Advice to Kaya Henderson

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Working for DCPS is no more stressful than an average urban school district of similar demographics, characteristics, etc. And that means--not particularly easy unless you've either got what it takes or are a good learner. And a lot of folks don't fit this bill. A few other soapbox opinions: TFAers are generally worthless, people's pipe-dreams for a gifted program in the same manner as they have in Fairfax or Montgomery County is not going to happen and is simply a sociology experiment to help well-to-do kids not have to be surrounded by "the masses".

Most teachers in DC have 4 or 5 unannounced observations per year. This means that at any time, on any day an administrator or a "master educator" can walk into a classroom and say they are there to observe the teacher for 30 minutes. I do not know of any other district that has this type of observation policy. It is extremely stressful, particularly in schools with very challenging behaviors.

Is this a bad thing? Serious question. If you are doing a good job and are a confident, consummate professional, what would be the concern with multiple unscheduled observations?

Because again it isn't just a matter of it being a few unscheduled observations. Have some stranger pop up on you for a 30 minute snapshot of your day and determine if you are qualified do your job based on what happens in that 30 minutes. Do you have a client unwilling to agree to the terms you proposed. Marked down. Did you have a kid vomit on the rug right before this observer walked in the room and you now need to get 18-30 people refocused and back on track. Too bad. Until you have had to be scrutinized and raked over the coals to justify every single action and decision you made in that 30 minutes you can't imagine how disrespectful it feels to be a professional treated like a child.

That's what the rest of us call "our jobs".

Then that is really sad and perhaps you should also consider a career change.

And you might consider getting a "job". Cause if this all surprises you then you are living in a housewive's dream. Or maybe you're just a DCPS teacher!

Nope. No need for a job. That's why I dedicated time getting multiple degrees and certifications so I could have a career.

Nice turn of phrase. B.S. line that does nothing to change your ignorance of the modern workplace. But nice turn of phrase nonetheless.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Working for DCPS is no more stressful than an average urban school district of similar demographics, characteristics, etc. And that means--not particularly easy unless you've either got what it takes or are a good learner. And a lot of folks don't fit this bill. A few other soapbox opinions: TFAers are generally worthless, people's pipe-dreams for a gifted program in the same manner as they have in Fairfax or Montgomery County is not going to happen and is simply a sociology experiment to help well-to-do kids not have to be surrounded by "the masses".

Most teachers in DC have 4 or 5 unannounced observations per year. This means that at any time, on any day an administrator or a "master educator" can walk into a classroom and say they are there to observe the teacher for 30 minutes. I do not know of any other district that has this type of observation policy. It is extremely stressful, particularly in schools with very challenging behaviors.

Is this a bad thing? Serious question. If you are doing a good job and are a confident, consummate professional, what would be the concern with multiple unscheduled observations?

Because again it isn't just a matter of it being a few unscheduled observations. Have some stranger pop up on you for a 30 minute snapshot of your day and determine if you are qualified do your job based on what happens in that 30 minutes. Do you have a client unwilling to agree to the terms you proposed. Marked down. Did you have a kid vomit on the rug right before this observer walked in the room and you now need to get 18-30 people refocused and back on track. Too bad. Until you have had to be scrutinized and raked over the coals to justify every single action and decision you made in that 30 minutes you can't imagine how disrespectful it feels to be a professional treated like a child.

That's what the rest of us call "our jobs".

Then that is really sad and perhaps you should also consider a career change.

And you might consider getting a "job". Cause if this all surprises you then you are living in a housewive's dream. Or maybe you're just a DCPS teacher!

Nope. No need for a job. That's why I dedicated time getting multiple degrees and certifications so I could have a career.

Nice turn of phrase. B.S. line that does nothing to change your ignorance of the modern workplace. But nice turn of phrase nonetheless.

If only you knew. Move along now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Nice turn of phrase. B.S. line that does nothing to change your ignorance of the modern workplace. But nice turn of phrase nonetheless.

If only you knew. Move along now.

Wow, you must be an Executive, what with your directing and leadership skills. Not just anyone can direct people to move along that awesomely. /s

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Nice turn of phrase. B.S. line that does nothing to change your ignorance of the modern workplace. But nice turn of phrase nonetheless.

If only you knew. Move along now.

Wow, you must be an Executive, what with your directing and leadership skills. Not just anyone can direct people to move along that awesomely. /s

She TOTALLY is. Really, she is. No seriously. Did you see the genius way she employed defensive sarcasm when she was called out? Or the genius way she dished out the "career" cliche?

This woman doesn't work. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but it proves my point. The teacher defenders have no perspective on what the rest of us deal with every single day. But hey, at least the teachers actually have jobs! They may think they are the only ones that have to deal with these pressures but they can at least speak from experience. The defender that keeps digging herself in deeper and deeper...not so much.

I have to go log in and do some work now. She needs to run along and "prepare for another day as a senior exec" ...who inexplicably thought my description of the modern workplace was sad and anomalous.

