Dr. Duran must go

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for sharing this video. He is so kind, smart, and knowledgeable.

+1

He isn’t perfect but he’s been making positive changes for APS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for sharing this video. He is so kind, smart, and knowledgeable.

And I bet Miranda will want to get rid of him if she wins. Because her base has been calling for his head since 2020.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Nope APS did this, it was not state driven.

There is a law. Did you not know?
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/k-12-standards-instruction/english-reading-literacy/literacy/virginia-literacy-act

I’ll give you that both Aps and FCPS started early but it was pushed by many factors. It isn’t Duran acting by himself. The NAACP
Had a big role.

Yes there is a law but APS made the change BEFORE the law. Advocates pushed this for years but got nowhere until Duran came in. Did you not know this?

There are a lot of johnny come latelies who only started paying attention to their kids' education when schools closed. This is probably one of then. The OP is probably another. People have no clue how bad the PE teacher was. Did they complain back then? Doubt it.

NP here. This is just a general response to your comment, but I’ve seen a lot of similar comments in this forum and other groups that are negative about newcomers/people just now paying attention. I’ve had someone shut down my criticisms because the prior superintendent was apparently pretty bad from what I can glean and I guess I didn’t know enough about the past history of APS prior to the pandemic.

But … my oldest started K in 2020. We moved here late 2019. This is a transient area. So a lot of the “Johnny come latelies” may be parents who didn’t even live here or have kids in school prior to Duran. I’m a bit tired of this discourse from older parents shutting down newer parents from having any opinions about what is currently going on in APS.

I’ve made comments before that some parents only started to pay attention during the pandemic. I was referring to specific parents I know who already had kids in APS and really didn’t GAF about school at all before covid. Like never even attended a PTA meeting. Then all of the sudden they are experts on schools/students/teachers and tried to aggressively force teachers/staff to obey them even though they were clueless. And they got ugly about it. Most have gone back to not GAF but some still try to force their (uninformed) opinions on the rest of us.

No, the problem was that the parents involved in APS pre-pandemic were not representative of the school system whatsoever. Like when 75% choose an in-person option in the Fall 2020, the parents on AEM are very opposed to going back and no APS org says anything to support the parents.

And now many parents have woken up that they do need to pay attention. Hence the focus on what's happening now.

I do think you have some Tony Romo like-issues with Superintendents though (Cowboys could never get rid of him because you couldn't get another better quarterback). Who else are we going to get?!? Is there anyone good even available? How long will it take them to get up to speed?

At least Durán knows APS, knows the community, etc.

You just do not get it. At all. Just because you don't agree with the majority of parents on AEM does not mean the thousands on AEM are the out of touch ones.

You mean the 5 remaining in that echo chamber. Most APS parents no longer post there. And yes, the 5 remaining are completely out of touch with what most APS parents want.

Don’t worry. They’re active on here too. Seems like the cloak of covid no longer gives them amnesty so they bring their grievances here.

Oh, I know. They're very easy to spot.

How so?

I’ve been called a variety of names by the APE nutjobs (ventilation lady, someone’s husband, etc) but I never post on AEM, even back during the pandemic.

I love how clueless they are and yet they think they are so right about everything.

That's unfortunate because you definitely have compatriots there. They're quiet there now. No one cares about masks. covid or ventilation anymore. AEM is downright boring. But I do love seeing a few of them turn on each other now over the Parisa/ Katcher election. Not sure why that's on AEM. Good times.

Because AEM is all about demonstrating you are as progressive as possible and as "woke" and understanding as the next guy on AEM. They tie the Commonwealth Attorney race to "school matters" by the thread of the "school to prison pipeline" issue.

Tell me you are white without telling me you are white.

Actually it's tell me you are white, wealthy, privileged, conservative-leaning, a member of APE and either a Republican or a DINO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for sharing this video. He is so kind, smart, and knowledgeable.

And I bet Miranda will want to get rid of him if she wins. Because her base has been calling for his head since 2020.

I was calling for his termination back in 2021, but honestly, the last year he’s made some decisions that strike me as politically savvy. Like grading for equity on the one hand, while going forward with accelerated math options in middle school. In a lot of ways I think Duran is just reading the room and trying to keep functional coalitions together that keep him where he is. It’s not “leadership” per se, but there’s a hint of flexibility there.

I think if Miranda is smart enough to take a non-scorched earth approach (and the last year tells me she is) there’s a path forward where they both come out ahead. We’ll see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for sharing this video. He is so kind, smart, and knowledgeable.

And I bet Miranda will want to get rid of him if she wins. Because her base has been calling for his head since 2020.

