DCPS Instructional superindentent should have been fired but instead for a cheap fine

[Anonymous]

This thread was started by someone with a clear vendetta against her. A disgruntled Kindergarten parent perhaps? $2500 that she self reported is not the scandal you want it to be. Pay for another year of private K and deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She has also mandated her principals use/provided them with materials from her side hustle…

She did a required “DCPS” training after school for my school and it was literally just a Relay course rebranded with DCPS logos. It was also very basic, like how to ask good questions or something like that. But definitely hard to tell if it was a DCPS training or a Relay training and I wonder who was paying her for that time since it was after teachers’ contract hours.

I too had to attend two trainings after work hours. Apart from the 2 hours that I will never get back, there was also prep required before trainings and then availability to observe best practices being implemented after the training. If it is OK with you, can you pay me for the hours as I'm sure you wouldn't mind paying me $60 an hour for 4 hours for a total of $240? And then you can also pay the other 50 staff members that had to attend?

You sound like one of the many who find an issue with training and developing to serve the needs of all children. Why complain about someone asking you to continuously develop and evolve? Didn't you enter into this profession to serve children, or was it to get rich? IF it was for money, you picked the wrong profession!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most ISSs are useless positions. They don’t do anything that positively impacts schools. At best they are neutral, at worst they hinder learning through mandates that are a waste of time. Literally wasting your children’s instructional time so thry can look like their job it’s important.

Without Instructional Supts, you'd be at the mercy of the principal, as they would not be managed. Be careful what you ask for.

Yes. We would be without a mid-level manager position. Given DC’s budget issues that seems like a good layer to go

The Instructional Supt's are key for keeping the principals on track, especially for the many behind-the-scene things that you'd know nothing about. How do you think schools stay in sync with one another? The opening and closing on time with all of the materials and supplies ordered on time. Staffed and ready to meet the needs of children. It doesn't happen by itself as most principals are pretty tired themselves at the end of the year. The district office is busy handling much larger issues like budgets, buildings, compliance, etc. and that leaves no one to monitor the progress of the schools. Also, speaking from a parent standpoint, the Instructional Superintendents are the principal's supervisor. If you have a concern or feel as if you need support, they are your go-to otherwise you can take a number and get in line to speak to the district. It's sad to hear and see someone who didn't get their way go on to slander. I hope that your students get a fair chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most ISSs are useless positions. They don’t do anything that positively impacts schools. At best they are neutral, at worst they hinder learning through mandates that are a waste of time. Literally wasting your children’s instructional time so thry can look like their job it’s important.

Without Instructional Supts, you'd be at the mercy of the principal, as they would not be managed. Be careful what you ask for.

Principals do the IMPACT observations so how is the ISS helping me exactly? In fact the ISS asks for unreasonabke things that my principal gets mad if I don’t do. Please trust they are not currently helping me at all.

The Instructional Supt's support the PARENTS too. It's not just about the teachers. It seems to me that you don't enjoy being a teacher. You always have the option to do something else. This is the path that YOU chose. Remember that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most ISSs are useless positions. They don’t do anything that positively impacts schools. At best they are neutral, at worst they hinder learning through mandates that are a waste of time. Literally wasting your children’s instructional time so thry can look like their job it’s important.

Without Instructional Supts, you'd be at the mercy of the principal, as they would not be managed. Be careful what you ask for.

Principals do the IMPACT observations so how is the ISS helping me exactly? In fact the ISS asks for unreasonabke things that my principal gets mad if I don’t do. Please trust they are not currently helping me at all.

The Instructional Supt's support the PARENTS too. It's not just about the teachers. It seems to me that you don't enjoy being a teacher. You always have the option to do something else. This is the path that YOU chose. Remember that.

*** Principals are evaluated by the IS. This is a checks and balance system. Imagine your principal not having to explain your evaluation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She has also mandated her principals use/provided them with materials from her side hustle…

She did a required “DCPS” training after school for my school and it was literally just a Relay course rebranded with DCPS logos. It was also very basic, like how to ask good questions or something like that. But definitely hard to tell if it was a DCPS training or a Relay training and I wonder who was paying her for that time since it was after teachers’ contract hours.

I too had to attend two trainings after work hours. Apart from the 2 hours that I will never get back, there was also prep required before trainings and then availability to observe best practices being implemented after the training. If it is OK with you, can you pay me for the hours as I'm sure you wouldn't mind paying me $60 an hour for 4 hours for a total of $240? And then you can also pay the other 50 staff members that had to attend?

You sound like one of the many who find an issue with training and developing to serve the needs of all children. Why complain about someone asking you to continuously develop and evolve? Didn't you enter into this profession to serve children, or was it to get rich? IF it was for money, you picked the wrong profession!

NP. In my old district I attended trainings paid and unpaid frequently. Because they were high quality. Ten years later I still use some of the strategies I learned. DCPS does not do high quality trainings. They are Relay trainings—designed for charter schools hiring teachers with zero experience. I was in one of her trainings and it was about asking questions. Nothing earth shattering, just “let’s plan this lesson for where you can ask a question!” In that hour I could have created a week’s worth of math lessons modified for SPED or ML students.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Most ISSs are useless positions. They don’t do anything that positively impacts schools. At best they are neutral, at worst they hinder learning through mandates that are a waste of time. Literally wasting your children’s instructional time so thry can look like their job it’s important.

Without Instructional Supts, you'd be at the mercy of the principal, as they would not be managed. Be careful what you ask for.

Yes. We would be without a mid-level manager position. Given DC’s budget issues that seems like a good layer to go

Including the Instrutional Superintendents, there are 3 layers *between* the principals and the Chancellor: ISs, Chief of Schools, Deputy Chancellor. And those layers have lots of other people. Seems likes some streamlining would leave plenty of staff.

There is one Chief of Schools for the entire district, and two Deputy Chancellors. They are incredibly different jobs with huge responsibilities, very different from those of an IS. It would be in no one's best interest, esp. parents, teachers, or students, to have those three people also handling the work of principal support and supervision than IS's do.