NOTE: Photo of Merryl Tisch posted earlier removed at request of the source who does not believe Tisch is a crook. No comment. Normi-leaks hungry for more.
Ed Notes has learned that the letter Governor Cuomo supposedly wrote to Merryl Tisch and the State Board of Regents calling for a change from weighing teacher evaluations based on state tests from 20 to 40% was in fact written by Tisch herself with the assistance of Deputy State Ed Commissioner John King and former Tweed Chief Talent Officer Amy McIntosh (Google her name and come up with all sorts of goodies). There may be a vote on Monday.
For background see posts at Gotham where you can read the entire "Cuomo" letter:
Cuomo: test scores should play a bigger part in teacher evals by Anna Phillips
Chris Smith reads Cuomo’s position on teacher evaluation as a bargaining chip for Bloomberg. (NYMag)
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| John King |
You will fall off your chair when she talks about the governor's right to comment and all the points he is making - which are in fact they are the points she, King and McIntosh made in the letter they wrote in the name of Cuomo - he is a busy guy.
She says that parents were part of the 63 member teacher evaluation task force though not a single parent representing parent interests (as opposed to some official who is also a parent) was on the task force despite demands from parent interests to be included. The task force consisted entirely of Regents members, school administrators, teachers, academic “consultants” and other educrats.
She also claimed that teacher evaluation added an “objective” measure of teacher effectiveness and that this new system must be implemented by next fall.
Behind it all is an attempt to end LIFO and use flawed tests.
Questions will be raised this week within the UFT over what looks like a reversal of a deal the UFT made with Regent head Merryl Tisch and State Ed Commissioner David Steiner last year. Was the UFT dealt dirty or were they partners?
Go back to the original agreement between the UFT and State Ed (Tisch and soon to be ex-commissioner David Steiner. Michael Mulgrew at the Delegate Assembly where they sold the plan to the members waxed poetic (as poetic as you can imagine Mulgrew waxing) over how wonderful dealing with these two slugs was compared to Klein and Tweed. For my money, I'll take Joel Klein over Merryl Tisch any day because he lied so openly - she actually tries to give an air of integrity - for a billionaire (and Bloomberg's next door neighbor - hey, how about a rally in front of her house - kill 2 birds with one stone.)
Can't wait to watch Mulgrew skip and dance over this one at the Delegate Assembly this Wednesday.
It is interesting in perusing the 63 member list, (below the fold) you will find some UFT and NYSUT people there ostensibly representing the interests of teachers. Interesting that Tisch says there was a lot of agreement. But why believe her on this. I would love to hear more from Jackie Bennett who many respect for her thoughtful analysis (even though the tows/toes the Unity Caucus line) especially on how flawed the tests are. See here and here.
Bennett, Jackie United Federation of Teachers
Gentile, Aminda Vice President United Federation of Teachers
Hinds, Janella United Federation of Teachers
Mendel, Michael United Federation of Teachers
Adams, Heather New York State United Teachers
Neira, Maria Vice President New York State United Teachers
Some comments from the listserve:
Patrick Sullivan:LINK: Teacher Reviews Will Put More Focus on State Tests
I'm pretty sure Tisch is a mom herself. I recall her daughter wrote an op-ed calling for a Bloomberg third term. Maybe that's what she was thinking. I don't think Tisch would see any value in including public school parents in decisions concerning our children.
Leonie Haimson:
Merryl Tisch’s daughter Jessica , wrote that oped in favor of overturning term limits and a third term for Bloomberg, based upon his terrific record at running our schools.
Her oped is here: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/opinion/opedcolumnists/item_ E7oQ1Nm80l89vCCqQXIUNK; jsessionid= AD5CBD148EEE8F9FAF48848B84A5F4 3F
And Steve Koss wrote about it here: http://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2008/04/audacity- of-hubris-and-money.html
Jessica is now director of policy and planning for NYPD's Counterterrorism Bureau.
Perhaps parents could use our own counterterrorism bureau to protect our kids against the policies of the Regents and SED.
Posted by Leonie Haimson to NYCEDNews List:
The list below:
Membership Regents Task Force on Teacher and Principal Effectiveness
Adams, Heather New York State United Teachers
Ashley, Michele
Principal
Jesse Owens School, PS26 in Brooklyn
Bennett, Jackie United Federation of Teachers
Bernstein, Vicki
New York City Department of Education
Bierwirth, Jack
Superintendent
Herricks Union Free School District
Boling-Barton, Crystal
Pres. NYSFSA Local 10
Principal, McKinley High School
Bullowa, Jane
Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services
Ulster BOCES
Busch Johnson, Kirsten
Executive Director, Teacher Effectiveness
Cannon, Joanna
Deputy Executive Director
New York City Department of Education
Carpenter, Amy
Middle School Math and Science Teacher
Caruso Sharpe, Stacey
Amsterdam City School District
Catapano, Nicole
Coordinator for Data Analysis
Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex BOCES
Chapin, Florence
Executive Director, Performance Management Strategy
NYC Department of Education
Cuthbert, Cynthea
Monroe Two-Orleans BOCES
Dexter, Jim
District Superintendent
Washington-Saratoga-Warren-Hamilton-Essex Counties
Duncan-Poitier, Johanna
Chancellor’s Deputy for the Education Pipeline and Vice Chancellor for Community College
Office of the Education Pipeline
Fish, Mark
MS Principal
South Glens Falls Central School District
Oliver W. Winch MS
Flynn, Kerry
Principal
North Colonie Central School District
Gasparini, Paul
HS Principal
Jamesville-Dewitt High School
Gentile, Aminda Vice President United Federation of Teachers
Glover, Michael
District Superintendent of Schools
Genesee Valley BOCES
Hinds, Janella United Federation of Teachers
Hochman, Jere
Superintendent
