Anonymous wrote:Kaya and the superintendent are allowing it to continue. We had similarly evil and vile principal but after repeated complaints and missteps on her part her superintendent was able to get her out in spite of being a darling of Kaya. By the way, does anyone know if Kaya is a member of a sorority? I see A LOT of Nepotism within specific sororities and fraternities in DCPS administration.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And it simply is not entirely true. DCPS had done an amazing job of poaching top teachers from charters and other districts around the country to work for them due to the salary. The progress is not just being made with white students, but students who travel to better schools from across the city are also benefiting from better teachers. For some reason teachers get blamed when things do not go well, but are not credited when things go well. There are teachers who have 60-70% of their classes reading on or above grade level. We won't see these results until the kids reach testing grades but there is progress that is being made as long as parents do not pull these children out to put them in charters or high performing schools. Teachers in Title 1 schools just can't seem to win.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, who do people actually want? What would an ideal candidate be?

I know my suggestion won't be popular -- least of all with the person I'm suggesting -- but I think Abigail Smith should be considered. I can't defend her entire track record, but I think she has dealt with the system long enough to know what can and should be fixed.

you're brave to post that here

She would be worth considering but I don't see it after the boundary review fallout

She is and was an effective leader that took on an issue that needed to be dealt with after 40 years. But think about it. She was Mayor Gray's deputy. Wrong team.

So was Kaya

Anyone think she was forced out?

Yes

From Bowser:

"Without a doubt, DCPS is a very different place today than it was when Kaya joined our school system in 2007. DCPS is the fastest improving urban school district in the country. After decades of decline, DCPS has also seen consistent, annual enrollment growth since Kaya became Chancellor—growing from 45,000 students in 2010 to nearly 49,000 students this year. While we will miss Kaya, we can all be proud of her team and her tenure as the second longest-serving leader of DCPS."

She's getting dragged down on multiple fronts. She likes and believes this ^^ story but knows the ending is a clunker.

She'll never just say -- 'DC is getting wealthier and whiter and that explains most of our gains . . . oh, and by the way, that unconscionable achievement gap was like that when I got here.'

+10 Finally, someone who gets it. She can't really take credit for the academic gains. DC has experienced a growth in educated class of people, nit just white people. More educated parents tend to have children who perform better in school. However, it just would not be PC to say that the only reason that DCPS is improving is because of whites moving into the city. It sends the message that white people are better than everyone else.

It's true that there's something else going on in Title 1 schools besides "bad teachers". In fact, I think teachers in the Title 1 schools should receive extra pay for all they have to deal with. Additionally, the extra pay would be an incentive for teachers who've gotten comfy in their performing schools to go into those schools.

My one bone of contention with your post deals with DCPS poaching top teachers. the reality as we know is that they don't stay long at all. the turnover rate is insane. dc needs to do more to attract good school leaders with integrity who do not mistreat teachers. some of the things i've heard (and seen) at a few of the schools would make your hair stand on end. I can't believe some of those principals still have jobs! What's worse is that Kaya is aware of the bad behavior of one principal in particular. There have been complaints, lawyers, near law suits and investigations. Yet he remains in his post while other principals have been let go of for much less.

I think you're talking about our principal. What is your theory as to why he is still around? I can't figure it out. Seems like he's not liked by anyone, yet he still remains. Why?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And it simply is not entirely true. DCPS had done an amazing job of poaching top teachers from charters and other districts around the country to work for them due to the salary. The progress is not just being made with white students, but students who travel to better schools from across the city are also benefiting from better teachers. For some reason teachers get blamed when things do not go well, but are not credited when things go well. There are teachers who have 60-70% of their classes reading on or above grade level. We won't see these results until the kids reach testing grades but there is progress that is being made as long as parents do not pull these children out to put them in charters or high performing schools. Teachers in Title 1 schools just can't seem to win.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, who do people actually want? What would an ideal candidate be?

I know my suggestion won't be popular -- least of all with the person I'm suggesting -- but I think Abigail Smith should be considered. I can't defend her entire track record, but I think she has dealt with the system long enough to know what can and should be fixed.

you're brave to post that here

She would be worth considering but I don't see it after the boundary review fallout

She is and was an effective leader that took on an issue that needed to be dealt with after 40 years. But think about it. She was Mayor Gray's deputy. Wrong team.

So was Kaya

Anyone think she was forced out?

