I wouldn’t just rehire this Cobb special ed teacher; I would erect a statue in her honor.
This reader response to an AJC article on special education teachers in Cobb ended up on my desk where I read it in amazement. Teacher Shannon Bryant sounds extraordinary.
Read this letter from parent Jason Adams and you will understand why. After reading it, I am even more perplexed why a teacher of Shannon’s caliber was not rehired. I wouldn’t just rehire her after reading this; I would start collecting for a statue in her honor.
With the permission of the author:
I am writing in response to your recent article entitled “Cobb Rehires 130 Special Education Teachers.” My hope is to add to the sentiments expressed regarding special needs teacher Shannon Bryant. My son, Sully, is a former student of Ms. Shannon.
When Sully was diagnosed with a brain disorder, we searched for the best special needs program in the state. After speaking with both parents and teachers; and after visiting many schools, we were clear where we should be. We moved our family to the Nickajack district so that Sully could join Ms. Bryant’s class.
Sully could barely walk or talk when he began class. He was not potty trained, could not feed himself, and was troubled with intractable seizures. Mentally, he was already several years behind in his development. Shannon Bryant took him in and went to work. Finally, Sully had met a teacher who was more stubborn than he. Additionally, this teacher knew her business. Sully’s time in pre-k class immediately began to pay dividends. Shannon Bryant’s dedication did not end with the school year. She offered to teach summer school, and we made sure Sully was there.
As Sully grew, he went through dramatic change. His speech developed. He physically developed, and he even learned to feed himself. Then his medical problems worsened. In October of 2008, Sully had surgery to remove the entire left half of his brain. On the day of his surgery, we received a photo of Shannon, her class, and many other Nickajack teachers wearing T-shirts with SULLY printed across the chest. Shannon was responsible for this, and I believe it to be the kindest gesture I’ve personally ever witnessed.
While recovering in a therapy center at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Sully had to re-learn nearly everything. He couldn’t walk. Shannon boarded an airplane and came directly to Sully’s aid. Within one day she had him walking. Sully was weak, as he once again refused to eat or drink. Shannon had him eating and drinking before she left. She has repeated this act every single time Sully has suffered a setback (he’s had a few surgeries over the past year).
You see, Shannon Bryant is more than a classroom teacher. She loves her students and is 100 percent dedicated to their success. I suspect this is why she was voted Teacher of the Year in 2009. In the history of the award, no teacher has deserved it more.
Fast forward to today. Sully is in kindergarten. He walks, talks, feeds himself, and is potty trained. Cognitively, he is making great strides to catch up. He is seizure free. He is a joyful child and is loved by anyone who knows him. As his father, I’d like to take credit for the person he has become. But that wouldn’t be fair. Sully has accomplished so much because of the hours upon hours of work put in by Shannon Bryant. She is a true professional, and my family is so thankful that she came into Sully’s life.
I do not understand how Cobb County chose to fire Ms. Bryant. Teachers like this don’t come along often. A mistake has been made here. A bad one. I am most concerned that Ms. Bryant’s current students are being deprived of her great talents. I hope and pray that Shannon Bryant is rehired by Nickajack Elementary.
Sincerely,
Jason Adams
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110 comments Add your comment
Retired Educator
June 18th, 2010
10:24 am
Maureen, when I came on at this hour, I didn’t expect to find someone else deep in thought too.
This is so unfair to the teacher, (and others who have been unfairly treated), the parents, and the students. I am up at this hour thinking and pondering how the teachers who were treated unfairly can be helped. I am especially concerned about those younger teachers who were unfairly evaluated and/or have advanced degrees that command a higher salary thereby causing the CCSD to ruin their careers just to deal with the district’s budgetary situation.
Don’t tell me that these teachers were credentialed, completed a rigorous hiring process by a system that considers itself one on the best in the state, and suddenly they become incompetent. Of course there are always some bad apples in a barrel, but not on the scale that this district claims.
How can principals consider themselves worthy of their administration jobs and yet have so many (untenured) teachers incapable of being guided into satisfactory growth and adjustment.