[Anonymous]

Should we just rename DCUM as DC Urban Teachers? I get the strong sense that there are not a whole lot of actual parents posting here.

[Anonymous]

Celebrating 60 months in the position. Let's ponder the advice she was given on day one which was 1865 days ago. Has it helped or hindered? I would go out on the limb, it has pretty much helped her immensely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Celebrating 60 months in the position. Let's ponder the advice she was given on day one which was 1865 days ago. Has it helped or hindered? I would go out on the limb, it has pretty much helped her immensely.

Helped her ride on the backs of those who aren't career climbers and who actually care about kids. Yeah, that part is often forgotten.

[Anonymous]

Huh? What's your problem?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Celebrating 60 months in the position. Let's ponder the advice she was given on day one which was 1865 days ago. Has it helped or hindered? I would go out on the limb, it has pretty much helped her immensely.

Helped her ride on the backs of those who aren't career climbers and who actually care about kids. Yeah, that part is often forgotten.

In the past, she has been pretty clear about not wanting to leave DC. But a new Superintendent job would likely be away from here, unless one of the suburbs wants her (doubtful, given that DC is so different from most of the suburbs). I predict she'll stay as long as she can and as long as she's doing the bidding of the powers that be.

When/if she leaves, I predict it will be to a charter-related institution here in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Celebrating 60 months in the position. Let's ponder the advice she was given on day one which was 1865 days ago. Has it helped or hindered? I would go out on the limb, it has pretty much helped her immensely.

Helped her ride on the backs of those who aren't career climbers and who actually care about kids. Yeah, that part is often forgotten.

In the past, she has been pretty clear about not wanting to leave DC. But a new Superintendent job would likely be away from here, unless one of the suburbs wants her (doubtful, given that DC is so different from most of the suburbs). I predict she'll stay as long as she can and as long as she's doing the bidding of the powers that be.

When/if she leaves, I predict it will be to a charter-related institution here in DC.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Working for DCPS is no more stressful than an average urban school district of similar demographics, characteristics, etc. And that means--not particularly easy unless you've either got what it takes or are a good learner. And a lot of folks don't fit this bill. A few other soapbox opinions: TFAers are generally worthless, people's pipe-dreams for a gifted program in the same manner as they have in Fairfax or Montgomery County is not going to happen and is simply a sociology experiment to help well-to-do kids not have to be surrounded by "the masses".

Most teachers in DC have 4 or 5 unannounced observations per year. This means that at any time, on any day an administrator or a "master educator" can walk into a classroom and say they are there to observe the teacher for 30 minutes. I do not know of any other district that has this type of observation policy. It is extremely stressful, particularly in schools with very challenging behaviors.

Is this a bad thing? Serious question. If you are doing a good job and are a confident, consummate professional, what would be the concern with multiple unscheduled observations?

Because again it isn't just a matter of it being a few unscheduled observations. Have some stranger pop up on you for a 30 minute snapshot of your day and determine if you are qualified do your job based on what happens in that 30 minutes. Do you have a client unwilling to agree to the terms you proposed. Marked down. Did you have a kid vomit on the rug right before this observer walked in the room and you now need to get 18-30 people refocused and back on track. Too bad. Until you have had to be scrutinized and raked over the coals to justify every single action and decision you made in that 30 minutes you can't imagine how disrespectful it feels to be a professional treated like a child.

That's what the rest of us call "our jobs".

Then that is really sad and perhaps you should also consider a career change.

And you might consider getting a "job". Cause if this all surprises you then you are living in a housewive's dream. Or maybe you're just a DCPS teacher!

Nope. No need for a job. That's why I dedicated time getting multiple degrees and certifications so I could have a career.

Nice turn of phrase. B.S. line that does nothing to change your ignorance of the modern workplace. But nice turn of phrase nonetheless.

If only you knew. Move along now.

Is that you, Kaya?

[Anonymous]

Quit.

[Anonymous]

Work anniversaries are only celebrated on linked in. When you spend public funds doing it, you're doing it wrong no matter how many people you retweet saying something favorable about you.

[Anonymous]

Have a dress code/behavioral code for students. Do you have the 'description of what a successful graduate is" that you share with students/parents? Something aspirational?
partner with neighbors and police to respond to student behavior outside the school gates--especially coming and going, including on metro.
Expel students who can't get with it; have a school for expelled students with appropriate interventions and supports. These kids need more than the regular classroom offers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have a dress code/behavioral code for students. Do you have the 'description of what a successful graduate is" that you share with students/parents? Something aspirational?
partner with neighbors and police to respond to student behavior outside the school gates--especially coming and going, including on metro.
Expel students who can't get with it; have a school for expelled students with appropriate interventions and supports. These kids need more than the regular classroom offers.

We had alternative/independent high schools when I was in H.S. and it probably saved the lives of some of my friends who otherwise would have dropped out and turned to an illegal lifestyle.