More than 200 D.C. teachers fired

[Anonymous]

College professor:

Link to alternate route to teacher certification in MD.

http://www.teach-now.org/dispstate.cfm?state=MD

[Anonymous]

"Of course, it's very well-publicized that there are substantial (think $25k) bonuses for teacher who work in struggling EOTR schools. So, ALL CAPS aside, you're incorrect that it's the same pay."

This is just not true. You need to find and read the fine print. If you are "Effective" and work for a Title I school in DCPS, there is no bonus for you. This is my situation, so I know.

Any other teachers want to weigh in on this?

[Anonymous]

"Oh please. I find it fascinating that all these teachers who would *love* to be teaching in the worst schools of SE except for that nasty IMPACT are all teaching in NW--and have been for years before IMPACT was ever rolled out. "


I think the point the poster was trying to make was that with a significant financial incentive combined with a fair evaluation tool, more teachers would gravitate to SE schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Final IMPACT scores can not calculated until DCAS test results are in (mid-July). DCPS needs to expedite this process to be fair to teachers who will be fired/excessed and principals who will need to find their replacements.

Applying for a job in DCPS is now a long process that some highly prospective teachers might not want to deal with.

I rather doubt that the application process is the major disincentive. IMPACT and serial firings of hundreds of teachers would seem like a major red flag to me.

Agreed.

Also, DCPS could care less about hiring experienced teachers. They just want to fire teachers and replace them with TFA's

Comically off-base. Remember kids: any accountability whatsoever is just a trojan horse to try to get the motivated, well-educated college graduates into teaching--none of whom have rigorous "education" degrees, and half of whom might not even stay in teaching for 40 years.

I'm curious: if teachers with that background are good enough for our elite private schools, why not for public school kids?

The kids in private school make a difference (like the kids in ward 3 schools)

Remember kids -- when someone is insulting and talks in extremes, it's a sign that they don't have a good argument and want to cut off conversation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Oh please. I find it fascinating that all these teachers who would *love* to be teaching in the worst schools of SE except for that nasty IMPACT are all teaching in NW--and have been for years before IMPACT was ever rolled out. "


I think the point the poster was trying to make was that with a significant financial incentive combined with a fair evaluation tool, more teachers would gravitate to SE schools.

To poster quoted above - you don't know how long people have taught in ward 3. Also, by my count, only one person here commented that they'd like to make that move.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Final IMPACT scores can not calculated until DCAS test results are in (mid-July). DCPS needs to expedite this process to be fair to teachers who will be fired/excessed and principals who will need to find their replacements.

Applying for a job in DCPS is now a long process that some highly prospective teachers might not want to deal with.

I rather doubt that the application process is the major disincentive. IMPACT and serial firings of hundreds of teachers would seem like a major red flag to me.

Agreed.

Also, DCPS could care less about hiring experienced teachers. They just want to fire teachers and replace them with TFA's

Comically off-base. Remember kids: any accountability whatsoever is just a trojan horse to try to get the motivated, well-educated college graduates into teaching--none of whom have rigorous "education" degrees, and half of whom might not even stay in teaching for 40 years.

I'm curious: if teachers with that background are good enough for our elite private schools, why not for public school kids?

The kids in private school make a difference (like the kids in ward 3 schools)

Remember kids -- when someone is insulting and talks in extremes, it's a sign that they don't have a good argument and want to cut off conversation.

Ah, right. Got it. All teachers in private schools suck. Imagine how well kids in elite private schools could do if only they could get these teachers washing out of DCPS via bad IMPACT ratings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Final IMPACT scores can not calculated until DCAS test results are in (mid-July). DCPS needs to expedite this process to be fair to teachers who will be fired/excessed and principals who will need to find their replacements.

Applying for a job in DCPS is now a long process that some highly prospective teachers might not want to deal with.

I rather doubt that the application process is the major disincentive. IMPACT and serial firings of hundreds of teachers would seem like a major red flag to me.

Agreed.