These teachers have invested in their career, they have families, student loans, a thirst for teaching. I dare say that the vast majority of them are truly excellent teachers. How else could Cobb boast of doing so well on the CRCT and other tests, if you’re going to use testing as any kind of barometer, if these very teachers were doing so poorly.
There are posters who specialize in coming here to bash teachers and suggest that there are so many bad teachers, but they are just blow hearts. It’s not true. Like the teacher above, many many teachers are doing a wonderful job; yet, the top school system chooses to cut them off at the knees to suit their purpose. I think it’s sinful and realize that no one, and I mean no one appears to be reaching out to try to rectify this injustice. I was hopeful that the AJC, or the professional organizations, or MACE, or the state department of education…SOMEONE…would take on this cause. I so wish I had the know how and connections to do something myself but it seems that nothing but brick walls loom in front of this.
Is there anyone with the power to help these teachers? Does anyone care enough? If there is, I don’t know how I could help, but I am certainly willing to work with anyone who has the moxie to challenge any school district that is using this criminal approach.
To all the school districts, if you don’t have the money to pay, tell that to the teachers. Don’t sit back with your comfortable jobs and feel no ways tired about ruining the lives of so many young educators.
If there are systems of courage out there, please reach out to these teachers and let the CCSDs loss be your gain.
Retired Educator
June 18th, 2010
10:26 am
Thanks, Maureen. I re-submitted it and hope it will show up soon.
Maureen Downey
June 18th, 2010
10:29 am
@Retired. New version is up and older one is deleted. Thanks, Maureen
@ Ole Guy
June 18th, 2010
10:35 am
“Teachers, stop being afraid of the boogey man and organize.”
You have many times advocated for teachers unionizing in this state, and I am in agreement. As a transplant from further north, I have also been befuddled by the Georgia teachers’ complacency. It’s as if they (GA teachers) have been pre-wired from birth. Whenever I speak up at my school, I get responses of complacency, ignorance, and fear. I was told by another teacher that we are the slaves and they are the masters and that’s just how it is here because Georgia is a non-union state and Georgia law does not support collective bargaining. …So what?
I came from a state that also does not have collective bargaining, but NEA had a lot more power than the lame GAE we have in Georgia. It is against the law for teachers to strike in my previous state, but we did go on strike anyway – back in 1981. Not one of us was arrested or received so much as a note in our personnel file. It only took one day of the strike – we shut the schools down, but parents supported us!.
We need more than teachers to organize. We need parents to be on board too, but unfortunately, in Georgia, too many parents have the same mentality as Milton Man. Ole Guy, you seem like a highly intelligent and informed person. I would attend any organizational meeting that you propose, but I do not have the legal no-how to affect change. We need a true leader.
I initially belonged to GAE, because of the NEA affiliation, but have since switched to MACE. I am not 100 % satisfied with MACE either. I believe MACE’s leader, Dr. Trotter, could gain more credibility if he would stop the name calling and insults in the letters he write for teachers. (See the teachersadvocate.com) I have heard (from the very lawyer that Trotter chooses to defend himself) that sometimes MACE enflames the issue which is not in the best interest of teachers. Many will not join MACE because of the tacky letters and also whatever happened in Clayton county before I came to Georgia… I hope MACE is reading this! I am a member, but am concerned.
Ole Guy, How do you propose we organize the teachers? How can we get the parents on board with us? Is there a parent out there who can mobilize enough other parents to truly affect change? There is a group on Facebook called Georgia Education Alliance (GEA) but it seems to be a teacher only group. We need lawyers, parents, educators, and law makers to band together for the betterment of education in Georgia, which can ONLY be done when teachers finally receive the respect we deserve!
How many parents have joined Georgia Education Alliance on Facebook? How many lawyers are willing to help – in the interest of the future of Georgia? Hopefully enough teachers, parents, (even those who have always voted Republican) will be there at the poles this fall to kick out the GOP and begin real reform in this state.
schlmarm
June 18th, 2010
10:36 am
Yes, I blame Sonny and his cronies in the gold dome for a lot of this. His party does NOT support public education. He did NOT have to balance the budget on our backs.
