-an-important-book-on-teach-for-america/

[Anonymous]

15:07. There are statistics. I read an article about it -- offline. I don't recall exactly but it was fairly low, maybe 20% continue past their 2-year commitment?

[Anonymous]

I would also be interested in the attrition rate of Teacher Fellows.