21st Century School Teacher

      D.C. List Shows 90 Teacher Vacancies Rhee's Office Puts Number at 42, Says Shifts Will Be Made
by Bill Turque… Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 29, 2008

Turque points out that several schools in the D.C. area are understaffed, and suggests that this is due to the 270 teachers that were let go over the summer. Well, that makes sense…  Apparently, 200 teachers were not able to get the certification that they needed to teach under NCLB.  They were unable to pass the ever popular PRAXIS, some missing the mark by just one point… So, they were let go. 

I’m not sure if Michelle Rhee should be blamed if teachers can’t pass the PRAXIS in their own content area.  In fact, I believe teachers have more than one try at the exam, and know well in advance when their certificate expires or what certification requirements need to be met to teach the content area they are assigned to. 

 Teachers in D.C. have to bear the burden for not having enough educators on staff—some teachers currently have class loads of over 40 students.  Other teachers have to teach during their prep periods…  Seems to me that this isn’t Rhee’s fault, rather it’s a symptom of legislation (NCLB) that creates hardships as such.  Finding highly-qualified special education teachers is a bear—across the country.  And teachers that don’t have proper endorsements for their subject areas have to go back and take exams like the PRAXIS.  I obtained a K-8 certificate with a Masters in Education.  But under the NCLB legislation, I am only highly qualified to teach social studies and language arts, as that is where I had been teaching before the law was passed.  So if my principal wanted me to teach math, let’s say, I would have to pass the PRAXIS in math, or I would need to take 45 credits to get a math endorsement…  The burden that NCLB put on our education system as a whole should be receiving more press.

It is unfortunate that Rhee is getting the blame for this one.  Rhetoric could sink this ship...  I'm going to keep an eye on D.C. 

Rhee's 'Plan B' Targets Teacher Quality Strategy Might Include New Evaluation Process, Linking Licenses to Classroom Performance  by Bill Turque--Sept 8

Apparently talks with the union regarding teacher-pay have not progressed to a vote in D.C....  What does that mean for Michelle Rhee, D.C. Chancellor?  It looks like Plan B. 

"It would make the District school system one of the few in the country to link the licensing of teachers to their classroom performance, rather than their academic credentials. New rules, scheduled to go into effect this week, would grant State Superintendent of Education Deborah A. Gist the discretion to create an advanced teaching credential specifying the bench marks instructors would have to meet to keep their jobs."

Ouch!  Sounds like this could be messy...  But I have to admit, I don't think this is a bad idea. 

"The contract is the way that I would prefer to go," Rhee said. "But if we can't get to agreement on the contract, there's another very clear way that we can get there. . . . The bottom line is we are going to bring accountability in a very significant way to the educator force in this school district."

Why shouldn't teachers be held accountable for making gains in their classrooms?  As long as teachers are provided with adequate 21st century resources, showing gains in academic performance should be easy-shmeazy...  (I'm not one to easily run scared). Come on in and inspect all you want!    Now someone once told me that there are two kinds of bosses, those that get what they expect and those that get what they inspect...  And really, I'd prefer to work for someone who has high expectations and then prove them right. 

But unfortunately, our education system is heavy with dead weight--it is time for a bit more accountability--and I'd like my pay to be attached to that accountability, too--Thank you very much!  Seems like it would be in the best interest of the D.C. union members to take Rhee up on Plan A because Plan B gets the same result, potentially without the big bucks to soften the blow...

I'm going to continue to follow this spectacle--Rhee is a true strategist--let's see if she comes out on the winning team :)  Go Michelle!

The latest greatest on Michelle Rhee (I just can't help it...) She's on my radar, and with schools opening in D.C., the articles and posts just keep coming.  Here are several from today to peruse...  If you haven't been paying attention to her moves, you may want to... If she is successful in turning around one of the worst education systems in America, her decisions will likely fuel similar change in districts across the nation...  She's all about the kids--I admire that...  It certainly is not politics as usual with Michelle... 

Here are some links from washingtonpost.com...  Interesting reading!
 
Better or Worse, It's Rhee's School System Now: Her First Year Has Left a Big Impact V. Dion Haynes, A01 ...the fingerprints of Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee will be found all over Washington...making unpopular decisions....

New chief seeks to fix DC school system where others failed BRIAN WESTLEY
...of Columbia Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee is making bold changes as she tries...38, the Ivy-League educated...

With the Democrats in Denver A17 (Post) ...He offered ongoing teacher contract talks in the District as "a real life example." Chancellor Michelle Rhee's...

Opening Day in the D.C. Classroom A16 ...a retired high school science teacher, and I have just read the latest proposal of D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A....

A Look Back at Michelle Rhee's First Year... Jahi Chikwendiu

By Evan Thomas, Eve Conant and Pat Wingert | NEWSWEEK Published Aug 23, 2008 From the magazine issue dated Sep 1, 2008

Another great Newsweek article about Michelle Rhee--this article again seems to paint a picture of the tiger--working tirelessly to reform education.  In an earlier post, I discussed having a teaching mantra...  Michelle Rhee's reads somewhere close to "The interests of children always before the interests of adults...."  I have to admire her gusto, and will continue to follow this story, as it seems to me that the outcomes of her bold moves in education will reverberate through school systems nationally...  Again, my hat's off to this visionary! Go get em'.
 

