Houstonisdwatch.com HISD Updates

Use comment tag below to express your opinion. houstonisdwatch wants to hear from you, especially from HISD insiders. HISD bond proposal draws some harsh comments from a few citizens at a Meyerland Area Democrats Club meeting Trustees unanimously adopt new ethics rules Are they specific enough to be effective? Are the penalties strong enough to deter misbehavior? Should we praise them for going above and beyond the state minimum? From Education Grrrrl: Hey School Board Members! Get over yourselves!!! Stop yapping about "ethics"---just do the right thing and then get on to making HISD a decent district again. But, it is ALL about you all, right? It's really not about the kids? It's about your nice, comfy office at W. 18th. It's about your re-election. It's about how you know---not what you know. Get over it. Get out there. Do some work for a change or else...let's see---2000 student loss this year? Bet it picks up next year and the next---until HISD is just one district to note among KIPP, YES Prep and the private schools. Get a clue! Wake up! by Education Grrrrl (Sep 14, 2012) HISD fires up some ammo on bond; hires former administrator Veleska to "manage activities related to bond" at a salary of $50,000 for three months but* there is no organized opposition to the bond at this time From ????????: HISD Superintendent Terry Grier has approved a $50,000, three-month contract with a retired district employee to manage activities related to the school district’s bond issue in November. The school board is scheduled to ratify the contract with Ronnie Veselka at its meeting Thursday evening I like Mr. Veselka he was my high school principal at Lamar (Go Redskins) but come on really..... the district can always find money for what it wants except true raises for it's teachers by ???????? (Sep 14, 2012) Trustees listen to concerns from 12-month employees & HFT over salary payback requirement Chron.com front page article link: "HISD grants leeway to over-paid teachers" Inside headline uses "grants leeway in payroll issue" See these pages from tonight's school board agenda Grier uses serious trustee ethics issues as a way to enchance his power Thanks to blogger ?????????? for pointing out two important lines in the Proposed Revisions to Board Policies (item B-2) Grier has hijacked this board the following are from this months board agenda on ethics for the board...... I mean really. I shall avoid personal involvement in activities the Board has delegated to the Superintendent. Delegate authority for the administration of the school to the Superintendent. 9.11. I shall endeavor to make policy decisions only after full discussion at publicly held Board meetings, rendering all decisions based on the (available) facts rather than supposition,opinion, or public favor. I shall share my views while working by ?????????? (Sep 10, 2012) Budget Reduction Guide used at the end of the 2010-2011 school year HISD's disruption & chaos caused by "Employment Areas for Reduction in Force" Back on March 7, 2011, as required by board policy, HISD identified employment areas affected by a reduction in force The memorandum is five pages long but includes only one page of central office cuts without any staff above the level of manager. No assistant superintendents, School Improvement Officers, Chief School Officers. Mangers in curriculum, special populations, and certification were hit. Grier's reduction in force was his attempt to eviscerate, with wide latitude granted to his principal-surrogates in determining whom to eject, just enough of HISD's core teaching staff to incite fear and compliance. The well-funded teacher's union was really the only force that could oppose Grier. As theLimbrick-Sanders' papers prove, the union did try to save individual member's positions against long odds. Did the union do enough? Did the union spell out to the city of Houston just how these cuts would hurt the students of HISD? Was there any fire in the belly of the union to take on Grier? Or was there, perhaps, some implicit agreement between Grier and union leadership to fight individual battles, but not make the larger, more compelling public relations argument that the greater good was harmed, especially when there were no cuts proposed in Grier's hand-picked team of duputies? *From HISD Teacher:* Every once in awhile Ms. Fallon responds on this site to defend herself. What I am seeing through teacher comments, and alas, it is true is that the union really has nothing to offers. Thousands of teachers in HISD hae been displaced, penalized, or destroyed by the Apollo program. Literally hundreds of teachers have run away from HISD. Ms. Fallon will have to prove herself and the union to get more support from many of us. She cites individual cases while we know hundreds more that the HFT has not helped. Until there are loud voices in HFT, and some kind of promotion for fighting back, HFT seems entirely useless. What good is it? Where have we seen them take on HISD? HISD has craftily set about the paper work since Grier has been here, to be prepared for teacher protest, individual or other wise. For those of you that keep supporting HIFT, I am going to guess you have never needed them for your job. I want to hear from teachers where HFT has done SOMETHING to counterattack what Grier has set in motion. I see Community Voices has organized some, but that is all to see for the hundreds spent on HFT. by HISD Teacher (Sep 12, 2012) HISD's way to motivate teachers: Pay fewer teachers more bonus money Ex HISD Teacher found HFT leadership to be very ineffective Why is Gayle still "in charge" of the union? She was compromised, corrupted, and ineffective 15 years ago when I was a member. Is that ... Andy number 2. What about ZAPH what a ...!! When I needed them they didn't show up. If an organization with no bargaining power and 2 competing representative organizations is to be effective, she and and her .... son and entourage must move on. Austin achieved it. There is no reason other than Gayle that an organization that represents teachers can't succeed. by EX HISD teacher (Sep 11, 2012) Is this what discipline in Grier's HISD has come to? Students hitting teachers? A student hitting a teacher is a serious incident that merits a serious response. Although the problem occurs infrequently, when it does occur, it can dramatically alter the climate of the classroom and leave its imprint on the teacher and students. Being struck or threatened by a student can undermine a teacher's authority -- especially if the teacher loses control when reacting to the experience -- and it can frighten other students. Teachers have an opportunity through their handling of such a situation to demonstrate their authority and control, and to restore a sense of security and calm among students. In deciding how to respond, teachers need to consider the nature of the incident, the student's age, and his intent. There is a marked difference between a six-year old child who, in the course of a tantrum, flails his arms and accidentally hits the teacher, and an 11-year old who strikes a teacher with the intent of hurting her. The latter situation clearly calls for a more serious response. Continue reading Dr. Ken Shore's response. From Golfcrest: When is it ok for a student to hit or kick a teacher??? Seems its ok. seeen it with own eyes. NO EXCUSES! Teachers should feel just as safe as the students should. by Golfcrest (Sep 11, 2012) Popular Edison Principal Javier O. Villarreal reported to be heading to Fort Bend ISD From Houston Texas: ust got word from a friend of mine in Fort Bend ISD that the principal from Edison MS is going to Fort Bend as the new Assistant Superintendent of Schools. Everyone flying the coop from HISD. by Houston Texan (Sep 11, 2012) Edison Teacher praises Mr. Villarreal Javier Vilareal leaving is a huge loss. He should have been promoted within our own district by EdisonTeacher (Sep 12, 2012) Edison Parent: Mr Villarreal is a huge loss to HISD. by Edison Parent (Sep 11, 2012) Greater Houston Partnership a tool of Wall Street; only cares about enriching its membership at the expense of taxpayers and the students of HISD ******************************************************************************************** If you vote yes for HISD's over-priced, waste-infused bond, you are voting yes to the pernicious tactics the Grier administration has been using for three years to quash dissent. You are voting to strip teachers of even more rights; you are voting to increase the misplaced focus on standardized tests; you are voting for the kindy of shoddy workmanship that characterizes the 2007 bond project. You are voting to enchance