Video Global Tech: Teachers and Parents Stand Up to DOE Plus Statements of Support to be Read at PEP

You reap what you sow and [pointing at Estrella] you are going to reap what you sow  ---- Global Tech teacher

Here are comments from a couple of parents talking about the impact of Global Tech on their children and some amazing teachers. These teachers are not only eloquent but brave. It's funny how we read so many anonymous comments on the blogs where teachers say how fearful they are. Not these teachers.

I saw Estrella pass a note to the guy next to her when Kayla Hamilton was speaking pointing out her name. I called out - vendetta? When I told Kayla the story she said, "What else is new?"

One reason we are taking aim at Estrella at the UFT to force them to take action and stop the collusion between her and District 4 rep Servia Silva.



https://vimeo.com/252572151

Here are the letters of support from a retired principal and DOE coach and the president of Southern New Hampshire University.

Video: Supporting Global Tech at Today's PEP, CPE1 Will Be in the House and More Student, Teacher Voices

Part 2 of the awesome student voices - (Part 1 is here). OMG - some of the most amazing students comments - lead off by this girl - a Muslim immigrant from Africa who just blows us away -- but one after another - all 5 of them -- heartrending stories of how Global Tech staff and fellow students became their family. A kid bullied in his old school, a girl from the  projects whose brother was shot, a girl who behaved so badly she was tossed out of class regularly, a kid whose family was dysfunctional but Global Tech got her through it.

And some disdain for the DOE.
MUST SEE 11 minutes.

After viewing read the comments by founding principal Chrystina Russell being read tonight at the PEP which will vote to merge the schools no matter what these students, some of whom will be there tonight, along with their former teachers (their video will be going up later).

https://vimeo.com/252525790



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The DOE notes that teachers left for "professional" reasons. If escaping unethical behavior, bullying, intimidation, and educational professionalism is what the DOE calls "professional" reasons, the organization is in a very sad state. Estrella as a leader has not only destroyed the education of the students at GTP, she's also damaged the teachers that worked so hard to get the results GTP does. ... founding Principal Chrystina Russell

The UFT response to these attacks has been -- well, problematical - and I will address that in a follow-up post tomorrow based on a resolution we brought to the UFT Ex Bd this past Monday when District 4 rep Servia Silva, a pal of Supt Estrella, pretty much used the same argument the DOE used by saying none of the teachers - almost all replacements for those who left or were pushed out -- didn't oppose the merger.

The MORE CASCADE committee is meeting at 4:30 to strategize for the meeting.

Dear PEP, 

It's a bit ironic to write you for a vote on a merger that has already happened. Writing almost makes me feel ashamed--as if I'm a cog pretending the DOE's process of public transparency, comments, and voting are real. PEP, please be aware that you are voting on a merger that has already occurred under the guise of, "sharing best practices." This is a false process. The merger has happened with zero community input. 

At the beginning of this school year, the school offices and classes were combined into one. The technology that was so well utilized at GTP was spread across the school and now has no management to enable the students to use the technology. Violence has grown in the school, with an increased need for police presence. Folks from the superintendent's office have to cover classes because of this merger that happened before you're voting tonight. Most devastating has been the impact on students with IEPs. GTP had 40% special education students, and they are now sitting in combined PS 7 classes, with several 12:1 students in general education classes. Their needs aren't being met, all because Alex Estrella wants to march forward with the orders given to consolidate without any consideration of what's best for children. As a former bilingual special education teacher, I find this reprehensible. 

Since the merger has already happened at the beginning of this school year, completely violating the due process rights of the community, there's a chance to understand what you're voting on--the school is already merged and has resulted in:

• Disarray and violence
• IEP needs not being met
• Parental dissatisfaction
• Low staff morale and feelings of disempowerment by both PS 7 and GTP staff
• A low-quality learning environment that disrespects the students that need it most--those of color and with disabilities. 
• Classrooms without teachers

The DOE itself comments: 

"The NYCDOE recognizes that students from Global Technology and P.S. 7 are combined in some classes due to teaching vacancies. The administrative teams at Global Technology and P.S. 7 are actively searching for candidates to fill the current special education vacancies to ensure that all students’ mandates are met." 

This is clear evidence that the DOE knows students with special education needs are not receiving the services mandated by their IEPs. WHY are there vacancies? Because when the GTP community would not agree with Estrella's attempts to merge the school in 2015-2016. From there, she terrorized the award-winning teacher and principal of the school. 

This was all to put into motion to merge the schools. And now that she's terrorized staff and combined the schools, special education students are paying the price. This is despicable. 

The DOE notes that teachers left for "professional" reasons. If escaping unethical behavior, bullying, intimidation, and educational professionalism is what the DOE calls "professional" reasons, the organization is in a very sad state. Estrella as a leader has not only destroyed the education of the students at GTP, she's also damaged the teachers that worked so hard to get the results GTP does. 

"The DOE commends the work of Superintendent Estrella". Is this with the exception of when she sold her house to a teacher and got fined 3k by the DOE? The DOE COMMENDS this kind of decision making? It's the same neurons she used to decide to sell a house to a teacher that were used to terrorize all teachers so that she force this merger, thereby special education needs are not being met. This is NOT commendable. What kind of standards is the DOE using these days? This is despicable--the students of East Harlem need and deserve better. While Estrella is a terrible leader, the DOE is the real culprit in this case, given that they support such substandard leadership. 