@ Ole Guy
June 18th, 2010
10:37 am
Filtered! another long one!
Ole Guy
June 18th, 2010
10:46 am
It would appear (to me, anyway) that the “bad eval” explanation is nothing more than a canned reply…a one-size-fits-all response…to the public demand “EXPLAIN YOURSELF”. As far as I’m concerned, this type answer, accurate or not, is completely unsatisfactory, and should be grounds for dereliction of duty.
At the county boe level, such questions should be rerouted to local management…school principals…whereupon they will have the opportunity to explain EXACTLY what teacher behaviors led…ostensibly…to the unsat eval.
Once again, my broken record:
1) DO NOT, teachers, take this crap lying down.
2) INSIST on detailed, refutable, replys. Accepting the oversimplified “bad eval” response both cheapens your integrity and oversimplifies things for the powers that be.
DON’T BE AFFRAID TO BE A PAIN IN THE SIX! What can they do…fire and hire you six times a day. For cryin out loud, STOP PLAYING THEIR GD GAMES!
catlady
June 18th, 2010
11:04 am
Would Ms. Bryant be willing to come to the N Ga mtns to teach?
What a lovely tribute! What a great dad to write the letter!
HStchr
June 18th, 2010
11:30 am
Unfortunately, there are many stories nationwide of truly great teachers being let go because of budget cuts. The higher ups look at dollars, not effectiveness or personal value. What a great tribute to Ms. Bryant. Teachers, remember in these hard times that no matter what the politicians do to us, we have an important role to fill in children’s lives that will live on long after we’re gone. I have a card still on my refrigerator after fifteen years from a kid I worked with who made phenomenal progress. It reminds me that no matter what happens, we still do the job and make a difference.
Wherever she goes, I’m sure Ms. Bryant will continue to do the great work she is known and loved for doing. What a loss to Cobb, but what a gain to other needy kids.
Teacher&mom
June 18th, 2010
11:37 am
I have a strong suspicion that neither the upper-level administrators nor the Cobb Co. BOE could pick out Ms. Bryant in a crowd of people. I also suspect they had NO CLUE about what took place in her classroom. She was just another teacher on the list of names to RTF.
Fortunately for Ms. Bryant, and her students, she will return to the classroom next year. I wonder if Ms. Bryant and others would have been re-hired if it weren’t for the outrage of parents? I suspect this was a litmus test to see if the BOE could get by with balancing the budget with RTF. Let’s face it folks, RTF is the easiest solution….doesn’t require thought or planning. Well, I take that back…they do have to figure out a way to “convince” the public that they are only letting the “incompetent” teachers go and that they have exhausted every possible budget item.
A Lot Of Assuming Going On
June 18th, 2010
11:41 am
We’ve had a “teacher of the year” or two fired or resign over improprieties in the not too distant past, so you usually don’t know the whole story and this is one of them.Though she may look like a model teacher to a parent or two, there’s a reason she received poor evaluations. Granted there are some less than professional principals out there, but thankfully they seem to be few and far between. The assumption is with good special ed teachers in short supply there had to be a significant problem with her classroom performance. Particularly when there was probably a period of remediation to bring her into compliance. It’s now up to her to come forth and tell us what the problems were and either admit or refute them.
Sitting back and having the public blindly come to her defense is not doing the profession any favors. Otherwise we’d be no better than the king’s of political whoredom Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton.
Good Question
June 18th, 2010
12:06 pm
Teacher and Taxpayer,
You pose good questions. It seems that there may be an ulterior motive to the evaluation process on the part of the CCSD. Which came first, the poor evaluation or the budget crisis? Was there a directive to decrease staff via the evaluations? The number of teachers receiving poor evaluations increased significantly in the past couple of years for the Cobb County School District. Is it coincidence or is it covenience? Similarly to the CRCT cheating scandal, the increase may indicate a deeper problem.
How are teachers who receive a poor evaluation getting hired elsewhere? Do any of you know? That scarlet letter is very difficult to overcome. No one believes the teacher when she says that it was a result of the poor economy, yet in some cases, it is the truth.