the power of HISD's power-hungry media relations department that appears to be practicing a scortched-earth approach to silencing HISD critics. Watching Ari Fleischer trying to defend the Bush administration last night reminded me of HISD's spin department. Of course, the incidents in question are far, far different in scope but the end results in many ways are the same: Lives of vital individuals are being ruined. You are supporting the current HISD school board which is 99% backbone free. Why Chicago teachers are striking I have a great idea.....I think Grier and many of his "wonderful" Principals like Davila, Bellard, Winn, and others should go up to Chicago and "bully those bad teachers" back into their classrooms or terminate them all! LOL I would love to see some of these "so-called" effective leaders try to do what they did to teachers here up there!?!? They got away with it here because Texas won't let the teachers walkout and these people know it! They can only be effective when they're being allowed to bully teachers who truly have NO RIGHTS by Marc (Sep 9, 2012) More on HFT from Call it a day!: Everyone keeps asking for Gayle to "do something" or go back to the day when she "would stand up for the teachers and support staff in the district". But yet, she doesn't respond. So what is it that you are doing for all of us Gayle? We pay our dues, FOR WHAT??!! Why don't you quit spending all your time trying to wheel and deal behind the scenes to keep CEP in business and focus on what your real job should be, representing US! If you're not going to do it, then maybe it's time to pass the baton and let someone that wants and has the desire to stand up FOR US!!!!! by Call it a day!! (Sep 10, 2012) Feeling the heat, Grier's administrators find students to give the Houston Chronicle an opportunity to praise the district; Buried until the last sentence is this: "HISD still has to recruit more than 2,200 students to hit its official state enrollment count from last October: 202,911" Testing companies like Pearson are robbing our students of an education and making big money in the process HISD schedules bond information meetings Monday, Sept. 24 – Booker T. Washington High School (119 E. 39th Street) Monday, Sept. 24 – Bellaire High School (5100 Maple, Bellaire) Thursday, Sept. 27 – Davis High School (1101 Quitman) Thursday, Sept. 27 – Dowling Middle School (14000 Stancliff) Monday, Oct. 1 – Lee High School (6529 Beverly Hill) Monday, Oct. 1 – Milby High School (1601 Broadway) Tuesday, Oct. 2 – Sharpstown High School (7504 Bissonnet) Tuesday, Oct. 2 – Yates High School (3703 Sampson) Thursday, Oct. 4 – Austin High School (1700 Dumble) Thursday, Oct. 4 – Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th Street). The Hattie Mae White session will be broadcast live on HISD TV, Comcast cable channel 18, and AT&T Uverse channel 99. 12 Month Employee Compensation Payback Melinda Garrett, HISD's C.F.O., listening to employee feedback, cancels information sessions: From Garrett's email: We've been listening to your concerns about the payroll reconciliation that affects approximately 3,500 HISD employees. I wanted to let you know we are developing new solutions based on that feedback, and will be bringing additional options for repayment to the Board of Education on Thursday for consideration. These new options will provide more flexibility to employees, especially those who have insufficient leave time and would face financial hardship. Until we can move forward on these new options, all scheduled informational sessions will be postponed. Any employees who have contacted payroll for an individual consultation may want to delay those meetings until more information about these new options is available. If you have already submitted the form you received by mail, there's no need to worry—the October deadline is postponed until further notice, and new, updated forms will be furnished to all affected employees at a later date. You may then choose to re-file using the new form, or keep the same selection(s). We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to look for ways to lessen the impact of this reconciliation on our employees. Melinda Garrett Chief Financial Officer Lunceford, Stipeche stress need for tighter ethics rules to govern board members' vendor relationships; Harris, Marshall not quoted in chron.com's report. HISD's former S.I.O. Mark Bedell recommended by Baltimore County Public Schools to be Assistant Superintendent, High School Bedell's position has just been created by BCPS, he will join Dallas Dance (Doing a search of Dallas ISD's website, I found no mention of Mark Bedell.) EFFECTIVE TEACHERS INITIATIVE KEEPS GRIER'S EDUCRATS BUSY WITH ADMINISTRIVIA AND WASTES TAX DOLLARS Wasting teachers time and turning off kids and parents - Grier's education reforms are failing, will continue to fail; Did HFT issue a statement of condemnation? If so, we missed it.... and this just came out... now wouldn't our time be better spent working on lessons for class, evaluating and tutoring students? Eventually there is no more time left at night... one has to get at least 4 hours of sleep sometime. Most recent information just sent out from the Effective Teacher Initiative regarding getting ready for the evaluation process and putting our student's in a "bucket" for predictive performance on standardized tests: "Resources on Student Performance · Click here for a list of the top questions from teachers and administrators about the Student Performance component of the appraisal and development system. If you have a question on either the Student Performance component or the new technological tools, please email helpdesk@houstonisd.org. · HISD has set up a series of in-person trainings this fall for teachers on various Student Performance topics, including Comparative Growth, setting starting points and goals, and creating high-quality assessments. Please sign up if you would like additional support. · New pre-approved district assessments have been added in Government, Economics, Physical Education, Foundations of Personal Fitness, and Team & Individual Sports. For a full list of assessments and instructions for accessing the assessment blueprints, please click here. Measure Assignment Process Over the new few weeks, appraisers are selecting teachers’ Student Performance measures using the online Student Performance tool. When your measures have been selected, you will receive an email from the tool asking you to acknowledge your measures. The process is very simple, and will require logging in to the Student Performance tool at this link: www.houstonisd.org/teacherappraisal. You can find a detailed navigation guide here. Please be sure to acknowledge your measures by September 28th. 2012-13 Teacher Appraisal and Development System Manual Have a question about the appraisal and development system? Want to familiarize yourself with this year’s timeline? Click here to download a PDF copy of this year’s appraisal and development system manual. " by Heidi (Sep 10, 2012) Education reforms proposed by Chicago mayor have three problems: Test based evaluation and merit pay Charter schools Longer school day Read Valerie Strauss' report at washingtonpost.com. Texas Watchdog reports: T.E.A. refuses to answer questions The Dallas Morning News notices the same thing we do: Dealing with the Texas Education Agency is much less pleasant than it used to be, especially when it comes to getting public records. “With all the turnover at the state education agency, including a new commissioner, the communications staff is under a new directive that keeps information from the public and the news media,” the Morning News reports. “Spokespeople now aren’t allowed to provide updates to the public about TEA investigations or complaints sent to the agency.” Continue reading Steve Miller's report. Everyone keesp asking for Gayle to" do something...." Everyone keeps asking for Gayle to "do something" or go back to the day when she "would stand up for the teachers and support staff in the district". But yet, she doesn't respond. So what is it that you are doing for all of us Gayle? We pay our dues, FOR WHAT??!! Why don't you quit spending all your time trying to wheel and deal behind the scenes to keep CEP in business and focus on what your real job should be, representing US! If you're not going to do it, then maybe it's time to pass the baton and let someone that wants and has the desire to stand up FOR US!!!!! by Call it a day!! (Sep 10, 2012) While Chicago's teacher union says enough is enough, HFT continues to draw criticism Is there someone out there, maybe an attorney, that can help those of us on 12 month contracts