Dr. Duran must go

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like him. Sorry!

So you were pleased with how he handled summer school last summer? You think he did a good job with VLP? You like how he distributed teacher vaccines in January 2021? You are a big fan of his choice to provide zero supports other than Lexia to catch up kids who are behind?

Speaking of fiction.

Yeah- that’s true, too. I think there are other supports besides Lexia. I think vaccine distribution went fine.

Sorry. I didn't also type Dreambox.

For those students selected for summer school because they were significantly behind, but then were cut because APS couldn't staff the program, the only supports provided were Lexia and Dreambox.

How is a superintendent supposed to magically conjure enough staff mid-pandemic, post-crappiest year ever, to cover summer school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS teacher here- Dr Duran is great. He is demonstrating that he is committed to retaining good teachers and he is repeatedly shown that he is hearing feedback from teachers loud and clear. He has an impossible job with some of the toughest parents in the DMV. He is never going to make everyone happy and of course, in hindsight, APS should have handled certain aspects of the pandemic differently. But he is an intelligent, compassionate and forward-thinking guy. I don’t think it’s fair to tear him down before he has gotten a chance to focus on things besides Covid.

It was decided in August 2020 that virtual school for all grades was going to be the solution to the pandemic and here we are in 2022 where we are still fretting over whether school will go virtual again. No differentiation in planning contingencies for the pre-k to 2nd and special needs students vs. older kids. Actually we haven’t had much communicated to us at all about how possible staffing shortages will be handled. I fully expect APS to be caught with its pants down and canceling school with 12 hours notice with no plan in place. I’m not sure how any of this is forward thinking.

This exactly. He's shared no data about why we were closed on Thurday other than some handwaving "more than 50% staff would be out" number. Nothing by school or breakdown of the reason for the vacancies. We have no info about staff shortages for the coming week. No threshold for switching to virtual. No plan if we do need to switch. Nothing.

If they decide we have too few staff, Loft will propose that we shut down for 2-4 days so teachers have time to plan and transition. She'll pretend the whole thing is totally unexpected. There will also be no time or effort made to keep the least capable of virtual learning in person, e.g., special needs and K-3. It's all or nothing, with nothing being the default.

I agree with that statement.
My judgment is still out regarding Duran. But I believe he inherited a bad situation he may not have created himself had he been here (the decision to not teach any new material at the first shutdown), and that he's had really bad guidance from Loft in particular to rely on.
I do think he's hired too much central office staff, though a reorganization of said staff was probably warranted. Especially the CDEIO -- how many vice presidents does one department need??

[Anonymous]

Has he ever said no to Loft?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS teacher here- Dr Duran is great. He is demonstrating that he is committed to retaining good teachers and he is repeatedly shown that he is hearing feedback from teachers loud and clear. He has an impossible job with some of the toughest parents in the DMV. He is never going to make everyone happy and of course, in hindsight, APS should have handled certain aspects of the pandemic differently. But he is an intelligent, compassionate and forward-thinking guy. I don’t think it’s fair to tear him down before he has gotten a chance to focus on things besides Covid.

It was decided in August 2020 that virtual school for all grades was going to be the solution to the pandemic and here we are in 2022 where we are still fretting over whether school will go virtual again. No differentiation in planning contingencies for the pre-k to 2nd and special needs students vs. older kids. Actually we haven’t had much communicated to us at all about how possible staffing shortages will be handled. I fully expect APS to be caught with its pants down and canceling school with 12 hours notice with no plan in place. I’m not sure how any of this is forward thinking.

Duran is not fretting; YOU/parents are fretting.

That's because he doesn't care if kids learn anything. He cares about staying within budget and following adjacent school districts. That's it.

Oh joy. More irrational tantrums.

Irrational? Explain his plan for addressing learning loss beyond Lexia and Dreambox? Oh right, he doesn't have one.

Of course they are doing more. Do you even have a kid in APS right now?

Individual teachers are doing what they can, but its piecemeal and APS has no actual plan. Perhaps you could share a link to Duran's grand plan?

Do you actually have a kid in APS? Do you get the SchoolTalk messages? Watch the School Board meetings?

Your ignorant rantings just demonstrate that you are ignorant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS teacher here- Dr Duran is great. He is demonstrating that he is committed to retaining good teachers and he is repeatedly shown that he is hearing feedback from teachers loud and clear. He has an impossible job with some of the toughest parents in the DMV. He is never going to make everyone happy and of course, in hindsight, APS should have handled certain aspects of the pandemic differently. But he is an intelligent, compassionate and forward-thinking guy. I don’t think it’s fair to tear him down before he has gotten a chance to focus on things besides Covid.