Yes

From Bowser:

"Without a doubt, DCPS is a very different place today than it was when Kaya joined our school system in 2007. DCPS is the fastest improving urban school district in the country. After decades of decline, DCPS has also seen consistent, annual enrollment growth since Kaya became Chancellor—growing from 45,000 students in 2010 to nearly 49,000 students this year. While we will miss Kaya, we can all be proud of her team and her tenure as the second longest-serving leader of DCPS."

She's getting dragged down on multiple fronts. She likes and believes this ^^ story but knows the ending is a clunker.

She'll never just say -- 'DC is getting wealthier and whiter and that explains most of our gains . . . oh, and by the way, that unconscionable achievement gap was like that when I got here.'

+10 Finally, someone who gets it. She can't really take credit for the academic gains. DC has experienced a growth in educated class of people, nit just white people. More educated parents tend to have children who perform better in school. However, it just would not be PC to say that the only reason that DCPS is improving is because of whites moving into the city. It sends the message that white people are better than everyone else.

It's true that there's something else going on in Title 1 schools besides "bad teachers". In fact, I think teachers in the Title 1 schools should receive extra pay for all they have to deal with. Additionally, the extra pay would be an incentive for teachers who've gotten comfy in their performing schools to go into those schools.

My one bone of contention with your post deals with DCPS poaching top teachers. the reality as we know is that they don't stay long at all. the turnover rate is insane. dc needs to do more to attract good school leaders with integrity who do not mistreat teachers. some of the things i've heard (and seen) at a few of the schools would make your hair stand on end. I can't believe some of those principals still have jobs! What's worse is that Kaya is aware of the bad behavior of one principal in particular. There have been complaints, lawyers, near law suits and investigations. Yet he remains in his post while other principals have been let go of for much less.

I think you're talking about our principal. What is your theory as to why he is still around? I can't figure it out. Seems like he's not liked by anyone, yet he still remains. Why?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And it simply is not entirely true. DCPS had done an amazing job of poaching top teachers from charters and other districts around the country to work for them due to the salary. The progress is not just being made with white students, but students who travel to better schools from across the city are also benefiting from better teachers. For some reason teachers get blamed when things do not go well, but are not credited when things go well. There are teachers who have 60-70% of their classes reading on or above grade level. We won't see these results until the kids reach testing grades but there is progress that is being made as long as parents do not pull these children out to put them in charters or high performing schools. Teachers in Title 1 schools just can't seem to win.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, who do people actually want? What would an ideal candidate be?

I know my suggestion won't be popular -- least of all with the person I'm suggesting -- but I think Abigail Smith should be considered. I can't defend her entire track record, but I think she has dealt with the system long enough to know what can and should be fixed.

you're brave to post that here

She would be worth considering but I don't see it after the boundary review fallout

She is and was an effective leader that took on an issue that needed to be dealt with after 40 years. But think about it. She was Mayor Gray's deputy. Wrong team.

So was Kaya

Anyone think she was forced out?

Yes

From Bowser:

"Without a doubt, DCPS is a very different place today than it was when Kaya joined our school system in 2007. DCPS is the fastest improving urban school district in the country. After decades of decline, DCPS has also seen consistent, annual enrollment growth since Kaya became Chancellor—growing from 45,000 students in 2010 to nearly 49,000 students this year. While we will miss Kaya, we can all be proud of her team and her tenure as the second longest-serving leader of DCPS."

She's getting dragged down on multiple fronts. She likes and believes this ^^ story but knows the ending is a clunker.

She'll never just say -- 'DC is getting wealthier and whiter and that explains most of our gains . . . oh, and by the way, that unconscionable achievement gap was like that when I got here.'

+10 Finally, someone who gets it. She can't really take credit for the academic gains. DC has experienced a growth in educated class of people, nit just white people. More educated parents tend to have children who perform better in school. However, it just would not be PC to say that the only reason that DCPS is improving is because of whites moving into the city. It sends the message that white people are better than everyone else.

It's true that there's something else going on in Title 1 schools besides "bad teachers". In fact, I think teachers in the Title 1 schools should receive extra pay for all they have to deal with. Additionally, the extra pay would be an incentive for teachers who've gotten comfy in their performing schools to go into those schools.

