APS whistle blowers: Their credibility came under attack
The Sunday AJC is full of good education stories, but the one that will get people talking is an investigation into the fallout to APS teachers who report cheating on state high-stakes tests.
(If you don’t get the AJC on Sunday, this would be the day to pick up a newspaper as there is a lot to read, long story on how SACS works, a news piece on APS accreditation, an editorial on APS and two columns on education issues.)
As is often the case with whistle blowers, APS teachers told the AJC that they experienced push back and recriminations for coming forward, although many still work for the Atlanta schools.
One of the common tactics in discrediting whistle blowers is to turn the focus on them and their job performance. It’s also an effective means to intimidate other employees from ever coming forward.
Teachers in the story allege that is what happened to them in Atlanta.
According to the investigative piece by AJC reporter Alan Judd and Heather Vogell: (Please read the full piece as it is lengthy.)
The newspaper reviewed reports of the school district’s internal investigations and spoke with more than a dozen current and former Atlanta educators. The documents and the interviews describe a culture that punishes employees who report wrongdoing and rewards those who keep silent. Some whistle-blowers end up under scrutiny themselves. Others are subjected to questions about their mental health. Some lose their jobs.
The prospect of even the most subtle forms of reprisal not only discourages teachers from reporting impropriety, educators say, it makes them more susceptible to pressure to cheat on such assessments as the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test.
Not one educator confessed during the school district’s initial inquiry into widespread cheating on the 2009 CRCT. Now, under threat of criminal prosecution if they lie to state agents investigating the cheating scandal, numerous Atlanta educators have acknowledged witnessing or participating in irregularities.
“It’s just this thing that everyone knows is going on but nobody says anything,” said former teacher Sidnye Fells, who alleged that administrators at Dobbs Elementary cheated. “It’s the elephant in the room. If you say anything, you lose your job.”
– From Maureen Downey, for the AJC Get Schooled blog
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149 comments Add your comment
Top School
January 23rd, 2011
4:11 pm
I have an embarrassing website…
I don’t think they are capable of embarrassment on the Northside of ATLANTA.
Gov. DEAL does not seem to be embarrassed.
Dr. John Trotter
January 23rd, 2011
4:33 pm
Top School: They were embarrassed quite a bit at Morris Brandon recently. Yep, it works on the Northside too. MACE protects and empowers teachers…one member at a time. Membership has its priviledges.
Lynn43
January 23rd, 2011
4:35 pm
Jennifer, My school district does not behave in this way. I would name my district, but we have more applications now than we can handle.
Top School
January 23rd, 2011
4:36 pm
Should we file another report to PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS…
http://www.gapsc.com/Ethics/index.asp
The Ethics Division has a highly qualified team of investigators, many with law enforcement experience, as well as legal and support staff. The division has the authority to enforce the guidelines by fully investigating valid complaints of improper conduct, including inappropriate relationships; mishandling public funds; violating state and federal laws and rules, and other actions endangering or harming students. In addition, the Ethics Division investigates all applicants for certification that have a criminal history to ensure that the applicant presents no threat to Georgia’s children. When appropriate, the GaPSC may impose disciplinary sanctions ranging from warnings to certificate suspensions or revocations.
DO not attempt to ASK FOR OPEN RECORDS …because they don’t provide any!
There are no RECORDS OF THEIR DECISIONS.
CLOSED FOR PUBLIC VIEW.
Top School
January 23rd, 2011
4:41 pm
@ DR. TROTTER…
Good for you! HOW LONG BEFORE THE AUTHORITIES moved you out of the fine neighborhood?
chillywilly
January 23rd, 2011
4:51 pm
Whatever happened to the APS employees that blew the whistle on the missing & stolen computers?
What Goes Around Comes Around
January 23rd, 2011
5:56 pm
@bootney farnsworth January 23rd, 2011 2:22 pm
I would not recommend the Ga. Bar Association. They are crooks too. People have filed complaints against Warren Fortson and his unethical practices. As of today, they have not heard from the GA. Bar.
