Can anyone tell me why we have to have a Seattle School Board??? Last week the school board stopped the District from hiring two Teach for America recruits. Teach for America is a program that puts idealistic, young Americans into schools as teachers. These young graduates bring a vigor we really need. over the state campaign finance limits when you add in the federal transfers.
TFA teachers, however are not “certified,” that is they have not been through the Ed School ordination process. Think of TFA as lay ministers … like Jesus or Gandhi. Hell, I would bet that some TF recruits actually know the subject matter they are supposed to teach. If we are really likley, a few of these young patriotic Americans, might even be willing to accept the burden of becoming teachers.
The board’s big objection is that TFA charges a $4,000 fee for every teacher they deliver. The $8,000 here was donated, BUT the private donors who support getting TFA teachers in Seattle schools said they would cover the cost but did not want their names made public
This is insane. The School Board ought not to even be involved in this sort of thing. The Superintendent is supposed to be the CEO. If there is any question about Superintendent Enfield’s judgement in accepting these teachers, then the damn board should fire her or itself quit in protest.
Will the Seattle School District be so wary of hiring WGU graduates who meet the certification requirements in Utah, but not in Washington? The Washington legislature has accepted WGU as a state university. Does that mean we accept Utah’s standards? Are those graduates more qualified than the TFA recruits?
barbi, OMG! (ponytail flip)
Sorry, you work in Washington, you follow Washington laws regarding certification. The aveeditor doesn’t mention this but but Washington allows for alternative routes to certification. These “idealistic” young patriotic etc.s are trying to do this but they can’t demonstrate competence (like they have a degree in theater arts and are applying to teach MS math or science. You think it’s easy, dare you to try).
BTW, should we allow secret donors to guide district policy or actions? Is that a democracy?
CEO my *ss. MGJ was a so-called CEO and couldn’t manage her way out of a paper sack. Got canned and still can’t get a job. Her predecessor isn’t doing so wgreat, either.
If you really want to know WTF is going on, read the emails between the current CEO and TFA here:
http://www.scribd.com/SPSLeaks
Hey, where’s my comment? BTW, did you read about the machinations the UW, state regulators and your “CEO”s of education went through to bring TFA here?
Here’s just a taste:
http://www.scribd.com/collections/3221540/UW-TFA-Documents-Stages-4-and-5
“These young graduates bring a vigor we really need. over the state campaign finance limits when you add in the federal transfers”
??? Typo?
“likley” (definitely Typo)
I’m not a regular here, so that may explain why I can’t follow you at all. Are you saying that anyone who wants to teach and can find a donor willing to pay SPS $4000 should be given a classroom? Do you actually have any kids? If so, where do they go to school and will you pay me $4000 (plus base SPS salary) to come teach them?
Do you even know what you are talking about? You want to send 5-week trained recent college grads into the most challenging high need schools? Into Special Education classrooms? Into ELL classrooms? Not me, not when we have hundreds of unemployed fully certified and trained teachers. We don’t have a shortage of real teachers in Seattle.
Patriotic Americans? They stay for two years. A revolving door of teachers at the most high-need schools? How do you build a solid teaching corps that knows the students and the community with that? Also, check the TFA website for the HUGE amount of benefit these young people get AFTER they leave TFA service.
No, the Board’s big objection is not that TFA charges; it’s who pays. Why should we pay MORE for a less-than-qualified teacher? How come Federal Way pays $3k but Seattle will pay $4k?
Last thing – the Board members ARE the Superintendent’s boss. She is NOT the CEO.
The Board is supposed to function like ht board of regents at the UW or the board of corporation, NOT as a Committee Executive. If they want to do that (or really is we want them to do that) why do we need a superintendent?
First my kids graduated from SPS and my granddaughter is expected to attend those schools in a few years.
Second, the $4,000 does not go to the TFA teachers, it goes to the TFA organization t cover its costs.
Third, I type badly and yes the sentence was an error, not sure how it happened. Tx.
Fourth, there are many unemployed people with wonderful skills and experience that could be used to teach. I also understand why we need a union. BUT … I want to see pressure to improve the quality of teachers. Right now they are drawn, despite the bad jobs picture, from the kids who have the lowest grades entering college and .. at least from my perspective Ed school .. beyond the role of supervision of apprentice training, is of limited value. TFA is one approach to brao9den the pool at the entry level.
If you want to see how horrible en ed credential can be look at some of the posts here on the WGU education school!
Burb ..
You sound like you have been sucking tea bags.
Who do you think hired MDJ???? If they did that badly as a board, why do you think they .. as a committee of essentially unpaid voulnterrs, can make these sorts of decisions?????
I do know we have alternative routes to “certification.” My nderstanding is that few pople are pursuing these because of hiring policies. OTOH, WGU is selling an aburd BA and MA that certifies teacher s who have little or no content training. Is that OK by you?
The PESB has not approved WGU as a teacher preparation program, but the PESB is corrupt anyway.
The School Board has many losers who have to get dumped this election. They rubberstamp anything and everything that comes there way. The issue regarding TFA donor fees is the only time in my memory they actually stood up and said “we wanted transparency, we asked you for the donors and have not been provided the information. we’ll just table this motion until we get it.”
Through my research of the Dean Stritikus’ push to partner with TFA, I’ve had the pleasure to meet a number of very bright, dedicated teachers-to-be. Some have student-taught my child. I would hire them in a heartbeat over a five-week teach-for-awhile.
Teabagger? Hahahahaha