Maureen Downey
June 18th, 2010
12:11 pm
@A lot of guessing; Here’s another guess, born of years covering child welfare as an editorial writer. The state of Georgia has stopping using foster parents in the past because they were too concerned about the kids in their care, constantly complaining to the state that the kids weren’t getting the needed services, counseling, therapy, whatever. (My former colleague and the best child-welfare reporter in the country, Jane Hansen, can tell you about this.)
I have found that many government organizations don’t like the overly active advocates, the case worker who gets too involved, the foster family that advocates tirelessly and constantly. (And let foster parents go to the media with some of the serious mistakes made by the state, that can be the end of their fostering, even at a time when the state desperately needs foster parents.)
I wonder if this teacher — who flew out of state to see a student after surgery — was considered a zealot and too involved.
Maureen
Sin of Omission
June 18th, 2010
12:14 pm
There are administrators who target teachers and poorly evaluate them for personal reasons. The problem is that the remainder of the staff are afraid to stand up for the abused teacher. Everyone is scared to be a part of the solution. Retrubution is alive and well in schools. Many teachers can tell horrible stories about administrators abusing power. It has been stated on this blog in the past that fear abounds in schools. That same fear keeps the rest of the staff in check while a few are made examples.
So, when a teacher knows she is being targeted, there is often no one to come to her defense. In fact, the rest of the teachers begin to distance themselves as not to be associated with the “chosen one.” Everyone is worried about their own teaching contract and will not stick their neck out to help a fellow teacher. The risks are too great.
Sin of Omission
June 18th, 2010
12:15 pm
There are administrators who target teachers and poorly evaluate them for personal reasons. The problem is that the remainder of the staff are afraid to stand up for the abused teacher. Everyone is scared to be a part of the solution. Retrubution is alive and well in schools. Many teachers can tell horrible stories about administrators abusing power. It has been stated on this blog in the past that fear abounds in schools. That same fear keeps the rest of the staff in check while a few are made examples.
So, when a teacher knows she is being targeted, there is often no one to come to her defense. In fact, the rest of the teachers begin to distance themselves as not to be associated with the “chosen one.” Too risky.
We Need One Principal to Come Forward
June 18th, 2010
12:23 pm
Somewhere along the way Cobb administration gave a directive to be more stringent with evaluations. Whether it was given with the smokescreen of the “new” evaluation system who knows. We need one principal to come forward with the truth. Surely there is one retired principal not afraid to lose their position to speak to what really was said at those principal meetings or to them privately by their immediate superior.
Teacher/Parent in Cobb
June 18th, 2010
12:26 pm
Here it is:
The RIF policy was quietly changed in mid-March–the 12th or 13th, I believe. Annual Evaluations are due by March 31st.
Prior to the RIF policy being changed, employees were dismissed solely on seniority. In normal times (no budget crisis) if you get an unsatisfactory evaluation, you will be placed on a PDP (professional development plan) and you have a year to fix the concerns. This year, not so, which means a number of employees, some deserving their unsatisfactory evals and some victims of administrator abuse of power, lost their jobs.
Teacher/Parent in Cobb
June 18th, 2010
12:29 pm
http://www.cobbk12.org/centraloffice/adminrules/G_Rules/Rule_GCQA.pdf <—there you go. Scroll down to the bottom of the page–notice it was revised on 3/10/10.
My 2 cents
June 18th, 2010
12:33 pm
From the information presented along with my many years experience in school administration my best guess regarding Ms Bryant’s fate is based in her deep involvement with the students. Many administrators ( building and/or district level) get very nervous when a popular teacher begins to have more pull with parents or staff than they believe they themselves do. Once a teacher starts being overly vocal and stubborn about what he or she thinks is best for ‘their’ kids then oftentimes some feel they have crossed some sort of line. I have actually been in meetings where school system lawyers warn us about these types of teachers, believe it or not. Special Ed teachers in particular are worrisome to many as they begin to become seen as ” advocates” , a term that sends chills down school system lawyers’ and administrators’ backs. I’ve seen this kind of thing happen before unfortunately. Don’t know for sure that this is the case here, but experience tells me it is a good bet.