Dr. John Trotter
January 23rd, 2011
5:57 pm
Top School: I don’t think you understand MACE…We don’t move.
@ Dr. Trotter
January 23rd, 2011
6:27 pm
With the amount of corruption in the school system, how can we get our children a better education. I left DCSS after 3 years, because I was tired of seeing kids get passed on who had no right and not being able to teach to math and reading to mastery. How can we do better for the children? It’s obvious to me that not many adults care about the children and their steak in this madness. They are our future. How can we show that we really do care more about them than the current school systems are?
bear claws
January 23rd, 2011
6:33 pm
To “I hate mace” you are the biggest fool, I have read comments on this blog. When the woman of grace leave you need to go with her. This school system is mess up beause of people like you. Who cannot see the forest for the trees.
Top School
January 23rd, 2011
6:51 pm
@ Dr. John Trotter
bite down…dig your heels in …and keep on telling the truth…
that’s all we can do.
Nikole
January 23rd, 2011
7:15 pm
@ I hate mace—-You have got to be kidding. B.Hall has helped to create an entire generation of undereducated children.
Dr. Craig Spinks/ Augusta
January 23rd, 2011
8:03 pm
Dr. John Trotter,
I’m unable to reach the MACE website.
Patrick Crabtree
January 23rd, 2011
8:08 pm
Mr. Trotter, we at AAE have never attacked you nor tried to discredit you and for the most part been on the same page. Please don’t say that MACE was the lone voice, because AAE under Lynda W. Smith and myself have also been crying foul and the abusive nature of the Hall regime. The saddest part of all is that we represent employees who may not live in the city, but what about the cresidents of Atlanta? I am a resident of the city and I care about our citizenry’s voice being overridden by the Broad Foundation. They want to tell us what we need in APS. Aren’t we capable of determining what we need ourselves? Do they pay Atlanta taxes? There push along with the Chamber forced Hallo upon us and Emmit Johnson alng with Kasim Reed made sure she had the power with the changing of the charter. Do we see the big picture yet? Hasn’t this scandal taught us anything?
Laurie
January 23rd, 2011
8:28 pm
Whistle-blowers, thank you. You are heroes.
Elizabeth
January 23rd, 2011
8:40 pm
Pay close attention to how teachers are treated when they try to report wrong doing , whether test cheating or anything else. Also pay close attention to how teacher “tenure” is a joke because they can still get rid of you. Pay close attention to the fact that we have NO union protection to help us. Pay close attention to the fact that, on the teacher’s side ( but not the state’s), the teacher contract is unenforceable in Georgia. And not just in the APS system. In ALL systems.
Then…
Pay close attention to how the state wants to evaluate teachers and administrators using test scores as the criterion for evauation. Then ask yourself what is going to happen when and if this becomes reality. Two things I know for sure: 1. Cheating will increase. 2. The best teachers, the ones who try to do what is right, will be gone, either by choice or by force, despite their so-called “tenure”.
It will happen.
Then— where will education be?
.
Retired Educator
January 23rd, 2011
8:40 pm
APS is not the only school district and administrators that treats teachers like the scum of the earth. Cobb definitely needs to take a look at how teachers are treated. You can start at Russell Elementary and the principal Dr. Nancy Dipetrillo. Just because it’s Cobb, people want to think that they are all that and a bag of chips, but it ain’t so. They will ruin a teacher’s career without a blink or a second thought. Even when open records shows what’s done, they walk away.
How can you sleep at night knowing that you unfairly ruined a person’s career? I don’t get it, and these same kinds of people sit in churches and pretend to be christians.
Check out Cobb. It’s not going away. They do some evil things to people in that school district.
Tired and Disgusted
January 23rd, 2011
8:44 pm
TopSchool great info on the PSC, hate you spent $150,000 to fight APS. That is why the AJC need to find out how much taxpayer money has been spent by APS for legal costs against employees. Let’s not forget APS spent $500,000 without board approval fighting sexual harassment charges brought by an employee against the APS attorney Rodney Moore so there is no telling how much taxpayer money has been spent wastefully. As he abruptly left APS after it was brought to light.