with this payroll reconciliation mess? Hello HFT? Gayle Fallon? Anyone?!?!?!?! We may work here at west 18th, but most of us don't make the big salaries - help! by HISD employee (Sep 10, 2012) "Gayle..maybe you should catch one of those flights to Chicago..." Wow! the teacher's union understands the reality of evaluations from Standardized exams... Hello Gayle? Maybe you should catch one of those flights to Chicago where you can hear the same thing we have been telling you too. It looks like it is going to be too late for us... too bad you didn't stand up for your teachers, Gayle! How much were you promised? your son? perks maybe? just to look the other way and ignore the hours of paperwork this is causing and the attacks against excellent teachers in inner city schools. Lucky for the teachers in Chicago.... their union boss is standing up for them! From the most recent update on the strike in Chicago... "Emanuel said two main issues remain: his proposal that teachers be evaluated based in part on student performance on standardized tests, and more authority for school principals. Union President Karen Lewis, who has sharply criticized Emanuel, said standardized tests do not take into account inner city poverty as well as hunger and violence in the streets. Union officials said more than a quarter of Chicago public school teachers could lose their jobs if they are evaluated based on the tests. "Evaluate us on what we do, not the lives of our children we do not control," Lewis said in announcing the strike." by Heidi (Sep 10, 2012) Linda Bellard failed the most basic requirement of a principal: To know her students "I WANT TO KILL MYSELF; THE KIDS KEEP TEASING ME" Investigation of Linda Bellard at Blackshear Elementary School This is what the student (name deleted in Texas Open Records Act request response) said: "I want to kill myself because the kids keep teasing me" When questioned whether she (Bellard) had any knowledge about (student) being the subject of negative student to student interactions involving (student), Bellard stated it first came to her attention on March 24, 2010, when (student) jumped into the vine covered flower bed and was brought to the office by Instructional Coordinator Sheryl Lewis who informed her that (student) purportedly jumped in an effort to harm himself. Scope of Callier & Garza, L.L.P. report "Consistent with an investigative assignment received on April 5, 2010, concerning the environment at Blackshear Elementary School resulting in a student jumping from the second floor balcony into a vine covered flower bed on March 24, 2010. Whether administrators/teachers at Blackshear Elementary School failed to recognize persistent negative student to student interaction (bullying) and con- comitantly failed to reduce the likelihood of a student feeling that they were the object of persistent negative interactions such that the student (seeking to draw attention to being the object of negative interactions) sought attention by jumping from a second floor balcony into a vine covered flower bed; whether a "culture of bullying" existed at Blackshear Elementary School; whether any student complained about persistent negative student to student interactions (bullying); whether any parent complained about persistent negative student to student interactions (bullying); whether support personnel at Blackshear Elementary School "were terrified for their jobs"; whether the suicide contract was explained to student; and whether District protocols were followed. In 2009-2010 Blackshear's enrollment was 424 students. Second grade teacher Alexis Adams noted in her report that (student) was eager to learn, came to school with hygiene issues, and was quiet when she taught him as a first grader at J. Will Jones Elementary School. At Blackshear, (student) showed acting out behaviors. At Blackshear, "Adams noted that (student) was in a corner with fists clinched, refusing to move and 'in a rage.'" There was yet another demonstration of (student's) rage at Blackshear. In a school of 424 students, Linda Bellard did not know, or bother to find out, the cause of this student's rage. The report notes that (student) visited the nurse's office frequently. Yet Bellard never bothered to inquire about the nurse's regulars, never seemed to care about anything accept maintaining an Acceptable TEA rating. Bellard's failure to know her students and offer assistance on the personal issues facing her students, is inexcusable. This is the kind of culture which, unfortunately, permeates too much of HISD. Schools are not factories in the third world. Grier cannot be allowed to perpetuate a climate where suicide notes, followed up with suicide attempts, are mere distractions from the real goal of test score improvement. Although the report bought and paid for by HISD cleared Bellard, she is still guilty of reprehensible behavior for a school administrator. C'mon you Grier butt kissers and houstonisdwatch haters - Defend Bellard on this one. I can't wait to read what you have to say. HISD "individual" at Bellaire being treated for TB Dear Parents, I recently met with representatives from the City of Houston Health Department. They informed me that an individual at our school is being evaluated and treated for a suspected case of tuberculosis (TB). Fortunately, the individual is recovering and feeling much better. According to the health officials, tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that can be contagious if it becomes an active disease; however, it is a difficult disease to catch because it is only spread through the air and the environmental conditions need to be just right. Casual contact is generally not sufficient for transmission of the TB bacteria. At this time, we have not identified any other person on our campus with symptoms of TB. We are taking this situation seriously and will be working closely with the Houston Health Department to identify any student or staff that should be tested for TB infection. Determination of who needs testing is based on the type of exposure a student or staff has had to the sick individual. If your child is recommended for testing, a separate letter and consent form will be sent home next week. Houston Health Department officials will be on campus on Thursday, September 13 at 6:00 p.m. in the science conference center, to give a presentation to parents about tuberculosis and answer any questions you might have. Additional information about tuberculosis can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website here. Grier has absolute authority over principal placements, so why should he be bothered about logical selections? Okay, so the woman going back to Westside is no big deal BUT please someone explain to me the logic here. This woman was ahigh school English/debate teacher who inturn became a high school asst principal at Westside which is fine so far, BUT why the heck was she EVER placed in an elementary school to begin with when ALL her training and experience was at the high school level? What did she know about elementary in the first place? Nothing ahainst her but it would be like placing a kindergarten teacher who now has his/her degree in a high school. This is what is wrong with HISD leadership, people placed in area they really shouldn't be because of teaching experience and training! High school is a heck of a lot different than elementary and vice versus so again these moves are continually making a complete mess out of HISD and Grier is the biggest problem. HE himself doesn't qualify as an effective leader AND he IS truly lucky he is as old as he is because with his record and ineffectiveness as a leader in the many districts he has left in ruins, he would be fired if he were to be judged by his own standards! by WTF (Sep 9, 2012) Another S.I.O. is outta here! From Flew the Coop: Well, another one bites the dust. High School SIO Mark Bedell is outta here. He was one of the good ones, they say. "They" does not include Grier. Let's see who takes his place. by Flew the Coop (Sep 9, 2012) HISD's dog and pony show continues: Grier wakes up sleepy student, encourages her to go back to school; All soap & good vibes from HISD's Houston Chronicle Department Hmmm, I wonder if Mr. Haydon is planning to do any follow up, for example, giving us the actual number of dropouts contacted and the number of students from that group who return to finish their diplomas...It won't be hard to find as HISD is required by T.E.A. to catalog and keep that information. But why let facts get in the way when you can writea a story about HISD's "Good father Grier" waking up a sleeping teen-ager. This article appeared in HISD's Houston Chronicle the same day the results of a survey, paid for by a pro-HISD bond group, were released. The pro-HISD bond group reported a majority (of, what, like 600 hundred citizens polled in a city of four million?) of Houstonians support the bond. How does HISD generate this wonderful P.R. in our local newspaper? So c'mon, you teacher-haters and houstonisdwatch bashers: Let's hear you defend HISD...we are all waiting.... No contract on Settegast Building? from Anagke: Well, if there is 2007 bond money left over, then why are they trying to nickel-and-dime Carnegie Vanguard out of their art building?? Last I heard, there was NO contract currently in place to finish the the Settegast Building. by Anagke (Sep 4, 2012) For those of us who did know anything about the Settegast Building on the new Carnegie Vanguard campus in midtown, here is some information: HISD's promise to restore the Art Deco building Settegast Building in Houstonarchitecture.com Item F-1 "Authority to negotiate, execute, and amend a contract with the W.A. Robbins Construction Company, Inc., for the renovation of the Settegast Building on the Carnegie Vanguard High School Campus" was withdrawn on 8/2/2012 from the 8/9/2012 board agenda. 