My one bone of contention with your post deals with DCPS poaching top teachers. the reality as we know is that they don't stay long at all. the turnover rate is insane. dc needs to do more to attract good school leaders with integrity who do not mistreat teachers. some of the things i've heard (and seen) at a few of the schools would make your hair stand on end. I can't believe some of those principals still have jobs! What's worse is that Kaya is aware of the bad behavior of one principal in particular. There have been complaints, lawyers, near law suits and investigations. Yet he remains in his post while other principals have been let go of for much less.

Anonymous wrote:As for the incentive pay, that is what the LIFT is supposed to address (though it doesn't IMO.) For example at teacher at a Cap Hill school with lower Title 1 percentage will only get $1K for being considered "highly effective" while a teacher at a school on the "wrong side of the park" in Northwest or deep in Southeast will get a larger bonus. However, the overall school results are low despite that teacher's efforts and accomplishments. It just never balances out. Also, teachers at top schools either have a low bonus or have a harder time earning the title of highly effective because the children come into school on or above grade level and scores are based on how much progress they make. Technically, a top performing school would have all of the teachers rated highly effective, right?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As for the incentive pay, that is what the LIFT is supposed to address (though it doesn't IMO.) For example at teacher at a Cap Hill school with lower Title 1 percentage will only get $1K for being considered "highly effective" while a teacher at a school on the "wrong side of the park" in Northwest or deep in Southeast will get a larger bonus. However, the overall school results are low despite that teacher's efforts and accomplishments. It just never balances out. Also, teachers at top schools either have a low bonus or have a harder time earning the title of highly effective because the children come into school on or above grade level and scores are based on how much progress they make. Technically, a top performing school would have all of the teachers rated highly effective, right?

Having worked at both, why would a top performing school get credit for students who are already top performing? That is what LIFT was supposed to do but it hasn't, pretty much everyone stays where they are or they leave period. DCPS is just a mass of churn and burn but high-performing teachers couldn't cut it at low-performing schools mainly due to behavior and disrespect; trust me teachers in low-performing schools for the most part are treated terribly and get no respect.

and 1 year of PARCC scores is not the end all be all of achievement levels. It quantifies in a way that doesn't recognize gains in severely disadvantaged learners. A student who moves from 4 grade levels behind to 2 levels behind is still counted as failing, even if the teacher was a near miracle worker. NAEP scores, or at least few years of PARCC data will better address annual progress than Janney parents patting themselves on the back for their advanced learners, which DUH!, we pretty much already knew.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As for the incentive pay, that is what the LIFT is supposed to address (though it doesn't IMO.) For example at teacher at a Cap Hill school with lower Title 1 percentage will only get $1K for being considered "highly effective" while a teacher at a school on the "wrong side of the park" in Northwest or deep in Southeast will get a larger bonus. However, the overall school results are low despite that teacher's efforts and accomplishments. It just never balances out. Also, teachers at top schools either have a low bonus or have a harder time earning the title of highly effective because the children come into school on or above grade level and scores are based on how much progress they make. Technically, a top performing school would have all of the teachers rated highly effective, right?

Having worked at both, why would a top performing school get credit for students who are already top performing? That is what LIFT was supposed to do but it hasn't, pretty much everyone stays where they are or they leave period. DCPS is just a mass of churn and burn but high-performing teachers couldn't cut it at low-performing schools mainly due to behavior and disrespect; trust me teachers in low-performing schools for the most part are treated terribly and get no respect.

Anonymous wrote:As for the incentive pay, that is what the LIFT is supposed to address (though it doesn't IMO.) For example at teacher at a Cap Hill school with lower Title 1 percentage will only get $1K for being considered "highly effective" while a teacher at a school on the "wrong side of the park" in Northwest or deep in Southeast will get a larger bonus. However, the overall school results are low despite that teacher's efforts and accomplishments. It just never balances out. Also, teachers at top schools either have a low bonus or have a harder time earning the title of highly effective because the children come into school on or above grade level and scores are based on how much progress they make. Technically, a top performing school would have all of the teachers rated highly effective, right?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And it simply is not entirely true. DCPS had done an amazing job of poaching top teachers from charters and other districts around the country to work for them due to the salary. The progress is not just being made with white students, but students who travel to better schools from across the city are also benefiting from better teachers. For some reason teachers get blamed when things do not go well, but are not credited when things go well. There are teachers who have 60-70% of their classes reading on or above grade level. We won't see these results until the kids reach testing grades but there is progress that is being made as long as parents do not pull these children out to put them in charters or high performing schools. Teachers in Title 1 schools just can't seem to win.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, who do people actually want? What would an ideal candidate be?