Bedford Central School District
Hughes, William
Elementary and High School Music Teacher
South Orangetown Central School District
Hunter, Jon
Superintendent
Fairport Central School District
Irizarry, Dafny
teacher, Central Islip
Jaeger, Lloyd
Superintendent
Millbrook Central School District
Keane, Demetra
Assistant Professor
Department of Literacy and Multilingual Education
Mercy College
Kessler, Richard
Executive Director
The Center for Arts Education
Lankford, Hamilton
Researcher, Advisor to the Task Force
Lucariello, Joan
University Dean for Education
The City University of New York
Mahony, John
Career and Technical Teacher
Aviation Technology, Questar III BOCES
McDermott, Michael
Principal
Scarsdale Middle School
McNally, Peter
CSA Executive Vice Pres. & President of NYSFSA
Mendel, Michael United Federation of Teachers
Mooney, Paul
Principal
Howard G. Sackett
Jefferson-Lewis BOCES
Neira, Maria Vice President New York State United Teachers
Nickson, Donald
Deputy Executive Director
School Administrators Association of NYS
Nieves, Sonia
CSA Executive Board
Ogno, Christopher
ES Principal
NYC Schools
P.S. 247
Orr, Terry
Director, Future School Leaders Academy
Bank Street College of Education
Pagerey, Ruth
Assistant Dean for Professional Studies
SUNY University at Albany
Perez, Joseph
Southern Westchester BOCES
Perez, Viviana
Teacher
WHEELS – Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School
Picarello, John
Special Education Principal
Nassau BOCES
Rosemary Kennedy Center
Ratner, Joel
District Music Coordinator
Brentwood School District
Rider, Deborah
Secondary Principal
Rochester City School District
Rider, Lori
Avon Central School District
Rock, Karen
Plattsburgh City School District
Rockoff, Jonah
Researcher, Advisor to the Task Force
Rozran, Jeff
Syosset School District
Scott, Anne
Chief of Schools, Northwest Zone
Rochester City School District
Siegel Karen
Elementary School Principal
South Huntington Union Free School District
Sokol, Pilar
Deputy General Counsel
New York State School Boards Association
Van Dusen, Penny
teacher, Utica City School District
Van Nest, Elizabeth
Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel
Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities
Vazquez, David
Principal
The Urban Assembly Bronx Studio School for Writers and Artists
Waslawski, James
Principal
Winer, Sue
Instructional Literacy Coach
Syracuse City School District
Worona, Jay
General Counsel
New York State School Boards Association
Wyckoff, James,
Researcher, Advisor to the Task Force
4 comments:
Wow. Deception and deceit. Combine this with the illuminating article in today's NYPost on the nefarious doings of Bloomy's "non-profits". Truly, when I read Cuomo's comments on Capitol Confidential regarding teacher evaluations, I KNEW, it was blatantly obvious, the words did not belong to him.
Thank you, thank you for this insightful article.
Friend in Buffalo.
Check out the NYPost's MGoodwin article-truly rags on the emperor
I gave the 5th grade CTB math test last week. The test was a piece of garbage. I sent the following feedback to the folks at CTB. I'm sure I'll get an immediate response-
6 out of the 41 questions in Book 1 had glaring flaws. That's nearly 15% poorly written questions! Question # 3: 3 girls divide the shells they find equally and use this equation to find how many shells in all. What would they do to solve the equation? Why would they use N over 3 = 12 to find the total # of shells? Why wouldn't they simply count or multiply what each of them had by 3. The premise of a question has to make some sort of logical sense or your quality control should throw out the question. Question # 14: A gallon of paint covers 400 square feet. Nick estimates he needs 1/2 gallon to paint a wall 11x18. How did he make this estimate? Multiply 10 by 20 and then divide by 400; Multiply 10 by 20 and then divide into 400. 200/400 can be read 200 divided by 400 or 200 divided into 400, can it not? What skill are you testing for here? What information about student learning can the results on this question tell you? Question # 23: Emma and Hannah plant flowers. Emma plants 7/16; Hannah plants 5/16 of flowers. Which of these shows most reasonable estimation of fraction of flowers they planted. Since you have the same denominator, the logical approach to this question is to add 7/16 and 5/16 and then simplify to 3/4. To round off 7/16 to 1/2 and 5/16 to 1/4 is not the best way to solve this problem. What message are you sending to students when you solve a problem in an unreliable way? Is there any rhyme or reason to rounding off fractions? You round the 7/16 up; you round the 5/16 down- is there any rule that you are recommending the students follow? Rough estimation should not be used if an exact solution can be found in less time with no guess work! Question # 29: Answer not in doubt but question does not say anything about whether or not the roller coaster trips ran full, mostly full or half empty so the calculation is not reasonable. Question # 31: Difference between two times in swimming races is .002 second. Which pair of times in swimming races could represent actual times in Herbert's swimming races? The only 'correct' answer is .006 and .008. So you're saying that actual times in swimming races are 6 thousandths and 8 thousandths of a second?? Did no one proof read this stuff. Why not make it 48.006 seconds- this could represent an actual time but not .006 of a second! Question # 39: Digging ditches with line graph showing progress but question didn't specify beginning of day or end of day so at least 2 answers were possible.
I was appalled by how sloppily this test was written. Day 2 was just silly. How can a student explain how he added 11 hours to 9 o'clock in the morning? What are you looking for here? How does a student 'explain' how he chose the biggest number of a list of 5 numbers? How does student explain how he comes up with an equation with one variable and two constants? As far as I could judge, the results of this test will be virtually meaningless-
Matt Frisch
PS 163
Her bro-in-law is CEO of k-12, the nation's largest ed services company...Hmmmm...conflcit of interests anyone . . . ?
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