12 month employee salary reconcilliation process approved without discussion by trustees at August 9, 2012 meeting Questions 1) Why require employees to pay back money now since the problem is a result of the conversion to People Soft in 1999-2000? 2) HISD's Payroll Department anticipated a decade ago that HISD would eventually be advancing a full month's salary given the "normal shifts in the yearly calendar." Why did they wait until August 9, 2012, to ask for repayment? 3) Do 12-month employees have any room for appeal? The reconcilliation process had been reviewed and approved by HISD's attorneys. Board items G-4: "In the 1999-2000 school year, the Houston Independent School District (HISD) converted to PeopleSoft Payroll Solution. . .To pay all employees on the new biweekly schedule, the district chose to schedule the 26th pay period to end in August for both the 12-month and less-than- 12-month employee duty schedules. . .Since the adoption of the new payment schedule, and due to the normal shifts in the yearly calendar, duty schedules, and pay dates, the number of days of advanced salary payments has increased almost every year. Consequently, the 26th pay check for the 2011-2012 school year for 12-month employees coincides with the pay period ending August 5, 2012..." Texas Watchdog could be gone for good houstonisdwatch received notice from Texas Watchdog that the Franklin Center for Government and Public Integrity, the major funding source for TWD, may stop underwriting the project, citing insufficient local funds for the project. Bond backers find 610 people to poll, announce "majority support bond" This item is buried in paragraph seven of Ericka Mellon's chron.com report: "...The poll was funded by a political action committee that supports the HISD bond measure. The phone survey, conducted in late August and early September, included 610 registered voters in HISD..." Read Ericka Mellon's report. GRIER MOVES ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL TO WESTSIDE HIGH SCHOOL Grier announces new principal for Westside High School From: Grier, Terry B Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2012 3:29 PM To: Chiefs; tgSIO; High School Principals; Middle School Principals; Elementary School Principals Subject: FW: New Westside HS Principal Board Members-- I am pleased to announce that Marguerite “Peggi” Stewart has been selected as the new principal of Westside High School. She will be replacing Michael McDonough; recently appointed principal at Bellaire High School. Ms. Stewart earned her Bachelor of Science in Education from Southwest Texas State University and her Masters of Education Administration and Supervision from the University of Houston. She has been the principal at Kolter Elementary School since 2008. Under her leadership Kolter received multiple acknowledgements including consistently being rated a TEA Exemplary and NCEA Higher Performing School. Peggi is familiar with Westside High—having served as Associate Principal at the school from 2002-2008. Prior to that assignment, she served as a English and Speech/Debate teacher at Springwoods High School from 1993–2002. We are beginning the process of working with the Kolter community to find a principal to replace Peggi. --Terry Grier houstonisdwatch bloggers respond to Ms. Stewart's appointment: This ought to be interesting to see how Ms. Stewart works at Westside...I am a grad of Spring Woods, and I was never impressed with her. As I also recall, her first year at Spring Woods was 94, not 93...but perhaps I ignored her the first year LOL. Here's hoping she's a better admin than she was a teacher... by HISD Peon (Sep 7, 2012) "..best possible decision..." This was the best possible decision for Westside High School. Ms. Stewart is a phenomenal leader and she really understands our school. I fully support Ms. Stewart and I know she is going have a very positive impact on our school and community! by WHSWolf (Sep 7, 2012) "...sound instructional leader..." Peggi is a sound instructional leader who understands the dynamics and need at Westside. Kolter is at a level to where it can sustain its performance...so this choice was right on. Know the truth behind the story before all of you begin to post meaningless and irrational comments. You have your issues with Grier for a variety of things, but this should not be one of them. Way to go Westside! You have someone good coming in! by Houston Native (Sep 8, 2012) More musical chairs means less stability When is this disrict ging to stop playing "musical chairs" and just moving the "chosen" few from one school to another? If the principal Grier moved to Westside is so wonderful, why didn't he leave her where she was? He needs to stop uprooting people and causing so much mess across the district! It is not helping and maybe that is exactly why the scores are down and they are begging the state to get them out of the NCLB so they can "look" more acceptable with the bond issue around the corner!?! by Let the music Play (Sep 8, 2012) Impossible transition from elementary school to high school? Grier places elementary principal at Westside HS! Is anyone really surprise by yet another dumb move by him?!?!?! All I can say is.....really! This guy continues to prove that he truly is the biggest joke in the city! by WOW (Sep 7, 2012) Contact: Editor@houstonisdwatch.com Link to previous pages. Link to AEIS reports, Open Records reports, and more. Use comment tag to express your opinion. houstonisdwatch wants to hear from you, especially from HISD insiders.
« view all posts No organized opposition to HISD & HCC bond proposals? Hmmm Sep 14, 2012 61 comments Share Leave Comment: This ought to be interesting to see how Ms. Stewart works at Westside...I am a grad of Spring Woods, and I was never impressed with her. As I also recall, her first year at Spring Woods was 94, not 93...but perhaps I ignored her the first year LOL. Here's hoping she's a better admin than she was a teacher... by HISD Peon (Sep 7, 2012) Grier places elementary principal at Westside HS! Is anyone really surprise by yet another dumb move by him?!?!?! All I can say is.....really! This guy continues to prove that he truly is the biggest joke in the city! by WOW (Sep 7, 2012) This was the best possible decision for Westside High School. Ms. Stewart is a phenomenal leader and she really understands our school. I fully support Ms. Stewart and I know she is going have a very positive impact on our school and community! by WHSWolf (Sep 7, 2012) The comments by "Wow" couldn't be more wrong when it comes to Grier's appointment of Ms. Stewart. You might not like Grier but this was a great choice for Westside. Really!!!!! by WestsideAlum (Sep 7, 2012) Ok Westside, you all think this woman is your savior so let's see the results!?! by OK (Sep 8, 2012) When is this disrict ging to stop playing "musical chairs" and just moving the "chosen" few from one school to another? If the principal Grier moved to Westside is so wonderful, why didn't he leave her where she was? He needs to stop uprooting people and causing so much mess across the district! It is not helping and maybe that is exactly why the scores are down and they are begging the state to get them out of the NCLB so they can "look" more acceptable with the bond issue around the corner!?! by Let the music Play (Sep 8, 2012) Peggi is a sound instructional leader who understands the dynamics and need at Westside. Kolter is at a level to where it can sustain its performance...so this choice