It was decided in August 2020 that virtual school for all grades was going to be the solution to the pandemic and here we are in 2022 where we are still fretting over whether school will go virtual again. No differentiation in planning contingencies for the pre-k to 2nd and special needs students vs. older kids. Actually we haven’t had much communicated to us at all about how possible staffing shortages will be handled. I fully expect APS to be caught with its pants down and canceling school with 12 hours notice with no plan in place. I’m not sure how any of this is forward thinking.

Duran is not fretting; YOU/parents are fretting.

That's because he doesn't care if kids learn anything. He cares about staying within budget and following adjacent school districts. That's it.

Oh joy. More irrational tantrums.

Irrational? Explain his plan for addressing learning loss beyond Lexia and Dreambox? Oh right, he doesn't have one.

Of course they are doing more. Do you even have a kid in APS right now?

Individual teachers are doing what they can, but its piecemeal and APS has no actual plan. Perhaps you could share a link to Duran's grand plan?

Do you actually have a kid in APS? Do you get the SchoolTalk messages? Watch the School Board meetings?

Your ignorant rantings just demonstrate that you are ignorant.

I read all the School Talks and watch many school board meetings. Perhaps you could link me to Duran's plan for learning loss? Oh wait, he doesn't have one so you attack me instead.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS teacher here- Dr Duran is great. He is demonstrating that he is committed to retaining good teachers and he is repeatedly shown that he is hearing feedback from teachers loud and clear. He has an impossible job with some of the toughest parents in the DMV. He is never going to make everyone happy and of course, in hindsight, APS should have handled certain aspects of the pandemic differently. But he is an intelligent, compassionate and forward-thinking guy. I don’t think it’s fair to tear him down before he has gotten a chance to focus on things besides Covid.

It was decided in August 2020 that virtual school for all grades was going to be the solution to the pandemic and here we are in 2022 where we are still fretting over whether school will go virtual again. No differentiation in planning contingencies for the pre-k to 2nd and special needs students vs. older kids. Actually we haven’t had much communicated to us at all about how possible staffing shortages will be handled. I fully expect APS to be caught with its pants down and canceling school with 12 hours notice with no plan in place. I’m not sure how any of this is forward thinking.

Duran is not fretting; YOU/parents are fretting.

That's because he doesn't care if kids learn anything. He cares about staying within budget and following adjacent school districts. That's it.

Oh joy. More irrational tantrums.

Irrational? Explain his plan for addressing learning loss beyond Lexia and Dreambox? Oh right, he doesn't have one.

Of course they are doing more. Do you even have a kid in APS right now?

Individual teachers are doing what they can, but its piecemeal and APS has no actual plan. Perhaps you could share a link to Duran's grand plan?

Do you actually have a kid in APS? Do you get the SchoolTalk messages? Watch the School Board meetings?

Your ignorant rantings just demonstrate that you are ignorant.

I read all the School Talks and watch many school board meetings. Perhaps you could link me to Duran's plan for learning loss? Oh wait, he doesn't have one so you attack me instead.

DP. what do you think your child needs that he is not getting?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS teacher here- Dr Duran is great. He is demonstrating that he is committed to retaining good teachers and he is repeatedly shown that he is hearing feedback from teachers loud and clear. He has an impossible job with some of the toughest parents in the DMV. He is never going to make everyone happy and of course, in hindsight, APS should have handled certain aspects of the pandemic differently. But he is an intelligent, compassionate and forward-thinking guy. I don’t think it’s fair to tear him down before he has gotten a chance to focus on things besides Covid.

It was decided in August 2020 that virtual school for all grades was going to be the solution to the pandemic and here we are in 2022 where we are still fretting over whether school will go virtual again. No differentiation in planning contingencies for the pre-k to 2nd and special needs students vs. older kids. Actually we haven’t had much communicated to us at all about how possible staffing shortages will be handled. I fully expect APS to be caught with its pants down and canceling school with 12 hours notice with no plan in place. I’m not sure how any of this is forward thinking.

Duran is not fretting; YOU/parents are fretting.

That's because he doesn't care if kids learn anything. He cares about staying within budget and following adjacent school districts. That's it.

Oh joy. More irrational tantrums.

Irrational? Explain his plan for addressing learning loss beyond Lexia and Dreambox? Oh right, he doesn't have one.