I know my suggestion won't be popular -- least of all with the person I'm suggesting -- but I think Abigail Smith should be considered. I can't defend her entire track record, but I think she has dealt with the system long enough to know what can and should be fixed.

you're brave to post that here

She would be worth considering but I don't see it after the boundary review fallout

She is and was an effective leader that took on an issue that needed to be dealt with after 40 years. But think about it. She was Mayor Gray's deputy. Wrong team.

So was Kaya

Anyone think she was forced out?

Yes

From Bowser:

"Without a doubt, DCPS is a very different place today than it was when Kaya joined our school system in 2007. DCPS is the fastest improving urban school district in the country. After decades of decline, DCPS has also seen consistent, annual enrollment growth since Kaya became Chancellor—growing from 45,000 students in 2010 to nearly 49,000 students this year. While we will miss Kaya, we can all be proud of her team and her tenure as the second longest-serving leader of DCPS."

She's getting dragged down on multiple fronts. She likes and believes this ^^ story but knows the ending is a clunker.

She'll never just say -- 'DC is getting wealthier and whiter and that explains most of our gains . . . oh, and by the way, that unconscionable achievement gap was like that when I got here.'

+10 Finally, someone who gets it. She can't really take credit for the academic gains. DC has experienced a growth in educated class of people, nit just white people. More educated parents tend to have children who perform better in school. However, it just would not be PC to say that the only reason that DCPS is improving is because of whites moving into the city. It sends the message that white people are better than everyone else.

It's true that there's something else going on in Title 1 schools besides "bad teachers". In fact, I think teachers in the Title 1 schools should receive extra pay for all they have to deal with. Additionally, the extra pay would be an incentive for teachers who've gotten comfy in their performing schools to go into those schools.

My one bone of contention with your post deals with DCPS poaching top teachers. the reality as we know is that they don't stay long at all. the turnover rate is insane. dc needs to do more to attract good school leaders with integrity who do not mistreat teachers. some of the things i've heard (and seen) at a few of the schools would make your hair stand on end. I can't believe some of those principals still have jobs! What's worse is that Kaya is aware of the bad behavior of one principal in particular. There have been complaints, lawyers, near law suits and investigations. Yet he remains in his post while other principals have been let go of for much less.

Anonymous wrote:And it simply is not entirely true. DCPS had done an amazing job of poaching top teachers from charters and other districts around the country to work for them due to the salary. The progress is not just being made with white students, but students who travel to better schools from across the city are also benefiting from better teachers. For some reason teachers get blamed when things do not go well, but are not credited when things go well. There are teachers who have 60-70% of their classes reading on or above grade level. We won't see these results until the kids reach testing grades but there is progress that is being made as long as parents do not pull these children out to put them in charters or high performing schools. Teachers in Title 1 schools just can't seem to win.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, who do people actually want? What would an ideal candidate be?

I know my suggestion won't be popular -- least of all with the person I'm suggesting -- but I think Abigail Smith should be considered. I can't defend her entire track record, but I think she has dealt with the system long enough to know what can and should be fixed.

you're brave to post that here

She would be worth considering but I don't see it after the boundary review fallout

She is and was an effective leader that took on an issue that needed to be dealt with after 40 years. But think about it. She was Mayor Gray's deputy. Wrong team.

So was Kaya

Anyone think she was forced out?

Yes

From Bowser:

"Without a doubt, DCPS is a very different place today than it was when Kaya joined our school system in 2007. DCPS is the fastest improving urban school district in the country. After decades of decline, DCPS has also seen consistent, annual enrollment growth since Kaya became Chancellor—growing from 45,000 students in 2010 to nearly 49,000 students this year. While we will miss Kaya, we can all be proud of her team and her tenure as the second longest-serving leader of DCPS."

She's getting dragged down on multiple fronts. She likes and believes this ^^ story but knows the ending is a clunker.

She'll never just say -- 'DC is getting wealthier and whiter and that explains most of our gains . . . oh, and by the way, that unconscionable achievement gap was like that when I got here.'

+10 Finally, someone who gets it. She can't really take credit for the academic gains. DC has experienced a growth in educated class of people, nit just white people. More educated parents tend to have children who perform better in school. However, it just would not be PC to say that the only reason that DCPS is improving is because of whites moving into the city. It sends the message that white people are better than everyone else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, who do people actually want? What would an ideal candidate be?