I was calling for his termination back in 2021, but honestly, the last year he’s made some decisions that strike me as politically savvy. Like grading for equity on the one hand, while going forward with accelerated math options in middle school. In a lot of ways I think Duran is just reading the room and trying to keep functional coalitions together that keep him where he is. It’s not “leadership” per se, but there’s a hint of flexibility there.

I think if Miranda is smart enough to take a non-scorched earth approach (and the last year tells me she is) there’s a path forward where they both come out ahead. We’ll see.

Just a clarification. The new honors (not accelerated) middle school courses are for language arts, science, and social studies. Accelerated middle school math options have been there for a while.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for sharing this video. He is so kind, smart, and knowledgeable.

And I bet Miranda will want to get rid of him if she wins. Because her base has been calling for his head since 2020.

I was calling for his termination back in 2021, but honestly, the last year he’s made some decisions that strike me as politically savvy. Like grading for equity on the one hand, while going forward with accelerated math options in middle school. In a lot of ways I think Duran is just reading the room and trying to keep functional coalitions together that keep him where he is. It’s not “leadership” per se, but there’s a hint of flexibility there.

I think if Miranda is smart enough to take a non-scorched earth approach (and the last year tells me she is) there’s a path forward where they both come out ahead. We’ll see.

+1. She’ll be good. He’ll get better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for sharing this video. He is so kind, smart, and knowledgeable.

And I bet Miranda will want to get rid of him if she wins. Because her base has been calling for his head since 2020.

I was calling for his termination back in 2021, but honestly, the last year he’s made some decisions that strike me as politically savvy. Like grading for equity on the one hand, while going forward with accelerated math options in middle school. In a lot of ways I think Duran is just reading the room and trying to keep functional coalitions together that keep him where he is. It’s not “leadership” per se, but there’s a hint of flexibility there.

I think if Miranda is smart enough to take a non-scorched earth approach (and the last year tells me she is) there’s a path forward where they both come out ahead. We’ll see.

+1 I actually think APE and Duran are good for each other and it seems like a more respectful and collaborative tone is in play. I am an APS staff member who on the whole approves of Duran with a few things I don't like. Overall an improvement. I think Mary Kadera is a good school board member and am glad she won. I will vote this time for Turner with no hesitation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for sharing this video. He is so kind, smart, and knowledgeable.

And I bet Miranda will want to get rid of him if she wins. Because her base has been calling for his head since 2020.

I was calling for his termination back in 2021, but honestly, the last year he’s made some decisions that strike me as politically savvy. Like grading for equity on the one hand, while going forward with accelerated math options in middle school. In a lot of ways I think Duran is just reading the room and trying to keep functional coalitions together that keep him where he is. It’s not “leadership” per se, but there’s a hint of flexibility there.

I think if Miranda is smart enough to take a non-scorched earth approach (and the last year tells me she is) there’s a path forward where they both come out ahead. We’ll see.

+1 I actually think APE and Duran are good for each other and it seems like a more respectful and collaborative tone is in play. I am an APS staff member who on the whole approves of Duran with a few things I don't like. Overall an improvement. I think Mary Kadera is a good school board member and am glad she won. I will vote this time for Turner with no hesitation.

Mary is a great school board member. Happy I voted for her last time. She and Miranda will be really great together.

[Anonymous]

If Miranda is smart (assuming she wins), she'll ignore her APE friends and work WITH Duran. I give it 50-50.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for sharing this video. He is so kind, smart, and knowledgeable.

And I bet Miranda will want to get rid of him if she wins. Because her base has been calling for his head since 2020.

I was calling for his termination back in 2021, but honestly, the last year he’s made some decisions that strike me as politically savvy. Like grading for equity on the one hand, while going forward with accelerated math options in middle school. In a lot of ways I think Duran is just reading the room and trying to keep functional coalitions together that keep him where he is. It’s not “leadership” per se, but there’s a hint of flexibility there.

I think if Miranda is smart enough to take a non-scorched earth approach (and the last year tells me she is) there’s a path forward where they both come out ahead. We’ll see.

Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If Miranda is smart (assuming she wins), she'll ignore her APE friends and work WITH Duran. I give it 50-50.

Going to be hard to ignore her husband.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If Miranda is smart (assuming she wins), she'll ignore her APE friends and work WITH Duran. I give it 50-50.

IIRC Durán already works with APE. Came up on AEM. And Miranda said she “meets with him regularly”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Nope APS did this, it was not state driven.

There is a law. Did you not know?
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/k-12-standards-instruction/english-reading-literacy/literacy/virginia-literacy-act

I’ll give you that both Aps and FCPS started early but it was pushed by many factors. It isn’t Duran acting by himself. The NAACP
Had a big role.

Yes there is a law but APS made the change BEFORE the law. Advocates pushed this for years but got nowhere until Duran came in. Did you not know this?