Also, DCPS could care less about hiring experienced teachers. They just want to fire teachers and replace them with TFA's

Comically off-base. Remember kids: any accountability whatsoever is just a trojan horse to try to get the motivated, well-educated college graduates into teaching--none of whom have rigorous "education" degrees, and half of whom might not even stay in teaching for 40 years.

I'm curious: if teachers with that background are good enough for our elite private schools, why not for public school kids?

The kids in private school make a difference (like the kids in ward 3 schools)

Remember kids -- when someone is insulting and talks in extremes, it's a sign that they don't have a good argument and want to cut off conversation.

Oh, also, given the fact that I was responding to PP who accused DCPS of "[caring] less about hiring experienced teachers. They just want to fire teachers and replace them with TFA's" your accusing me of talking in extremes is laughably off-base.

DCPS just hates children, that's all! So silly...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:College professor, that's wonderful news. Urban school districts need people like you. What subject do you teach? It would be worth contacting DCPS to see if they are receptive to uncertified teachers with your qualifications. However I think you do need to be state certified, unless you are under the tutelage of DC Fellows or TFA who provide their fellows with teaching certification and Masters after they've completed two years of full time teaching and training.

I'm not sure about DC but some states offer "alternative routes" to teacher certification programs. You teach full time while working with an assigned mentor colleague (not all schools are willing to take on these teachers), get a full salary and take night classes in education. It is a difficult and stressful year but you are done by the end of it. A friend of mine (former college professor) in did this 8 years ago in NJ. College teacher programs can much longer and cost a lot of money. And they don't always offer important practical experience. But it is worth investigating as things might have changed in the last 5 years.

As far as I know, all teachers applying for teaching jobs in DCPS have to go through the new multistep process, whether they want to teach in NW or SE. Not sure if DCPS offers an expedited route for teachers willing to commit to Title I schools. But again, it's always worth a call.

Good luck. It is rewarding work.

DC does not. They consider TFA FAR more qualified than a former college professor. You will have to do a one to two year teacher certification program to satisfy DCPS, at one of their 'approved' schools. Or you could do the short cut and join TFA or their teaching fellows.

[Anonymous]

"DC does not. They consider TFA FAR more qualified than a former college professor. You will have to do a one to two year teacher certification program to satisfy DCPS, at one of their 'approved' schools. Or you could do the short cut and join TFA or their teaching fellows."


Or you could do the "alternate route" in MD or VA and join DCPS once you get your certification.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:College professor, that's wonderful news. Urban school districts need people like you. What subject do you teach? It would be worth contacting DCPS to see if they are receptive to uncertified teachers with your qualifications. However I think you do need to be state certified, unless you are under the tutelage of DC Fellows or TFA who provide their fellows with teaching certification and Masters after they've completed two years of full time teaching and training.

I'm not sure about DC but some states offer "alternative routes" to teacher certification programs. You teach full time while working with an assigned mentor colleague (not all schools are willing to take on these teachers), get a full salary and take night classes in education. It is a difficult and stressful year but you are done by the end of it. A friend of mine (former college professor) in did this 8 years ago in NJ. College teacher programs can much longer and cost a lot of money. And they don't always offer important practical experience. But it is worth investigating as things might have changed in the last 5 years.

As far as I know, all teachers applying for teaching jobs in DCPS have to go through the new multistep process, whether they want to teach in NW or SE. Not sure if DCPS offers an expedited route for teachers willing to commit to Title I schools. But again, it's always worth a call.

Good luck. It is rewarding work.

DC does not. They consider TFA FAR more qualified than a former college professor. You will have to do a one to two year teacher certification program to satisfy DCPS, at one of their 'approved' schools. Or you could do the short cut and join TFA or their teaching fellows.

While you're right, it's a short-cut in the time sense, TFA have pretty high standards, so it's more of a pre-vetting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

DC does not. They consider TFA FAR more qualified than a former college professor. You will have to do a one to two year teacher certification program to satisfy DCPS, at one of their 'approved' schools. Or you could do the short cut and join TFA or their teaching fellows.

While you're right, it's a short-cut in the time sense, TFA have pretty high standards, so it's more of a pre-vetting.

TFA is for recent college grads. Try DC Teaching fellows, which is meant for career changers