My 2 cents
June 18th, 2010
12:36 pm
Lol Maureen. I just saw your post. Great minds….
Maureen Downey
June 18th, 2010
12:40 pm
@My 2 cents, I think it’s a fair theory on our part. I am not sure any organization likes the squeaky wheel, even when the squeaks are on behalf of children with special needs or abused kids.
Maureen
My 2 cents
June 18th, 2010
12:53 pm
Exactly right! A very sad state of affairs. As long as we let the lawyers keep us scared and allow some administrators to hold the threat of job loss and retribution over our heads students will continue to be denied good teachers like Ms Bryant. The vocal are much too often forced out or marginalized under our current set up.
My 2 cents
June 18th, 2010
1:02 pm
One more point- always remember that the vast majority of building administrators in this state have a lot less job security that the teachers they ‘ manage’ thanks to the quick one that was pulled when teachers regained tenure but administrators did not back in 95 or so. I firmly believe this has given rise to a new breed of principal, that is more concerned about how they are perceived by central office than by standing up for their charges in the schools when it is warranted. Like you said Maureen, the squeaky wheel is very much disliked. A squeaky administrator ( especially newer ones) is cut loose quickly! The days of the school principal as champion of the teachers and kids is pretty much done in this state unfortunately.
Elbridge Gerry
June 18th, 2010
1:03 pm
Was the teaching certificate suspended by the GA Professional Standards Commission?
Miscalculation
June 18th, 2010
1:06 pm
Teacher/Parent in Cobb,
The PDP process does not necessarily take a year. I was a Cobb teacher and was placed on a PDP for a few weeks. I did everything I was asked and have an email from the principal indicating that I went above and beyond what was asked of me. At the final meeting, my principal said out of her own mouth that she did not tell me that I was not meeting her expectations. *Remember I just said that she told me that I was doing fine just two days prior to this meeting. My principal then sat in the meeting with Mary Finlayson and said that I would not be renewed. It is public record. It was recorded, I have a copy. I then chose to resign. That PDP did not last a year. My principal targeted me the entire year. Even the husband of a very visible PTA member emailed me directly in regard to a stunt that the principal pulled in my classroom in front of other parents and 20 kids.
I did not get a year. It did not matter in the end because it seems that the principal had made her mind up long before placing me on a PDP. She began to target me in September and harassed me the entire year.
MiltonMan
June 18th, 2010
1:30 pm
Hey Retarded Teacher my mom is deceased killed by a drunk driver. Thanks a million moron.
You plead with the rest of the posters on here to not respond to my post yet you respond to them. Are you bi-polar & off of your meds at this point?
@Georgia and Bill
June 18th, 2010
1:34 pm
ah, if only a free APPROPRIATE public education is what we were talking about – but we’re more interested in everyone getting EQUAL, meaning that no one gets less or more than anyone else. if you sit in a classroom and see the amount of services delivered to students with special needs you’d have a better understanding. U.S. will continue to rank near the bottom of the world education barrel as long as we put human interest stories over educating the people who will better our society in substantial ways (yes, i know the nice fella handing out carts at the neighborhood store makes us feel better about ourselves, but c’mon…). again, though, teachers like ms. shepherd are doing what they are told to do and contributing a great deal of time and effort to make sure “students” master important “skills” like holding a fork n’ knife without removing a digit LOL
John C. Calhoun
June 18th, 2010
1:41 pm
If she is tenured, why didn’t she ask for a hearing?
need new blood
June 18th, 2010
2:02 pm
http://www.willisforstatesuper.com
enough
June 18th, 2010
2:30 pm
Re: hearings
Here is an article from the MDJ – one of the Board members showed up over two hours late for another teacher’s hearing-this after the CCSD had said that retired teachers-not Board members- would preside over the 30 plus hearings scheduled for this summer.
http://mdjonline.com/view/full_story/7970504/article-2-out-of-3-school-board-members-show-for-tribunal?instance=home_news_bullets
Teacher/Parent in Cobb
June 18th, 2010
2:47 pm
@miscalculation: Thanks for the clarification. Those who had PDP’s in my building had a year.