was right on. Know the truth behind the story before all of you begin to post meaningless and irrational comments. You have your issues with Grier for a variety of things, but this should not be one of them. Way to go Westside! You have someone good coming in! by Houston Native (Sep 8, 2012) Amen Houston Native! I couldn't have said it any better! by Westsider (Sep 8, 2012) As someone stated, let's get some results and then we will judge the decision! Kolter was a "good" school before she got there so that can not be the basis for this move and yes they will survive because they too will get a "chosen" one!?! And if she is that great, maybe she should have taken her abilities to Kashmere HS or Sam Houston HS where they are needed more! Just saying...... by We'll see (Sep 8, 2012) Thanks for heads up on Texas Watch Dogs. We need to make sure they go nowhere as they go places where other media will not. by B.E. (Sep 8, 2012) Well, another one bites the dust. High School SIO Mark Bedell is outta here. He was one of the good ones, they say. "They" does not include Grier. Let's see who takes his place. by Flew the Coop (Sep 9, 2012) @ Flew the Coop....The ones that have half a brain are smart enough to abandon this sinking ship unlike other fools who just shuffle around the deck under Captain Grier knowing and waiting for the iceburg straight ahead! Ship HISD Titanic is headed for the bottom and you can bet that Grier has HIS life jacket on and headed for the life boat while everyone else is left behind to collect the bodies and clean up HIS mess! He will peddle his crap to another district while HISD wallows at the bottom and this board of incompentence replaces him with yet another "snake oil" travilng salesman! It is truly sad that this board has allow this district to sink to the level it is currently at and continues to spiral downward! Sad!!! by Next fool please apply (Sep 9, 2012) All of you talking about "Peggi" sounds like you are on a first name best friends relationship so can we trust your judgement? Like another stated, why isn't she going somewhere else IF she is such a great leader instead of Westside that could "make it" with anyone else because there are other high schools with greater needs where she could have beed placed! by Friends much? (Sep 9, 2012) Okay, so the woman going back to Westside is no big deal BUT please someone explain to me the logic here. This woman was ahigh school English/debate teacher who inturn became a high school asst principal at Westside which is fine so far, BUT why the heck was she EVER placed in an elementary school to begin with when ALL her training and experience was at the high school level? What did she know about elementary in the first place? Nothing ahainst her but it would be like placing a kindergarten teacher who now has his/her degree in a high school. This is what is wrong with HISD leadership, people placed in area they really shouldn't be because of teaching experience and training! High school is a heck of a lot different than elementary and vice versus so again these moves are continually making a complete mess out of HISD and Grier is the biggest problem. HE himself doesn't qualify as an effective leader AND he IS truly lucky he is as old as he is because with his record and ineffectiveness as a leader in the many districts he has left in ruins, he would be fired if he were to be judged by his own standards! by WTF (Sep 9, 2012) I have a great idea.....I think Grier and many of his "wonderful" Principals like Davila, Bellard, Winn, and others should go up to Chicago and "bully those bad teachers" back into their classrooms or terminate them all! LOL I would love to see some of these "so-called" effective leaders try to do what they did to teachers here up there!?!? They got away with it here because Texas won't let the teachers walkout and these people know it! They can only be effective when they're being allowed to bully teachers who truly have NO RIGHTS by Marc (Sep 9, 2012) Let's not forget that Westside lost its principal the week before school started. Getting a principal who already understood Westside was of paramount importance to the school. Ms. Stewart has the background as former Dean and Associate Principal of Westside. It's because of her experience at Westside and her leadership skills that made her a great choice FOR WESTSIDE! We are thrilled to have her as our new leader and we are eager to see improvements made at our school. by Whsteacher (Sep 9, 2012) It amuses me to see people who have no clue about the needs of Westside making comments and judgements about what "we" do/don't need! In this case "we" is defined by the students, teachers, parents, administrators, and community members of Westside High School. "We" needed a strong, new principal and "We" are happy with the selection of Ms. Stewart! Go wolves! by Go wolves! (Sep 9, 2012) Most of these petty comments here demean and degrade any real purpose that this blog serves. Ms Stewart's resume would indicate that she is a strong candidate for assuming leadership of a school where she previously worked successfully for 6 years. Knee jerk reactions to administrative decisions shows a lack of discernment among those who comment. There are many times when concern about the decisions of the administration are quite warranted, but this is not one of those times. Move on, people. by Unfortunate (Sep 9, 2012) Hey you Westisde people, the point made by some posters here is why should you get a "great" person who "knows' your school and community and is "so" wonderful when the rest of us get whatever shithesd Grier decides to "dump" on our schools! Did Lee want Davila? Did Bellaire have a say? What about the continued crap sent to Kashmere and Sam Houston? And the list could go on and on and on......So again, where is the concern and "choice" candidates when it comes to other areas of HISD and not just the west side of the district? That's why posters are made! And case in point, tell the Elrod E.S. parents and see if they think this is fair??? This should be all for one and one for all and not we get who we want and screw the rest of you! That's how it feels to us!!!! So good for you guys but what about our schools and kids? by Sick of being HISD stepkids in the East and South side (Sep 9, 2012) @ Sick of being ... So true, it gets very old always getting dumped on. At Sam Houston the schedules for our kids and the master schedule were still a mess the day before school started. We still have vacancies; all of these things have happened (among many other issues) every year that she has been Principal, but those at W18th choose to look the other way. Who knows what this year will bring! by Also sick! (Sep 9, 2012) So, where is Mark Bedell going? Please share.... by Information Please (Sep 10, 2012) Is there someone out there, maybe an attorney, that can help those of us on 12 month contracts with this payroll reconciliation mess? Hello HFT? Gayle Fallon? Anyone?!?!?!?! We may work here at west 18th, but most of us don't make the big salaries - help! by HISD employee (Sep 10, 2012) Wow! the teacher's union understands the reality of evaluations from Standardized exams... Hello Gayle? Maybe you should catch one of those flights to Chicago where you can hear the same thing we have been telling you too. It looks like it is going to be too late for us... too bad you didn't stand up for your teachers, Gayle! How much were you promised? your son? perks maybe? just to look the other way and ignore the hours of paperwork this is causing and the attacks against excellent teachers in inner city schools. Lucky for the teachers in Chicago.... their union boss is standing up for them! From the most recent update on the strike in Chicago... "Emanuel said two main issues remain: his proposal that teachers be evaluated based in part on student performance on standardized tests, and more authority for school principals. Union President Karen Lewis, who has sharply criticized Emanuel, said standardized tests do not take into account inner city poverty as well as hunger and violence in the streets. Union officials said more than a quarter of Chicago public school teachers could lose their jobs if they are evaluated based on the tests. "Evaluate us on what we do, not the lives of our children we do not control," Lewis said in announcing the strike." by Heidi (Sep 10, 2012) and this just came out... now wouldn't our time be better spent working on lessons for class, evaluating and tutoring students? Eventually there is no more time left at night... one has to get at least 4 hours of sleep sometime. Most recent information just sent out from the Effective Teacher Initiative regarding getting