June 19 - I'm a Skinny: Honored to be honored by Leonie Haimson along with the Great Danny Dromm and Fred Smith

Hey folks -- here is your chance to see me be Skinny - and to contribute to the amazing work Leonie Haimson does for all of us.

And I can't think of better people to be honored with than Danny Dromm and Fred Smith. And the anticipation of the mystery honoree. Past award winners have been James Eterno, Arthur Goldstein, Julie Cavanagh, Diane Ravitch, Patrick Sullivan and so many others.

Last year our pals from CPE1 were honored. It was a wonderful evening and I'm thrilled to be included this year. 

Former teacher Danny Dromm has been a force for change on the city council. 

 

And Fred Smith -- who has done so much work for the opt-out movement. I remember hearing from Fred about 10 years ago, asking to come to an ICEUFT meeting to talk about the tests and trying to enlist people. Fred was there when GEM took positions on testing and was one of the founders of Change the Stakes. His research has been crucial. And let's not forget his other job as a statistician for the NY Jets, which and turn out to be more frustrating than dealing with the DOE.

Ten years of skinny awards and a way for Leonie to continue her amazing work. So even if you can't come, consider contributing to class size matters.

I've attended very one of Leonie's Skinny (Not (Eli) BROAD) Awards. It is always the most fun events of the year where the major people battling ed deform gather -- sshhhhhhh - don't tell or they will drop a bunker bomb on us.

Even my wife, who should be sick of ed talk after almost 50 years of it, wants to go.

If any of you Ed Notes readers are going let me know at normsco@gmail.com.

From Leonie's announcement.

Please reserve your seat now for our Annual Skinny Award dinner on Tuesday June 19. We will be honoring four tremendous individuals who have given us the "real skinny" on NYC public schools:

• Council Member Danny Dromm, Chair of the Finance Committee & former Education Chair

• Norm Scott, retired teacher and blogger/videographer extraordinaire

• Fred Smith, testing expert and critic

• And a surprise honoree who will be announced at the event!

Join us on June 19, 2018 at 6 PM at Casa La Femme, 140 Charles St. in Greenwich Village, for a delicious three course meal with a glass of wine and great company! 


This is always one of the most joyous events of the year, where we celebrate our victories and gain strength for the challenges to come. Buy your tickets today.  


Even if you can't make it, please consider making a contribution at the above link in honor of these terrific awardees, and to support our work going forward. 
 

2. Starting on June 8, the State Education Department will hold hearings on student privacy, to hear from parents how they would like their children's sensitive data to be protected and what an expanded Parents Bill of Privacy Rights should include. NYC DOE chronically violates student privacy by making children's contact information available to charter schools without parental consent. Also, contrary to state law, the DOE does not post the current Parents Bill of Privacy Rights on its website nor does it include it in the contracts it signs with vendors when they are provided access to personal student information. The full schedule of hearings is here, starting on June 8 in the Bronx, June 11 in Brooklyn, June 12 in Manhattan and June 18 in Queens. Here are some additional talking points you can use in your testimony.

Hope to see you at the Skinnies, and thanks! Leonie 
 
Leonie Haimson
Executive Director
Class Size Matters
124 Waverly Pl.
New York, NY 10011