@John C. Calhoun: Good question, but it makes you wonder if the board members even take the hearing seriously when they stroll in over two hours late for a tribunal: http://www.mdjonline.com/view/full_story/7970504/article-2-out-of-3-school-board-members-show-for-tribunal?instance=home_news_bullets
Georgia
June 18th, 2010
4:25 pm
Parents educate yourself, please check out the following web-site http://open.georgia.gov/.
Ole Guy
June 18th, 2010
5:50 pm
Johnny C, by your very comment/question, you have identified a large part of the problem. In ASKING for a hearing, Ms Bryant (any-and-all teachers, for that matter) in effect relinquish any-and-all control of the process.
If this particular labor group was organized, part of the contract would stipulate/mandate a hearing with tribunal membership precisly composed of membership from various interests. These teachers would then DEMAND, under guidelines of NLRB/National Labor Relations Board, that which would be their due and just process.
As it is now, they (teacher corps) are but pawns/willing subjects within a fifedom in which fairness is the very last consideration…if that.
Teacher
June 18th, 2010
6:17 pm
UGH! I’m just astonished to read some of these awful posts! I really hope Ms. Bryant is able to be rehired. She clearly has a special gift and we need her in our schools. I believe that teachers are born, not trained. It’s a tougher job than most people realize, and special education teachers have the hardest job. My heart goes out to her, the children she has taught, and the families she has served.
I started reading and responding on this blog in April. I’m not sure this should continue, given that so few of its respondants have any idea what goes on in a classroom. It’s easy to be negative and critical of teachers when you are standing on the outside. If you feel the need to voice your opinion here, make sure you are doing so as an informed parent and citizen. Call your child’s school and offer to help. Make a reading center. Chaperone a field trip. Read with children. Help a student master his/her basic math facts. Offer to gather supplies and set up a science experiment. See teaching and learning happen firsthand. Only then can you have a true understanding of education.
I am shocked and saddened by some of the posts I have read here today. Several of you need to do some soul-searching and figure out what has you so angry. Every child is worthwhile and should be afforded an opportunity to learn.
cobb mother
June 18th, 2010
6:22 pm
I think Race needs to be looked at Nickajack. The Principal is Black. Ms. Bryant and the 5th Grade Teachers this was done to are all white. It you complain about how the out of control black kids are harrassing your white child at this school, you are quickly called a raciest. Black kids are allowed to bully freely at this school.
Angela
June 18th, 2010
6:29 pm
@A CONSERVATIVE,
Please, Please tell me that you did not fix your fingers to blame Obama for the oil spill or people being out of work, or any other problems that are going on in the gulf or even in our economy today.
First of all, the oil cap situation begin with The Bushes! The entire oil issues for years beging with the Bushes. There are too many people blaming Obama for the economy I wonder if McCain had won with his dummy Sarah beside him would they be blamed for all of the problems of today or would they be getting a pat on their backs.
****************************************************************************************************
Now on the issues of Cobb County, it seems to me that this is going to be an on going situation. As I have had more time to think about David and Jennifer and now Ms. Bryant. It seems to me that Cobb County had a bigger plan than just weeding out the poor verses good teachers. Some where in there this has to be about money. Does anyone know if these teachers are being rehired at the same rate of pay, less or more? Also, how does this rehire affect those teachers retirement?
I also, thought about David and Jennifer on the other blog and it came to my mind that those two seem to lead a very unstable teaching career. How many systems have they already been in? I remember someone posting that they had worked with them in another county. We as productive citizens must realize that we must apparently need work however, we must also face the reality that if we are the last hired we are bound to be the first to be layed off. It does not (always) mean that we are the worst at our jobs or the employers want to keep family and friends. It is just a way of respecting and showing loyality to those who have worked there for a long period of time.
Angela
June 18th, 2010
6:32 pm
@Cobb Parent,
Please clarify your post, it is unclear.