ready for the evaluation process and putting our student's in a "bucket" for predictive performance on standardized tests: "Resources on Student Performance · Click here for a list of the top questions from teachers and administrators about the Student Performance component of the appraisal and development system. If you have a question on either the Student Performance component or the new technological tools, please email helpdesk@houstonisd.org. · HISD has set up a series of in-person trainings this fall for teachers on various Student Performance topics, including Comparative Growth, setting starting points and goals, and creating high-quality assessments. Please sign up if you would like additional support. · New pre-approved district assessments have been added in Government, Economics, Physical Education, Foundations of Personal Fitness, and Team & Individual Sports. For a full list of assessments and instructions for accessing the assessment blueprints, please click here. Measure Assignment Process Over the new few weeks, appraisers are selecting teachers’ Student Performance measures using the online Student Performance tool. When your measures have been selected, you will receive an email from the tool asking you to acknowledge your measures. The process is very simple, and will require logging in to the Student Performance tool at this link: www.houstonisd.org/teacherappraisal. You can find a detailed navigation guide here. Please be sure to acknowledge your measures by September 28th. 2012-13 Teacher Appraisal and Development System Manual Have a question about the appraisal and development system? Want to familiarize yourself with this year’s timeline? Click here to download a PDF copy of this year’s appraisal and development system manual. " by Heidi (Sep 10, 2012) Grier has hijacked this board the following are from this months board agenda on ethics for the board...... I mean really. I shall avoid personal involvement in activities the Board has delegated to the Superintendent.Delegate authority for the administration of the school to the Superintendent. 9.11. I shall endeavor to make policy decisions only after full discussion at publicly held Board meetings, rendering all decisions based on the (available) facts rather than supposition,opinion, or public favor. I shall share my views while working by ?????????? (Sep 10, 2012) The word on the street is that Mark Bedell will be headed to Baltimore with Dallas Dance. I am not sure if this is true. Does anyone know? by Not Sure (Sep 10, 2012) Everyone keeps asking for Gayle to "do something" or go back to the day when she "would stand up for the teachers and support staff in the district". But yet, she doesn't respond. So what is it that you are doing for all of us Gayle? We pay our dues, FOR WHAT??!! Why don't you quit spending all your time trying to wheel and deal behind the scenes to keep CEP in business and focus on what your real job should be, representing US! If you're not going to do it, then maybe it's time to pass the baton and let someone that wants and has the desire to stand up FOR US!!!!! by Call it a day!! (Sep 10, 2012) Mark Bedell is going to Dallas ISD by W 18th (Sep 10, 2012) Mark Bedell not going to Dallas ISD. He is going to Baltimore with Dallas Dance. Nice promotion. And yes, we are losing one of the good ones! by Very sad (Sep 11, 2012) Mark Bedell will be joining Dallas Dance in Baltimore County Public Schools in an executive level position. Great move for him and his family. Mark did an excellent job in Houston...and yet again...another big loss for HISD. by Houston Alumn (Sep 11, 2012) Why is Gayle still "in charge" of the union? She was compromised, corrupted, and ineffective 15 years ago when I was a member. Is that imbecile Andy number 2. What about ZAPH what a schmuck!! When I needed them they didn't show up. If an organization with no bargaining power and 2 competing representative organizations is to be effective, she and and her feeble minded son and entourage must move on. Austin achieved it. There is no reason other than Gayle that an organization that represents teachers can succeed. by EX HISD teacher (Sep 11, 2012) Just got word from a friend of mine in Fort Bend ISD that the principal from Edison MS is going to Fort Bend as the new Assistant Superintendent of Schools. Everyone flying the coop from HISD. by Houston Texan (Sep 11, 2012) When is it ok for a student to hit or kick a teacher??? Seems its ok. seeen it with own eyes. NO EXCUSES! Teachers should feel just as safe as the students should. by Golfcrest (Sep 11, 2012) Mr Villarreal is a huge loss to HISD. by Edison Parent (Sep 11, 2012) Wow another higher up is running for his life and career! Do you think that Grier and his board of minions is getting the point here yet? They are tossing teachers out left and rightmover boggus crap and many have given years to this district and would probably have continued on doing so if not for ignorant leadership on many campuses! NOW these same people see the writing on the wall themselves and are getting the heck out before the next ax falls and heads roll because of Grier's stupidtiy! Can't blame anyone for wanting to escape the "toxic" environment which has taken over many campuses in HISD. Those of you lucky enough to have escaped it, we don't want to hear your "how wonderful things are....blah, blah, blah speeches!" If things were and are so great, why are the people at the top running!?!?! And when I was on a campus in Alief today, they all have heard how horrible it is getting in HISD! So word is out there, does anyone at West 18th guve a damn? The only saving grace moments Grier and the board has on their side at the present time is that there is no "true" unions in Texas. Because if there was, teachers would be walking against this district in a heart beat for how they are being treated by this district!!!! Shame on HISD for allowing it to continue! by Next???? (Sep 11, 2012) More good ones to leave for Baltimore. Longtime HISD people. Stay tuned. by So sad (Sep 11, 2012) Thanks for the bond information meeting dates. Would not have known otherwise! Interesting how they are doubling up on some dates in the vocal parts of town. Divide and conquer? by Inerested (Sep 12, 2012) Looks like they are completely rethinking this whole payback mess. Board meeting tomorrow night. Sign up to speak. The more this is put out there, the more the district will back off or at least attempt to help those impacted. by Broke (Sep 12, 2012) Javier Vilareal leaving is a huge loss. He should have been promoted within our own district by EdisonTeacher (Sep 12, 2012) Too bad Mr. Villarreal is moving on. I was so impressed with how organized Edison MS was when I subbed there, that I wrote him an email to compliment him. Yes, HISD will soon be in dire straights, if not already with so many leaving the district. by Longtime Associate Teacher NO MORE (Sep 12, 2012) Every once in awhile Ms. Fallon responds on this site to defend herself. What I am seeing through teacher comments, and alas, it is true is that the union really has nothing to offers. Thousands of teachers in HISD hae been displaced, penalized, or destroyed by the Apollo program. Literally hundreds of teachers have run away from HISD. Ms. Fallon will have to prove herself and the union to get more support from many of us. She cites individual cases while we know hundreds more that the HFT has not helped. Until there are loud voices in HFT, and some kind of promotion for fighting back, HFT seems entirely useless. What good is it? Where have we seen them take on HISD? HISD has craftily set about the paper work since Grier has been here, to be prepared for teacher protest, individual or other wise. For those of you that keep supporting HIFT, I am going to guess you have never needed them for your job. I want to hear from teachers where HFT has done SOMETHING to counterattack what Grier has set in motion. I see Community Voices has organized some, but that is all the see for the hundreds spent on HFT. by HISD Teacher (Sep 12, 2012) We need to place focus on the children and not the negative. They come with so many challenges, challenges which we have no control of. Golfcrest has dedicated teachers and if a child, no matter the age, experiences violent tantrums than there is no other school in the district which can help the child the way Golfcrest can. I have seen the accusations occur with my own eyes, however the teacher at Golfcrest is truly one of the best at what she does and I beleive she has the dedication to nurture this child and he will succeed witihn her classroom and in life. by Dedication for Golfcrest (Sep 12, 2012) @ dedication 4 golfcrest....ok