Hey Dr. Adrian Epps on the PSC commission recently worked for APS? Maybe teachers need to get on these boards to look out for each other. There is just too much corruption all around for teachers to prevail in Atlanta.
APSiscorrupt
January 23rd, 2011
8:47 pm
MACE is the only organization that will fight for teachers. But MACE cannot do miracles…MACE cannot change the laws to help whistleblowers get protection. That is the job of the legislators.
Thank you Laurie and others for say kind things about us whistleblowers. We appreciate it.
Heather Vogell and Alan Judd deserve the highest journalistic award available in this country. We as whistleblowers will follow our conscience and do the right thing against all odds but we need help from brave journalists like Heather and Alan to shine light where there is darkness, malice and retaliation.
Tweets that mention APS whistle blowers: Their credibility came under attack | Get Schooled -- Topsy.com
January 23rd, 2011
8:50 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Tammy Garnes and TheParentsEducator, Maureen Downey. Maureen Downey said: APS whistle blowers: Their credibility came under attack http://bit.ly/dQkqfi [...]
APS Vet
January 23rd, 2011
8:57 pm
Re:
Retired Educator
January 23rd, 2011
8:40 pm
It’s not just APS. It’s Cobb, DCSS, Gwinnett, Fulton, and so on. The whole state is corrupt!
Top School
January 23rd, 2011
10:02 pm
Yes, I remember RODNEY MOORE…
He is listed in my documentation along with his side kick DORSEY HOPSON.
Hold the STEP UP-STEP DOWN campaign to address all the unethical leadership that has caused the PROBLEM…FROM Northside to Southside ATLANTA. Demand that these parents LOOK AT ALL THE ISSUES that caused the problems…not just those they are comfortable addressing. MANY HAVE SUFFERED GREAT LOSSES TO SEE THIS DAY COME FULL CIRCLE.
Top School
January 23rd, 2011
10:05 pm
THEY ARE ALL IN THE SAME FAMILY…
Professional Standards…
If these are the professionals…I AM GLAD I AM NOT A MEMBER.
http://www.TopPublicSchoolCorruptionAtlanta.com.
Top School
January 23rd, 2011
10:05 pm
See Facebook page…
Top School
January 23rd, 2011
10:11 pm
@Elizabeth…
LOOK AT IT FROM TOP TO BOTTOM…
This is why I WILL NOT go back to a classroom.
HONESTLY, teachers do not realize the tight rope they walk…They have NO PROTECTION…
My case proved that…It was a test of the systems…THEY DID NOT WORK…
NOT EVEN AT THE FEDERAL COURT HOUSE LEVEL.
IT SCARED ME OUT OF THE SCHOOL HOUSE…if you can question a misuse of public funds…money issue…and go through the hell I went through…what else could happen on other issues challenged?
Suavez
January 23rd, 2011
10:18 pm
Topschool-
Nobody cares what the principal at Jackson Elementary allegedly did to you. Jackson is the best school in APS. I’d love to get my kids over there instead of being stuck with the incompetent teachers at Springdale that we got stuck with after they closed CW Hill. They cheated their a$$ off at C.W.Hill and got rewarded with jobs at Springdale for doing it.
Atlanta Mom
January 23rd, 2011
10:25 pm
For the little it’s worth, to all APS whistleblower teachers (including you Top School – and yes I watched all the depositions and believe you are telling the truth) I am profoundly grateful to you and what you have done to stand up to the corruption surrounding you. Keeping fighting the good fight. I hope more teachers will come forward and tell the truth and that Paul Howard will have the political courage to prosecute.
APS Vet
January 23rd, 2011
10:41 pm
Dear Atlanta Mom,
The system needs YOUR help too! Bring frinds…
APS Vet
January 23rd, 2011
10:41 pm
*friends
Dr. John Trotter
January 24th, 2011
4:29 am
@ Craig: I don’t know why you could not get on the MACE website. I am currently down here sunny Rio and I just got on it. http://www.theteachersadvocate.com (By the way, it is about 7:15 AM here.)