Current Cobb Teacher
June 18th, 2010
7:01 pm
According to an arlicle in the Marietta paper Jay Dillon, spokesperson for the Cobb BoE stated she was fired for bad evaluations. An MOID (students with severe disabilities) teacher was fired at my school for bad evaluations. She was told she treated the students too differently and she didn’t differentiate enough. Which is it? She was evaluated by an adminstrator who had never taught special education, much less spent any time in an MOID classroom where half the students are non-verbal. The problem is with the evaluation process, administrators with no experience in areas are evaluating those teachers. Would it make sense for a pediatrician to evaluate a neurosurgeon’s performance? Sure they are both doctors, but in completely different fields.
At the beginning of the school year special education teachers in Cobb County were told if they used programs in their classroom other than the ones approved by the County and a parent complained the County would NOT support the teacher. My evaluator, who was not a special education teacher, gave me a meets standards instead of exceeds standards because I only used the county approved programs. I didn’t “differentiate” enough with my teaching tools. Risk being sued because I used something unapproved by Cobb County special education or get a lower mark on my administrative evaluation? Of course if I use other materials and get sued I’m going to assume I would get an unsatisfactory.
Cobb County education has too many chiefs who are each very jealous of their little power. Due to this jealousy they don’t communicate with each other. The students and classroom teachers suffer daily due to their petty power struggles.
catlady
June 18th, 2010
7:44 pm
Ms. Downey, very astute observation. It does not pay to be too loved.
When I taught sped, i was faulted by the principal for being too involved, too invested with my 4 MOID kids. Now, I have had principals/administrators mention to me that I am a strong advocate for my ELLs (codespeak). So, I have to try to be unobtrusive in my support/advocacy. Really dumb that it works that way.
the prof
June 18th, 2010
8:20 pm
A CONSERVATIVE…..do you also go by Proud Black Male???
Teacher/Parent in Cobb
June 18th, 2010
8:59 pm
@ Current Cobb Teacher
It’s so funny you mention that….I taught a particular scripted reading program this year and my evaluator told me she didn’t like my lesson plans because I didn’t use any additional resources other than the particular program. I told her that, like you said, I was told not to deviate from the program–follow it exactly as it says. She and I went back and forth in her office because she felt I should have had additional supplemental resources “just in case the kids would need it.” Mind you now, this woman never attended any of the trainings for the particular program and never taught special education. I did what she said, and sure enough, a month later our area special ed supervisor came to visit and chewed me out because I had supplemental activities listed on my plans.
It’s darned if you do, darned if you don’t in this county.
tcherlady77
June 18th, 2010
9:22 pm
I am a very proud special education teacher and have been doing it in Cobb County for 11 years. The following comment ” free public education should serve a public good. i’m sorry to be the one to say it, but few special needs children contribute to the public good in a substantial way. funds would be better spent on at-risk children IMO” is the single most ignorant and stupid thing that I have ever seen. How dare you? You sound like an arrogant a%* At least when my students spout nonsense, they have an excuse – what’s yours? I certainly hope that your own children/grandchildren/nieces/nephews/step children/god children etc are all born perfect because you are the type of person that would be abusive to a child that wasn’t up to your standards. In case you weren’t aware, special education kids bring in their own funding via federal laws. Perhaps you haven’t heard of a man named Einstein who was labeled stupid and kicked out of school. I teach both students with special needs and general education students. 9 times out of 10, my students with disabilities work harder then the general education students. You ought to be ashamed of yourself.
What's the excuse now?
June 18th, 2010
9:50 pm
Now that there is a distinct possibility that we have evidence that the evaluation instrument was misused, what the excuse for not asking the candidates what steps they plan on taking to protect the integrity of the evaluation process, and offer legitimate avenues of appeal for teachers who have been victimized by a deliberate misuse of the instrument?
Lynn
June 18th, 2010
10:18 pm
It is time for teachers to come forward with what they know and for the Cobb BOE to honestly examine what happened this year in our schools. The principal at Campbell did not allow teachers to be rated as proficient. Was that his decision or the decision of someone else higher up in the county? A department head who disagreed with his evaluation instructions was placed on leave.