There are a lot of johnny come latelies who only started paying attention to their kids' education when schools closed. This is probably one of then. The OP is probably another. People have no clue how bad the PE teacher was. Did they complain back then? Doubt it.

NP here. This is just a general response to your comment, but I’ve seen a lot of similar comments in this forum and other groups that are negative about newcomers/people just now paying attention. I’ve had someone shut down my criticisms because the prior superintendent was apparently pretty bad from what I can glean and I guess I didn’t know enough about the past history of APS prior to the pandemic.

But … my oldest started K in 2020. We moved here late 2019. This is a transient area. So a lot of the “Johnny come latelies” may be parents who didn’t even live here or have kids in school prior to Duran. I’m a bit tired of this discourse from older parents shutting down newer parents from having any opinions about what is currently going on in APS.

I’ve made comments before that some parents only started to pay attention during the pandemic. I was referring to specific parents I know who already had kids in APS and really didn’t GAF about school at all before covid. Like never even attended a PTA meeting. Then all of the sudden they are experts on schools/students/teachers and tried to aggressively force teachers/staff to obey them even though they were clueless. And they got ugly about it. Most have gone back to not GAF but some still try to force their (uninformed) opinions on the rest of us.

No, the problem was that the parents involved in APS pre-pandemic were not representative of the school system whatsoever. Like when 75% choose an in-person option in the Fall 2020, the parents on AEM are very opposed to going back and no APS org says anything to support the parents.

And now many parents have woken up that they do need to pay attention. Hence the focus on what's happening now.

I do think you have some Tony Romo like-issues with Superintendents though (Cowboys could never get rid of him because you couldn't get another better quarterback). Who else are we going to get?!? Is there anyone good even available? How long will it take them to get up to speed?

At least Durán knows APS, knows the community, etc.

You just do not get it. At all. Just because you don't agree with the majority of parents on AEM does not mean the thousands on AEM are the out of touch ones.

You mean the 5 remaining in that echo chamber. Most APS parents no longer post there. And yes, the 5 remaining are completely out of touch with what most APS parents want.

Don’t worry. They’re active on here too. Seems like the cloak of covid no longer gives them amnesty so they bring their grievances here.

Oh, I know. They're very easy to spot.

How so?

I’ve been called a variety of names by the APE nutjobs (ventilation lady, someone’s husband, etc) but I never post on AEM, even back during the pandemic.

I love how clueless they are and yet they think they are so right about everything.

I don't think APE realizes how unpopular they are cuz they are in their own little echo chamber.

Well there's something they have in common with AEM....echo chamber.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Nope APS did this, it was not state driven.

There is a law. Did you not know?
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/k-12-standards-instruction/english-reading-literacy/literacy/virginia-literacy-act

I’ll give you that both Aps and FCPS started early but it was pushed by many factors. It isn’t Duran acting by himself. The NAACP
Had a big role.

Yes there is a law but APS made the change BEFORE the law. Advocates pushed this for years but got nowhere until Duran came in. Did you not know this?

There are a lot of johnny come latelies who only started paying attention to their kids' education when schools closed. This is probably one of then. The OP is probably another. People have no clue how bad the PE teacher was. Did they complain back then? Doubt it.

NP here. This is just a general response to your comment, but I’ve seen a lot of similar comments in this forum and other groups that are negative about newcomers/people just now paying attention. I’ve had someone shut down my criticisms because the prior superintendent was apparently pretty bad from what I can glean and I guess I didn’t know enough about the past history of APS prior to the pandemic.

But … my oldest started K in 2020. We moved here late 2019. This is a transient area. So a lot of the “Johnny come latelies” may be parents who didn’t even live here or have kids in school prior to Duran. I’m a bit tired of this discourse from older parents shutting down newer parents from having any opinions about what is currently going on in APS.

I’ve made comments before that some parents only started to pay attention during the pandemic. I was referring to specific parents I know who already had kids in APS and really didn’t GAF about school at all before covid. Like never even attended a PTA meeting. Then all of the sudden they are experts on schools/students/teachers and tried to aggressively force teachers/staff to obey them even though they were clueless. And they got ugly about it. Most have gone back to not GAF but some still try to force their (uninformed) opinions on the rest of us.

No, the problem was that the parents involved in APS pre-pandemic were not representative of the school system whatsoever. Like when 75% choose an in-person option in the Fall 2020, the parents on AEM are very opposed to going back and no APS org says anything to support the parents.

And now many parents have woken up that they do need to pay attention. Hence the focus on what's happening now.

I do think you have some Tony Romo like-issues with Superintendents though (Cowboys could never get rid of him because you couldn't get another better quarterback). Who else are we going to get?!? Is there anyone good even available? How long will it take them to get up to speed?

At least Durán knows APS, knows the community, etc.