so NOW let a teacher put their hands on a "little angel" in this f'ed up district and they will be walked off campus asap and investigated by a boggus investigator better known as the principal and lets see if the outcome is "oh the poor little teacher was just having a bad day?" Yah right! That is the problem on many campuses and HISDuh is that the kids are running the damn insane asylums now and screw the teachers! Look at the bonus mess HISD is pushing! But the administration will get big buck for doing shit and NEVER seeing one child! Boy has HISD sank to a new low and is anyone surprised!?!?!?!? by OK (Sep 12, 2012) @ Dedication for Golfcrest. It is not okay to hit a teacher. If a teacher gets hit then the student needs to be punished. Now if you, Dedication for Golfcrest, gets hit and you decide that you rather focus on the child's home life than the aching bruise, go ahead, but it is not to say ALL teachers, "Let it go, remember you can make a difference with just understanding his situation and ignoring the actions." by well... (Sep 12, 2012) It is NOT OK to hit a teacher...and if they get away with it, it only escalates. A relative in another district tried "letting it go" until one of the students finally threw a desk at her and broke her foot! She pressed charges. Yes, she understood they had terrible home lives (she was at the alternative school) but they DID need to understand that breaking someone's foot has consequences.... If only school districts had real discipline policies instead of letting the police and courts do it for them? But they are too cowardly to do so and put the teachers on the front line to make the teachers the "bad" guys, so the superintendents can just smile and shrug.... by Longtime Associate Teacher NO MORE (Sep 13, 2012) I joined HFT just a couple of years ago because I believe my principal was violating the duty free lunch and truth-in-grading laws and policies. Not only did HFT help me with my grievance, but they protected me from retaliation. I won with respect to the truth-in-grading issue and the duty free lunch issue is still on appeal to a state administrative judge. You get out of the union what you put into it, be proactive and work with your campus steward and union representative. Plus, this year HFT has helped my campus members with questions about the proposed bond and the payroll reconciliation. by HFT Supporter (Sep 13, 2012) This is directed at some of the gutless anonymous insults aimed at HFT and its leadership. I am a long time member and the HFT has always been there for me. They got my job back last year when I was faced with a layoff. My staff rep Joanna Pasternak has repeatedly backed down our campus administration. It is obvious that the critics know little about this union. Unlike the members who never spend a day in the HFT offices or the non-members who love to insult HFT, I am there frequently. I know that between last year and this year the union provided lawyers to over 200 members facing job loss and most went back to work or got a significant buyout if they told the lawyers that they really did not want to work for HISD any longer. To Call It A Day - if you know so much about Gayle defending CEP, how come you missed the fact that it was sold to Camelot or the fact that HFT represents the teachers and non-instructional staff at the facility and as such has to fight to protect them. And those who choose to imply our union president has been "bought off" obviously know nothing about Gayle Fallon. She not only would never accept a bribe because that is not who she is but also she inherited millions when her mother died. She does not have to work to live very comfortably. While some of you are wasting time whining on this site, you would be the first ones sneaking in the back door if there was a strike in HISD because you would not dare risk your jobs or your certificates - both of which you could lose under current Texas law. And for those asking where Gayle is - she has been and will be in Austin trying to save your pensions. by ssl2020 (Sep 13, 2012) HISD Superintendent Terry Grier has approved a $50,000, three-month contract with a retired district employee to manage activities related to the school district’s bond issue in November. The school board is scheduled to ratify the contract with Ronnie Veselka at its meeting Thursday evening I like Mr. Veselka he was my high school principal at Lamar (Go Redskins) but come on really..... the district can always find money for what it wants except true raises for it's teachers by ???????? (Sep 14, 2012) Hey School Board Members! Get over yourselves!!! Stop yapping about "ethics"---just do the right thing and then get on to making HISD a decent district again. But, it is ALL about you all, right? It's really not about the kids? It's about your nice, comfy office at W. 18th. It's about your re-election. It's about how you know---not what you know. Get over it. Get out there. Do some work for a change or else...let's see---2000 student loss this year? Bet it picks up next year and the next---until HISD is just one district to note among KIPP, YES Prep and the private schools. Get a clue! Wake up! by Education Grrrrl (Sep 14, 2012) Those of us who have been around HISD for a while know Mr. Veselka VERY well-some better than others. What I don't understand is how Mr. Veselka can be a one-man expert in so many areas. The District has hired him to assist in the fingerprinting initiative; he led the transition from the Richmond Building to West 18th; he has filled in for the Human Resources Department; and was even tapped to assist in the now defunct North Forest move. Melinda Garrett pushes him for every job imaginable. Golly gee, maybe HE ought to be Superintendent if he is that good! NOT!I assure you there are people currently on staff who could handle whatever his job description entails. I'd like to know how much total money Mr. Veselka has made off of HISD since his retirement. As someone so accurately stated, this District can find money for whatever and WHOMEVER that want. by Historian (Sep 14, 2012) End of 3rd week of school and Linda Bellard is at it again. It did not take long for the new people to finally catch on to her ineffectiveness. Those of us who have been there before her time just knew that she would default. The sad thing is we didn’t think it was going to be this soon. She and her administrative team decided to extend instructional time by 15 minutes to 7:45 to 3:00 and back breakfast in the classroom time from 7:30 to 8:00 to 7:20 to 7:40. Mind you, teachers’ official sign in time is 7:30. In a meeting, she ask if anyone would like to volunteer to come in at 7:15 to help her administration team and ancillary teachers supervise students until the rest came in at 7:30 and that those teachers who volunteer to come in at 7:15 would be allowed to leave at 3:00. Well, that never happens. In the afternoon, we are still dismissing right up to 3:15. If your duty is in the back with car riders, you might still be there till 3:30. Remember, some of these teachers are suppose to be off the clock at 3:00. The few teachers who volunteer and normally come in at 7:00 or 7:10 and try to leave at 3:00 are being called to the office to be told that they cannot leave until every student that they supervise has left even if there are other teachers available to supervise the students. There are a few of us amongst the volunteers who come in at 7:15 because it makes it easier to beat traffic and at the same time try to get a few things done in the classroom. Today a few of us arrived a little later than our usual time but still before 7:30 due to weather and traffic. Here is the BOMB. She sends out an email to all teachers stating that many of us are arriving late and students are being unsupervised in the classroom during breakfast time. It is our duty to get to work on time. Wait, official sign in time is 7:30 and practically all classroom teachers arrived before 7:30. Where is her administration team that is supposed to be in the hallways supervising breakfast in the classrooms from 7:20 to 7:30? Oh wait, they are arriving right at 7:30 or later. She does not say anything to them at all. You might be wondering how we know. They are still arriving late practically every day and who gets reprimanded, the teachers. by Double Standards (Sep 14, 2012) I am making a simple flyer with my own money, in my own home, with my own computer, on my own time. All it says is id you know HISD Sperintendent Grier makes over $300,000 a year and has a driver paid with your tax dollars? Vote No to the HISD Bond" They will be put on cars in grocery store parking lots every weekend until elections. That