@ Patrick: In no way was I intending to reflect poorly on you or Lynda. I know that both you and Lynda have spoken out against the corruption of Atlanta, and MACE and you and Lynda have always had a very pleasant and good relationship. (Patrick, I think, however, that you and Lynda realize that AAE of GAE has always been a bit more “radical” than the state organization which seems to be a tad reluctant to take on the educational establishment in Georgia, especially since administrators also join GAE.) But, prior to your and Lynda’s presidencies of AAE, MACE was speaking out and acting out like a lone wolf in the desert, heh? As a whole, MACE has probably been seen as strident and over-exaggerating by the State’s powers-that-be. But, MACE has been telling the unvarnished truth. The uncomfortable truth but the unvarnished truth.
Dr. John Trotter
January 24th, 2011
4:40 am
@ Retired Educator: We hear you. Teachers are pretty much treated like dirt all over Georgia, but especially in the urban areas. Cobb is an urban area. Yes, Cobb County teachers too are treated like dirt! Remember that it is the Cobb County Board of Education which in the last couple of years admitted to 57 illegal school board meetings. The school system, under the legal advice of Brock Clay Law Firm, routinely violates teachers’ rights under the grievance law as outlined in OCGA 20-2-989.5 et. seq.
Atlanta, Fulton, DeKalb, Gwinnett, Clayton, and Cobb treat teachers terribly. Then comes Muscogee, Bibb, Chatham, and Richmond. There are many other system not far behind. The more urban a system is, the worse teachers are treated. This is the pnenomenon, and this is the truth.
Dr. John Trotter
January 24th, 2011
4:41 am
By the way, Maureen, I still do not see the article on SACS.
Dr. John Trotter
January 24th, 2011
5:33 am
@ “I hate MACE” : As an angry and abusive administrator, you ought to hate MACE. Ha! MACE will get after your weaseling ways!
Dr. John Trotter
January 24th, 2011
5:36 am
Perhaps that ought ot be “weasling” ways. In the vernacular: Get after your ass! Ha! The first thing that we can do to improve public education in Georgia (and elsewhere) is to remove all of the angry, abusive, and just plain ole incompetent administrators. Angry and incompetence are a bad combination.
Dr NO
January 24th, 2011
7:32 am
The whistle blowers now being the target…LOL. So typical and just plain stupid.
Tony
January 24th, 2011
8:49 am
and we want to add even more pressure to teachers and administrators by requiring 50% of evaluations be based on assessment results. who are we kidding?
Elise
January 24th, 2011
9:03 am
Tony..I’m waiting to see the outcome of all this with this new evaluation system. Sadly I expect nothing will change.
Dr. John Trotter
January 24th, 2011
9:33 am
The story about how your friend was treated is why I think that the perpetrators of such fiendish behavior are evil doers. It’s just plain evil works, and yet these same evil doers will masquerade on Sunday mornings like all is well…when they are perpetrating all kinds of evil on their fellow human beings just to save their corporate hides and to be able to drive Lexuses.
This is also why MACE acts so “crazy” (in the minds of the administrators). We get pissed off at such evil works, and we hear about these callous and evil actions daily. A reality show based on MACE’s activities would be revealing and quite entertaining! We have often mused about how entertaining at look at the happenings swirling around MACE would be. But, because of confidentiality and so forth, we would never do it. It would be quite entertaining but the show itself would overwhelm the organization and would impair the purpose of MACE. So, we resist the siren call.
But, have no fear…the administrators know that we are “crazy,” and they have a healthy respect for this — and this is what matters…protecting and empowering our members to do what they always want to do, viz., teach the children.
No Teacher Left Behind
January 24th, 2011
11:19 am
All talk and little action by government leaders will result in absolutely nothing or very little consequences to power crazed administrators:
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/bronx/principal_blunt_ax_ofn8ZbU9z0euCR3K8PKmcL
Goldfinger
January 24th, 2011
12:33 pm
Whistle blower allegations need to be thorougly investigated, and if the wrongdoing is substantiated the perpetrators should be dealt with. However people who work in government know that there will always be some who make untrue accusations about superiors for one reason or another. Same rule should apply, if you’re caught engaging in bogus whistle blowing just to satisfy a personal vendetta you should suffer the consequences. That’s worlds apart from “reprisals”.