You just do not get it. At all. Just because you don't agree with the majority of parents on AEM does not mean the thousands on AEM are the out of touch ones.

You mean the 5 remaining in that echo chamber. Most APS parents no longer post there. And yes, the 5 remaining are completely out of touch with what most APS parents want.

Don’t worry. They’re active on here too. Seems like the cloak of covid no longer gives them amnesty so they bring their grievances here.

Oh, I know. They're very easy to spot.

How so?

I’ve been called a variety of names by the APE nutjobs (ventilation lady, someone’s husband, etc) but I never post on AEM, even back during the pandemic.

I love how clueless they are and yet they think they are so right about everything.

That's unfortunate because you definitely have compatriots there. They're quiet there now. No one cares about masks. covid or ventilation anymore. AEM is downright boring. But I do love seeing a few of them turn on each other now over the Parisa/ Katcher election. Not sure why that's on AEM. Good times.

Because AEM is all about demonstrating you are as progressive as possible and as "woke" and understanding as the next guy on AEM. They tie the Commonwealth Attorney race to "school matters" by the thread of the "school to prison pipeline" issue.

Tell me you are white without telling me you are white.

why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Nope APS did this, it was not state driven.

There is a law. Did you not know?
https://www.doe.virginia.gov/teaching-learning-assessment/k-12-standards-instruction/english-reading-literacy/literacy/virginia-literacy-act

I’ll give you that both Aps and FCPS started early but it was pushed by many factors. It isn’t Duran acting by himself. The NAACP
Had a big role.

Yes there is a law but APS made the change BEFORE the law. Advocates pushed this for years but got nowhere until Duran came in. Did you not know this?

There are a lot of johnny come latelies who only started paying attention to their kids' education when schools closed. This is probably one of then. The OP is probably another. People have no clue how bad the PE teacher was. Did they complain back then? Doubt it.

NP here. This is just a general response to your comment, but I’ve seen a lot of similar comments in this forum and other groups that are negative about newcomers/people just now paying attention. I’ve had someone shut down my criticisms because the prior superintendent was apparently pretty bad from what I can glean and I guess I didn’t know enough about the past history of APS prior to the pandemic.

But … my oldest started K in 2020. We moved here late 2019. This is a transient area. So a lot of the “Johnny come latelies” may be parents who didn’t even live here or have kids in school prior to Duran. I’m a bit tired of this discourse from older parents shutting down newer parents from having any opinions about what is currently going on in APS.

I’ve made comments before that some parents only started to pay attention during the pandemic. I was referring to specific parents I know who already had kids in APS and really didn’t GAF about school at all before covid. Like never even attended a PTA meeting. Then all of the sudden they are experts on schools/students/teachers and tried to aggressively force teachers/staff to obey them even though they were clueless. And they got ugly about it. Most have gone back to not GAF but some still try to force their (uninformed) opinions on the rest of us.

No, the problem was that the parents involved in APS pre-pandemic were not representative of the school system whatsoever. Like when 75% choose an in-person option in the Fall 2020, the parents on AEM are very opposed to going back and no APS org says anything to support the parents.

And now many parents have woken up that they do need to pay attention. Hence the focus on what's happening now.

I do think you have some Tony Romo like-issues with Superintendents though (Cowboys could never get rid of him because you couldn't get another better quarterback). Who else are we going to get?!? Is there anyone good even available? How long will it take them to get up to speed?

At least Durán knows APS, knows the community, etc.

You just do not get it. At all. Just because you don't agree with the majority of parents on AEM does not mean the thousands on AEM are the out of touch ones.

You mean the 5 remaining in that echo chamber. Most APS parents no longer post there. And yes, the 5 remaining are completely out of touch with what most APS parents want.

Don’t worry. They’re active on here too. Seems like the cloak of covid no longer gives them amnesty so they bring their grievances here.

Oh, I know. They're very easy to spot.

How so?

I’ve been called a variety of names by the APE nutjobs (ventilation lady, someone’s husband, etc) but I never post on AEM, even back during the pandemic.

I love how clueless they are and yet they think they are so right about everything.

That's unfortunate because you definitely have compatriots there. They're quiet there now. No one cares about masks. covid or ventilation anymore. AEM is downright boring. But I do love seeing a few of them turn on each other now over the Parisa/ Katcher election. Not sure why that's on AEM. Good times.

Because AEM is all about demonstrating you are as progressive as possible and as "woke" and understanding as the next guy on AEM. They tie the Commonwealth Attorney race to "school matters" by the thread of the "school to prison pipeline" issue.

Tell me you are white without telling me you are white.

Actually it's tell me you are white, wealthy, privileged, conservative-leaning, a member of APE and either a Republican or a DINO.

Can't honestly tell you that. Sorry to disappoint you.