is my job to rid HISD of such a bad administration that we cannot trust how they will spend taxpayer's money. What are you going to do to fight HISD administration? by HISD Teacher (Sep 14, 2012) WOW!!! Then here is part two of Linda Bellard’s ineffectiveness and trying to put the blame on the teachers. Yes, this is end of week three and bullying is already escalating thanks to her discipline ineffectiveness. She has directed us to handle behavior and bullying issues ourselves and not to send any students to the office even if the situation is beyond our control. She has directed us to contact parents and take care of the situation ourselves because student’s behavior is the teacher’s fault. Does this sound like what Blackshear go through when she was there? Dismissal in the back is chaos because walkers without parents and car riders are mixed up together. Whose bright idea was it to have walkers come out with the car riders? Oh, I forgot, Linda Bellard and her administration team. Read the following letter we had to sign before leaving today. Teachers who have left after all their kids were gone were being called on their cell phones to come back to school to sign the following letter. September 14, 2012 Elrod Staff, I am still getting parent complains about the following: 1. Bullying – This is a classroom and discipline management issue. You should address this issue because it is the right thing to do. However, you also have a legal obligation to address this issue immediately. You must document your actions for your own protection. Remember to complete the Bullying on-line training Moodle (deadline is September 28, 2012). 2. Dismissal – The main concern is that students are not in the correct pick up location. However, on yesterday a more serious situation occurred. A car rider walked out the gate in the walker line and no one noticed this young child was in the wrong line. You must be diligent about how your students are to go home. You have a responsibility to make sure the person who picks up your students is the correct person. I will not continue to send reminders and exhortations to the staff to do the right thing. I will address the homeroom teacher and other responsible person(s) individually from this point. It takes all of us to ensure our students are safe. Linda Bellard, Principal __________________________ Print Name __________________________ _______________ Signature Acknowledges Receipt Date by I am not surprised (Sep 14, 2012) After reading about the fool at Elrod ES starting again AND being allowed to get away with it, it is just mind boggling! With all the "crazies" out in the world today, and many masqurading as "effective" leaders in HISD, they are just lucky that someone hasn't "snapped" and "went off" on one of these fools! Why does the Board and the administration at West 18th think they need to treat teachers and other lower level employees like crap? Does it make them feel "good" bullying people all day? Are they so unhappy with their lives that they need to treat others who "have a life" so mean and nasty to make themselves "look good?" Again, it is amazing that after all the 1000's of people that this district has treated like crap and wronged in many ways, NOT ONE of them have went "crazy" and went after one of them!?! I guess this is why they need their "friends" beside them, to watch their backs because I know many of these "loud mouth" leaders have HISD and HPD police on their cell phone speed dials! Christian Winn had the police at Frost ES every other day because she hid behind them and HISD with HER big mouth! I know because I worked across the street and our security guard was tired of backing this "witch" up and was "ready" to let one of the parents slap the mess out of her!! HISD needs to "wake up" before something bad "goes down" behind one of these evil, ignorant leaders! HISD needs to STOP playing GOD with peoples lives and careers because it is only a matter of time......... by Lucky (Sep 15, 2012) @ Lucky, you are right about HISD ALLOWING these Principals to continually treat people badly and so really it is not "if" but "when" something is going to happen. Because with today's economy and mess people are already on edge and to be stressed out threatened with termination unnecessarily at work on a daily basis for some is just to much! So like you stated WAKE UP so-leaders in HISD and realize what you are doing is just WRONG before you get a wake up call you don't want BUT have been asking for by your treatment of others! Remember, you leaders all tell everyone how God is such a big part of your lives, so just thinks about this.....GOD don't like ugly and he IS watching you!?!?! We ALL will one day answer to a power higher then this Board or Grier, and what good things would or could be said about how YOU treated others??? Hell is paved with good intentions, but what you are being allowed to do isn't even considered a good intention! by Channel the View (Sep 16, 2012) Can anyone out there tell me why the teachers are being observed to no end by TDS's, SIO's, principals and others this year. I am truly sick of it!! Is there some recourse? This almost borders on being harassed on the job! Who can really function while being constantly monitored. Who's to say that after the watchful eyes are gone that if a teacher goofs off...they will continue to do so...anyone can put on a show. How effective is this strategy going to be? Really??? Why didn't I go to Fort Bend while I had the chance??? Ugh!!! by oh come on (Sep 16, 2012) It is a great concern of teachers to see the length HISD "leadership: is going to, to create endless assessments for teachers. Time to prepare for teaching in the classroom would make more sense that the time involved to understand how the teacher assessments work. by Abacus (Sep 16, 2012) To Oh Come On- But guess who hates observations/walk-throughs and impromptu visits from outsiders more than teachers? Students, especially in HIGH SCHOOl!! "Why are they always in our classes?" they'll ask, or "They think we're stupid or somethin'?" And don't let seniors get started: "Please don't stand over me while I work; I can't concentrate." I used to get this one all the time, especially after it was "mandated" that teachers walk around for the entire class period to monitor students' work. Part of student engagement. by Flew the Coop (Sep 16, 2012) Yes, Flew the Coop! Observations are ALWAYS disruptive! I remember way back when I was student teaching and my education prof would come in to observe. He was a skinny, nerdy guy and his polyester pants fell straight from his belt to his feet. Which led my boys to suspect that the guy didn't have any "boy parts" (I cleaned that part up for this website)...and they spent most of their time checking to see if something had happened to him (and having a squeaky voice didn't help matters for this guy)....as a result, my evals were always terrible, but the bad behavior began when he arrived, because he was a freak of nature as far as my boys were concerned. And the grade I taught? 7th grade. Can you imagine what high school juniors and seniors would have done? In the meantime, he thought if I put "active verbs" in my lesson plans, this would correct matters. Really and truly. Another war story from the front lines! by Longtime Teacher NO MORE (Sep 17, 2012) What did the board do with Pamela Farinas neglect of the special ed. students last year (GLEC)? It is a known fact the there wasn't a certified teacher instructing those students. In addition, they were never serviced. I often wonder what happen to the lady that reported all the unethical practices that were taking place. Pamela Farinas has bullied, harassed, lied, manipulated her staff and still have a job. I no longer have to wonder what are the requirements for a leadership position in HISD. by Grace (Sep 17, 2012) In light of the dozens (if not hundreds) of technological issues related to the Student Performance online tool, I find the following statement HILARIOUS: "The process is very simple, and will require logging in to the Student Performance tool at this link: www.houstonisd.org/teacherappraisal" I receive constant reminders to log in, but I find the tool to be a joke. One day, I can log in, one day I can't. One day, students are listed, one day, they're not. One day, my data is there, one day it's not. This inanimate tool seems to mock (and mirror) the inconsistency present throughout HISD. Cheers to being consistently inconsistent! by TechSavvy (Oct 31, 2012) Please log-in or register to have your photo appear beside your comment. Name: Comment: Enter the following security word:
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