Schools say they're ready August 23, 2008
School officials across the Washington area said they will be prepared for their first days of school this week even if it's considered to be at...
Students get paid to attend school  August 23, 2008
Wasington D.C. will pay middle school students for attendance and behavior in an effort to get them to focus on school. . . The city plans to spend...
An Unlikely Gambler  August 23, 2008
Not long after Michelle Rhee took over as head of the Washington, D.C., public schools a year ago, she announced a plan to shut down almost two...
Festivities, Anxiety Mark Kickoff Event  August 22, 2008
The morning began with the buoyant spirit of a pep rally -- all cheers, prizes and inspirational words from Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and other...
DC Mayor Promises School Will Open On Schedule  August 22, 2008
Nearly every construction job seems to take longer than expected. But with DC youngsters expected back in class on Monday, some city officials have...
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I've been following Michelle Rhee, Chancellor for D.C. schools, because it seems to me that she is a risk taker and forward thinker.  Interestingly, D.C. schools are going to start rewarding middle schoolers (3,000 of the little critters) for coming to school--with $100 cold hard cash for each 2 weeks students attend.  Interesting, I say, because I agree that these are the years that tend to make or break it for many middle schoolers--whether they find their way to high school or to the hard-knock life... 

But it also seems to me that the connections that high-risk kids make at this age, with mentors and role models, is the most likely variable in keeping them in school (I have not read any research in this area--just a gut feeling).  So I'm wondering how cash in the pockets of high-risk kids will translate into appreciation for academia.  It seems that cash in hand is a start, but certainly won't be enough alone to change old habits--and then again...  Like I said, interesting...

"They have a lot of incentives to do the wrong thing outside of school, and what we need to do is counterbalance that," Rhee said.

I'm not sure how many kids who tend to "do the wrong things outside of school" will spend their money, but $200 could translate to some trendy clothes for some kids or drugs and alcohol for others...  What should tax payers be subsidizing?  I'm not sure what the parameters are, but hopefully students are being held responsible for attendance as well as their effort in class...  And ultimately, how will D.C. measure whether this model is a success or failure?

Don't get me wrong, add another $200 to my paycheck a month, and I probably wouldn't miss a day either--but I'm also a pretty responsible person.  Will the cash make the difference?  I'm guessing not--parents, teachers, coaches, and administrators might--so hopefully they can piggyback of off this reward process to help these 3,000 targeted kids make the right choices and keep them in school. 

Kudos for Michelle Rhee--the more I learn about this maverick, the more I like her...  She is making bold moves in Washington D.C.--moves whose ripples may potentially change public education across the country.  I hope she succeeds...  Read about her in "Fixing Washington D.C.'s School System" by Jeff Chu posted on fastcompany.com  and to learn a bit more about the way she's approaching Washington's broken education system--with a wing and a prayer, she may create the kind of reform that the education system desperately needs...  Rhee's priority number one?  Kids... She's closing schools, firing employees, creating big waves--but from an outsider's perspective, it makes sense!  She is one courageous player, and though she is a staunch supporter of No Child Left Behind (can't agree completely with her on this one--saving that blog entry for later), IMHO she is doing right by D.C.'s kids...  Keepin' an eye on what happens over the next few weeks...

"Those who have most at stake in the old culture, or are most rigid in their beliefs, try to summon people back to the old ideas."

Teacher’sUnion Leader Pessimistic on Contract by Bill Turque  Washington Post Staff Writer reveals that D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee’s latest proposal would require tenured teachers to spend a year on probation in exchange for huge salary increases and bonuses.  Yes!  An opportunity to change an antiquated pay scale —an opportunity for tenured teachers to see their compensation more in line with their expertise…  Will this proposal become a reality?  Likely not… 

Union Leader George Parker said “Rhee's measure would unfairly deprive teachers of due process rights and expose them to arbitrary firing by principals.”  Come on…

What do teachers really have to fear? Sure there are a few teachers that just aren’t getting the job done…  Those that have the most at stake—hmmm….. like the teachers’ union and poor performing teachers—they will likely be the ones to put the kibosh on this very interesting proposal. 

I say what’s more important?  That we preserve the old system, a system that rewards time served, or that we start to reward quality educators and weed out the teachers that aren’t performing?  As a parent and tax payer, I’m thinking I’d vote in favor of such a proposal…  I’m thinking that if I were a teacher in Washington D.C. I would be in favor of this measure, as well.  I’m proud to say that I am a dang good educator, and I would gladly put myself on probation for a year to increase my salary: teachers with five years of experience could go from $46,500 to as much as $101,000 by 2010. Pay for a teacher with 10 years of service could jump from $56,200 to as much as $122,500.  It’s about time that teachers are paid what they’re worth, and if some teachers fear that they are not worth the pay, well…  what can I say about that…