It is time for lawsuits and depositions. Someone will break the silence at some point rather than face civil penalties. Too bad the penalties can’t be criminal. Could we get a RICCO ruling?
What's the excuse now?
June 18th, 2010
11:03 pm
The principal at Campbell did not allow teachers to be rated as proficient. Was that his decision or the decision of someone else higher up in the county? A department head who disagreed with his evaluation instructions was placed on leave.
And people still want to claim that looking at ways to protect the integrity of the evaluation instrument isn’t an essential issue that every candidate should be on the record about?
Where’s MACE?
Where’s GAE?
Where’s PAGE?
Why won’t they address it?
Teacher
June 18th, 2010
11:41 pm
Lynn: The new teacher evaluation and rubric were very difficult. What the county was calling “proficient” was unbelievable and only a super-human teacher could do all of what they had listed there. It really depended on each principal how he/she interpreted the rubric. If they took that word for word, then yes, very few people would be proficient. Most teachers were upset because there wasn’t a rating between “Proficient” and “Emerging” on the evaluation. In my school, each teacher is responsible for filling out the evaluation, citing evidence to justify the rating you give yourself. We then schedule individual meetings with the principal/assistant principal to discuss the evaluation. They can change ratings or add details if they wish. I really like this because I reflect on my teaching and always enjoy this time with my principal. She is very busy, so I rarely get time to really talk to her and get feedback.
When I sat down to write my evaluation I set that rubric aside. I went ahead and rated myself proficient in most areas and took in work samples, lesson plans, tests I wrote, and a list of my goals and accomplishments for my meeting. I knew it was possible the principal would change the rating if she only looked at that rubric, but I honestly don’t know anyone that could have lived up to that. She didn’t. She was very pleased with the effort and had been in my room enough to know what’s going on there.
My hope is that all principals are like mine. She is very, very demanding but I have such respect and admiration for her and what she has done for our school.
I hope this helps you to understand the evaluation process.
What's the excuse now?
June 19th, 2010
12:00 am
I certainly hope no one is using a rubric as an excuse not to hold the candidates accountable for being on the record for what guidelines they would put in place to protect teachers from misuse of the evaluation instrument, given the reports of its abuse?
Why would any good teacher, or any good administrator oppose holding the new superintendent accountable for passing the strongest policies in the nation to protect the sanctity of the evaluation instrument so that that the faith in it that clearly does not exists now can be restored?
Clearly no person committed to educational excellence would be opposed to having the strongest policies in the nation to protect the sanctity of the evaluation instrument, and protect against its misuse.
AJC failed its readers again, the readers then fail the kids
June 19th, 2010
12:22 am
The most predictable and pedestrian of questions that only serve to reinforce the status quo.
But if the readers demand no better than to call the AJC to account for calling the candidates to account you get exactly what you deserve.
Status quo, part deux.
Lynn
June 19th, 2010
1:18 am
Teacher, your comments are appreciated. But yes, there were principals who determined that teachers with high test scores, years of demonstrated excellence and state and national awards were not worthy of a proficient rating. If these principals then hide behind the “rubric” excuse then we can only fault the principal for not contacting the county and letting the county know that the evaluation instrument and rubric are flawed. These principals then used these evaluations to terminate outstanding teachers.
Free Market Educator
June 19th, 2010
1:37 am
Unemployed teachers, try Montana or North Dakota. These are the only two states in the country that are not running a budget deficit! California is about to cry “too big to fail” and guess who will be forced to bail them out? The following article indicates that California’s woes began with the demand for equal funding for public schools, forcing them to become more dependent on state revenue. At the same time, citizens who were tired of out of control government spending, passed Proposition 13 which capped local and business property taxes at 1975 levels. School expenditures, of course, continued to rise, and borrowing to cover shortfalls compounded. Now California has been brought to its collective knees. Their massive deficits will soon be OUR problem. Georgia doesn’t look so bad after all….
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/economy/california-on-verge-of-system-failure/article1609891/