Of course they are doing more. Do you even have a kid in APS right now?

Individual teachers are doing what they can, but its piecemeal and APS has no actual plan. Perhaps you could share a link to Duran's grand plan?

Do you actually have a kid in APS? Do you get the SchoolTalk messages? Watch the School Board meetings?

Your ignorant rantings just demonstrate that you are ignorant.

I read all the School Talks and watch many school board meetings. Perhaps you could link me to Duran's plan for learning loss? Oh wait, he doesn't have one so you attack me instead.

DP. what do you think your child needs that he is not getting?

So you can attack my child? No. Just look at SOL and PALS and DIEBEls scores. Many kids are more than. A grade behind. APS needs a plan.

[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:APS teacher here- Dr Duran is great. He is demonstrating that he is committed to retaining good teachers and he is repeatedly shown that he is hearing feedback from teachers loud and clear. He has an impossible job with some of the toughest parents in the DMV. He is never going to make everyone happy and of course, in hindsight, APS should have handled certain aspects of the pandemic differently. But he is an intelligent, compassionate and forward-thinking guy. I don’t think it’s fair to tear him down before he has gotten a chance to focus on things besides Covid.

It was decided in August 2020 that virtual school for all grades was going to be the solution to the pandemic and here we are in 2022 where we are still fretting over whether school will go virtual again. No differentiation in planning contingencies for the pre-k to 2nd and special needs students vs. older kids. Actually we haven’t had much communicated to us at all about how possible staffing shortages will be handled. I fully expect APS to be caught with its pants down and canceling school with 12 hours notice with no plan in place. I’m not sure how any of this is forward thinking.

Duran is not fretting; YOU/parents are fretting.

That's because he doesn't care if kids learn anything. He cares about staying within budget and following adjacent school districts. That's it.

Oh joy. More irrational tantrums.

Irrational? Explain his plan for addressing learning loss beyond Lexia and Dreambox? Oh right, he doesn't have one.

Of course they are doing more. Do you even have a kid in APS right now?

Individual teachers are doing what they can, but its piecemeal and APS has no actual plan. Perhaps you could share a link to Duran's grand plan?

Do you actually have a kid in APS? Do you get the SchoolTalk messages? Watch the School Board meetings?

Your ignorant rantings just demonstrate that you are ignorant.

I read all the School Talks and watch many school board meetings. Perhaps you could link me to Duran's plan for learning loss? Oh wait, he doesn't have one so you attack me instead.

DP. what do you think your child needs that he is not getting?

So you can attack my child? No. Just look at SOL and PALS and DIEBEls scores. Many kids are more than. A grade behind. APS needs a plan.

It has one. You don’t read or watch.

[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:APS teacher here- Dr Duran is great. He is demonstrating that he is committed to retaining good teachers and he is repeatedly shown that he is hearing feedback from teachers loud and clear. He has an impossible job with some of the toughest parents in the DMV. He is never going to make everyone happy and of course, in hindsight, APS should have handled certain aspects of the pandemic differently. But he is an intelligent, compassionate and forward-thinking guy. I don’t think it’s fair to tear him down before he has gotten a chance to focus on things besides Covid.

It was decided in August 2020 that virtual school for all grades was going to be the solution to the pandemic and here we are in 2022 where we are still fretting over whether school will go virtual again. No differentiation in planning contingencies for the pre-k to 2nd and special needs students vs. older kids. Actually we haven’t had much communicated to us at all about how possible staffing shortages will be handled. I fully expect APS to be caught with its pants down and canceling school with 12 hours notice with no plan in place. I’m not sure how any of this is forward thinking.

Duran is not fretting; YOU/parents are fretting.

That's because he doesn't care if kids learn anything. He cares about staying within budget and following adjacent school districts. That's it.

Oh joy. More irrational tantrums.

Irrational? Explain his plan for addressing learning loss beyond Lexia and Dreambox? Oh right, he doesn't have one.

Of course they are doing more. Do you even have a kid in APS right now?

Individual teachers are doing what they can, but its piecemeal and APS has no actual plan. Perhaps you could share a link to Duran's grand plan?

Do you actually have a kid in APS? Do you get the SchoolTalk messages? Watch the School Board meetings?

Your ignorant rantings just demonstrate that you are ignorant.

I read all the School Talks and watch many school board meetings. Perhaps you could link me to Duran's plan for learning loss? Oh wait, he doesn't have one so you attack me instead.

DP. what do you think your child needs that he is not getting?