I know my suggestion won't be popular -- least of all with the person I'm suggesting -- but I think Abigail Smith should be considered. I can't defend her entire track record, but I think she has dealt with the system long enough to know what can and should be fixed.

you're brave to post that here

She would be worth considering but I don't see it after the boundary review fallout

She is and was an effective leader that took on an issue that needed to be dealt with after 40 years. But think about it. She was Mayor Gray's deputy. Wrong team.

So was Kaya

Anyone think she was forced out?

Yes

From Bowser:

"Without a doubt, DCPS is a very different place today than it was when Kaya joined our school system in 2007. DCPS is the fastest improving urban school district in the country. After decades of decline, DCPS has also seen consistent, annual enrollment growth since Kaya became Chancellor—growing from 45,000 students in 2010 to nearly 49,000 students this year. While we will miss Kaya, we can all be proud of her team and her tenure as the second longest-serving leader of DCPS."

She's getting dragged down on multiple fronts. She likes and believes this ^^ story but knows the ending is a clunker.

She'll never just say -- 'DC is getting wealthier and whiter and that explains most of our gains . . . oh, and by the way, that unconscionable achievement gap was like that when I got here.'

+10 Finally, someone who gets it. She can't really take credit for the academic gains. DC has experienced a growth in educated class of people, nit just white people. More educated parents tend to have children who perform better in school. However, it just would not be PC to say that the only reason that DCPS is improving is because of whites moving into the city. It sends the message that white people are better than everyone else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, who do people actually want? What would an ideal candidate be?

I know my suggestion won't be popular -- least of all with the person I'm suggesting -- but I think Abigail Smith should be considered. I can't defend her entire track record, but I think she has dealt with the system long enough to know what can and should be fixed.

you're brave to post that here

She would be worth considering but I don't see it after the boundary review fallout

She is and was an effective leader that took on an issue that needed to be dealt with after 40 years. But think about it. She was Mayor Gray's deputy. Wrong team.

So was Kaya

Anyone think she was forced out?

Yes

From Bowser:

"Without a doubt, DCPS is a very different place today than it was when Kaya joined our school system in 2007. DCPS is the fastest improving urban school district in the country. After decades of decline, DCPS has also seen consistent, annual enrollment growth since Kaya became Chancellor—growing from 45,000 students in 2010 to nearly 49,000 students this year. While we will miss Kaya, we can all be proud of her team and her tenure as the second longest-serving leader of DCPS."

She's getting dragged down on multiple fronts. She likes and believes this ^^ story but knows the ending is a clunker.

She'll never just say -- 'DC is getting wealthier and whiter and that explains most of our gains . . . oh, and by the way, that unconscionable achievement gap was like that when I got here.'

+10 Finally, someone who gets it. She can't really take credit for the academic gains. DC has experienced a growth in educated class of people, nit just white people. More educated parents tend to have children who perform better in school. However, it just would not be PC to say that the only reason that DCPS is improving is because of whites moving into the city. It sends the message that white people are better than everyone else.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So, who do people actually want? What would an ideal candidate be?

I know my suggestion won't be popular -- least of all with the person I'm suggesting -- but I think Abigail Smith should be considered. I can't defend her entire track record, but I think she has dealt with the system long enough to know what can and should be fixed.

you're brave to post that here

She would be worth considering but I don't see it after the boundary review fallout

She is and was an effective leader that took on an issue that needed to be dealt with after 40 years. But think about it. She was Mayor Gray's deputy. Wrong team.

So was Kaya

Anyone think she was forced out?

Yes

From Bowser:

"Without a doubt, DCPS is a very different place today than it was when Kaya joined our school system in 2007. DCPS is the fastest improving urban school district in the country. After decades of decline, DCPS has also seen consistent, annual enrollment growth since Kaya became Chancellor—growing from 45,000 students in 2010 to nearly 49,000 students this year. While we will miss Kaya, we can all be proud of her team and her tenure as the second longest-serving leader of DCPS."

She's getting dragged down on multiple fronts. She likes and believes this ^^ story but knows the ending is a clunker.

She'll never just say -- 'DC is getting wealthier and whiter and that explains most of our gains . . . oh, and by the way, that unconscionable achievement gap was like that when I got here.'