Retired Educator
January 24th, 2011
1:00 pm
Administrators presently have absolute power, and we all know that absolute power corrupts. That is why administrators SHOULD BE EVALUATED annually by teachers and staff. This should go to a neutral location that will actually study them. Goldfinger is right that there could be some untrue accusations about them, but if there is shown to be a pattern of abuse by administrators at a given school, you must know that there is a problem that should be looked into.
The fact that they can abuse the PDP Plan and evaluations to DESTROY A CAREER of a teacher for vindictive reasons is abhorable. Teachers shouldn’t be forced to bear this kind of consequence because someone got made and did what their poison pen had total power to do. Sinful.
Retired Educator
January 24th, 2011
1:02 pm
Last line: …someone got mad…
Top School
January 24th, 2011
5:02 pm
@Suavez
January 23rd, 2011
10:18 pm
Topschool-
Stated…”Nobody cares what the principal at Jackson Elementary allegedly did to you. Jackson is the best school in APS. I’d love to get my kids over there instead of being stuck with the incompetent teachers at Springdale that we got stuck with after they closed CW Hill. They cheated their a$$ off at C.W.Hill and got rewarded with jobs at Springdale for doing it.”
I hope for the sake of any teacher out there…that this type of retaliation in APS will come to an end.You obviously don’t know how this unethical behavior can trickle down to the children…and you are not aware of what goes on behind closed doors at JACKSON. I would hope that any issue of reporting corruption would have a proper procedure for raising questions and a channel of due process without retaliation . Those in APS leadership roles should have the ethical values to implement their own policies correctly.
I do care…That is why I spent my hard earned teacher salary to challenge the system to do the right thing. This was not just about me. Others have suffered and are still suffering.
Shame on you and the others among your community for not stepping up to the plate and requiring the EXCELLENCE you claim your school models.
Reich should join in with the downtown trash…she is of the same caliber.
Top School
January 24th, 2011
5:06 pm
http://www.TopPublicSchoolCorruptionAtlanta.com
Private School Guy
January 25th, 2011
6:46 am
I praise the AJC for putting this story on the front page. This has been a long time coming. But the tax payers who fund the schools and the elected officials who control them need to wake up and realize that the entire testing program is not working. If an independent agency had administered the tests we would have gotten real results from the start. If the tests had been given randomly over the course of the year to randomly selected students huge portions of the school year would not have been wasted on test preparation.
When administrators are able recognize real quality in staff and have real power to control who they hire and fire and are held accountable first for the quality of education their schools then and only then will education improve. Testing as it exist today is a sham that only serves to promote corruption.
Spark ghetto
January 25th, 2011
9:18 am
@Topschool-
Jackson is an excellent school. Any APS parent would kill to get their kid enrolled there. You are barking up the wrong tree. I think you need mental help.
What Goes Around Comes Around
January 25th, 2011
11:23 am
@Spark ghetto January 25th, 2011 9:18 am
Did you not look at the evidence presented against your principal? She is a long time crook and always has been. She has no morals and should be FIRED!!!!!
I speak from experience. I worked in administration since 1999.
Top School
January 25th, 2011
11:52 am
@ What goes around comes around…
Thank you for “getting it” …
This NORTHSIDE SCHOOL thinks they are ABOVE APS…AND ABOVE THE LAW.
Forgive them for their loyalty…they too are part of the JACKSON PROBLEM.
They are delusional and think this is A PRIVATE SCHOOL.
Top School
January 25th, 2011
11:56 am
Any someone did “kill” to get their child in JACKSON.
They killed their ethical voice. They paid under the table through gifts and donations to the school so they could attend and live outside the school zone. Their eternal voice died the day they sold their soul to this administration.