So you can attack my child? No. Just look at SOL and PALS and DIEBEls scores. Many kids are more than. A grade behind. APS needs a plan.

It has one. You don’t read or watch.

Yes, Lexia and Dreambox. Completely inadequate.

[Anonymous]

Not PP but I’ve never see his plan for learning loss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS teacher here- Dr Duran is great. He is demonstrating that he is committed to retaining good teachers and he is repeatedly shown that he is hearing feedback from teachers loud and clear. He has an impossible job with some of the toughest parents in the DMV. He is never going to make everyone happy and of course, in hindsight, APS should have handled certain aspects of the pandemic differently. But he is an intelligent, compassionate and forward-thinking guy. I don’t think it’s fair to tear him down before he has gotten a chance to focus on things besides Covid.

It was decided in August 2020 that virtual school for all grades was going to be the solution to the pandemic and here we are in 2022 where we are still fretting over whether school will go virtual again. No differentiation in planning contingencies for the pre-k to 2nd and special needs students vs. older kids. Actually we haven’t had much communicated to us at all about how possible staffing shortages will be handled. I fully expect APS to be caught with its pants down and canceling school with 12 hours notice with no plan in place. I’m not sure how any of this is forward thinking.

This exactly. He's shared no data about why we were closed on Thurday other than some handwaving "more than 50% staff would be out" number. Nothing by school or breakdown of the reason for the vacancies. We have no info about staff shortages for the coming week. No threshold for switching to virtual. No plan if we do need to switch. Nothing.

If they decide we have too few staff, Loft will propose that we shut down for 2-4 days so teachers have time to plan and transition. She'll pretend the whole thing is totally unexpected. There will also be no time or effort made to keep the least capable of virtual learning in person, e.g., special needs and K-3. It's all or nothing, with nothing being the default.

I am puzzled. Couldn’t the days off have been designated as working days so teachers prepared for a potential transition to virtual? No school for another 2-4 days is too much. Is there something in their contract that says that when schools are closed staff must be completely off? Trying to understand…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not PP but I’ve never see his plan for learning loss.

He gives high-level updates at board meetings. And our school give more details at PTA meetings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not PP but I’ve never see his plan for learning loss.

He gives high-level updates at board meetings. And our school give more details at PTA meetings.

Nothing with actual substance. If there was a plan or actual info, someone should be able to provide a link. It doesn't exist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:APS teacher here- Dr Duran is great. He is demonstrating that he is committed to retaining good teachers and he is repeatedly shown that he is hearing feedback from teachers loud and clear. He has an impossible job with some of the toughest parents in the DMV. He is never going to make everyone happy and of course, in hindsight, APS should have handled certain aspects of the pandemic differently. But he is an intelligent, compassionate and forward-thinking guy. I don’t think it’s fair to tear him down before he has gotten a chance to focus on things besides Covid.

It was decided in August 2020 that virtual school for all grades was going to be the solution to the pandemic and here we are in 2022 where we are still fretting over whether school will go virtual again. No differentiation in planning contingencies for the pre-k to 2nd and special needs students vs. older kids. Actually we haven’t had much communicated to us at all about how possible staffing shortages will be handled. I fully expect APS to be caught with its pants down and canceling school with 12 hours notice with no plan in place. I’m not sure how any of this is forward thinking.

This exactly. He's shared no data about why we were closed on Thurday other than some handwaving "more than 50% staff would be out" number. Nothing by school or breakdown of the reason for the vacancies. We have no info about staff shortages for the coming week. No threshold for switching to virtual. No plan if we do need to switch. Nothing.

If they decide we have too few staff, Loft will propose that we shut down for 2-4 days so teachers have time to plan and transition. She'll pretend the whole thing is totally unexpected. There will also be no time or effort made to keep the least capable of virtual learning in person, e.g., special needs and K-3. It's all or nothing, with nothing being the default.

I am puzzled. Couldn’t the days off have been designated as working days so teachers prepared for a potential transition to virtual? No school for another 2-4 days is too much. Is there something in their contract that says that when schools are closed staff must be completely off? Trying to understand…

That would require forethought and planning. Loft prefers to spring unscheduled days off on parents (and teachers) with little warning. Surprise!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not PP but I’ve never see his plan for learning loss.

He gives high-level updates at board meetings. And our school give more details at PTA meetings.

Nothing with actual substance. If there was a plan or actual info, someone should be able to provide a link. It doesn't exist.

Plans were shared in SB meetings.