The comments note: "Issac Newtown" is a technology-based school in response to the community's concerns that GTP is the only tech-based option in the district. If the technological environment of Isaac Newton is the standard of what's acceptable for poor black and brown kids these days, then there's no question why there's such a deep digital divide. Never, ever would Isaac Newton be considered to meet the standards of wealthy children in this city or any city. I am truly offended and insulted that the DOE would have the audacity to claim that Isacc Newton meets the technological learning needs of the students of East Harlem. Once again, the DOE is showing through its actions in this merger a deep disrespect of a low-income community of color. Let it be known, undoubtedly, that closing GTP is taking the only high-quality technological school option. Pretending there's a substitute is a lie and shows blatant disrespect of the kind of education the students of East Harlem deserve. 

Given that GTP is the only tech-based option and served students with special needs well, the DOE needs to explain why it is being combined with PS 7, rather than PS 7's middle school being combined with GTP. There has been no reasoning or evidence provided as to why this hasn't been considered, nor has the isolated data of both middle schools been analyzed. 

The proposal notes that, "GTP can benefit from Hunter". GTP has ALWAYS had many programs: PENCIL, softball, Stuyvesant Prep, previous collaborations with Hunter, Citizen Schools, private business supports, track, etc. Any programs that have been removed from GTP are because of Estrella. To pretend this is about bringing resources to GTP when the school has been stripped under Estrella's leadership shows yet again a deep disrespect of disempowered low income students of color. 

Last, the public comments neglect to include the fact that Ann Weiner and Jacqueline Pryce-Harvey also put in requests to have their comments read at the hearing. Their requests were not honored. The record should reflect that they were not given access to speak at this event, and the options offered by the office of accessibility were not given at the hearing. 

PEP, the process in front of you is a facade. The merger has already happened, and the puppetry is in this voting. Stand up for the students of East Harlem. They deserve better. 

Best,

Chrystina Russell

Video: Global Tech Students Defend School - Part 1

I'm putting up roughly 10 minute segments of students and will follow with teachers and parents from the remarkable hearing last week. Wednesday they are going to do it again at the PEP.

https://vimeo.com/252226798

Video: Voices of Global Tech - A Massive Defense of the School, Savaging Supt Estrella

"Your are monsters" -  Students to DOE officials

OK. So I went to yet another school hearing -- not a formal closing but a consolidation of two schools into one - but in effect the death of Global Tech. And this one - maybe above all - blew all of us away. The mostly former students were the stars of the show -with the support of their former teachers - most had left the school last year when Estrella chopped the principal and forced him out -- he is now at Harvard -- who showed up with the former students.

Their voices must be heard and I know that an hour and 20 minutes is a lot of time - and this is uncut raw video - I only turned off the

camera a few times when there were some lulls -- but there were not many -- this was one of the most intense hearings I've been too-- but also joyous -- I chose to feature a shot of Kayla Hamilton one of the teachers who helped organize this and someone I've been in touch with over the past week. Watch the ovation she gets.
She is one of the warmest, most exuberant people I've met. I would go back to school to have her as a teacher. We hugged her as we left and asked her what else can we do. She responded with, "No, what can I do? I'm an activist now."

We will see Kayla and her crew this Wednesday night at the PEP at 166 Essex Street - starting at 6PM. CPE1 people will be in the house to support Global Tech. Come on down and see the show.

And I will be posting shorter segments highlighting some of the dynamic speakers for those who don't have time to watch the entire video.

https://vimeo.com/251763175

Global Tech PS 7 Merger Update: politics rule in Supt. Estrella Land

IA Principal Graeber went from disparaging the collaborative efforts of the staff in 2016-17 as he described it: "the teachers have been running the school for too long" to desperately begging teachers to help to control classroom, lunch room and recess. This level of disrespect for collaborative leadership goes counter to 7 years of dedicated work at GTP with Russell and Baiz plus 2 years at PS 7 under GTP trained Dr. Harvey. ....

To close Global Tech is to actively discriminate against children with special needs, their families, and their rights to choose. Additionally, the superintendent has shown no consideration of how the increased number of special education students at PS 7 will be addressed, demonstrating her lack of concern and foresight in closing GTP, a school serving a high number of special education students.

....... Through already combining the schools, the superintendent has shown she neither honors the process for a school closure/merger, nor does she respect the community’s rights to give input and be heard when it comes to the educational futures of their children. ........Emails from former staff

Shades of the charges against CPE1 - that teachers were running the school -- which I have always found to lead to the best run schools. But Farina and crew are out to stamp out strong teacher voices. The serious charges about neglect of special ed students may come back to bite the butts of Estrella and Farina --- expect the tonight's event and the Jan. 24 PEP to contain some fireworks --- look for videos to come.

So tonight I'm dragging my old bones up to tape the hearing for merger of Global Tech and PS 7 in Harlem. Gloria, Myrie, Joan and Lisa from MORE are joining me and we have a very good leaflet produced by the MORE closing schools committee, which can be read at the MORE site:  CASCADE – Campaign Against School Closings & Displacement Everywhere. I love the name CASCADE. And I love working with this committee of MORE even if I have some issues with some of the other ways MORE has been operating. 

I reported on the Global Tech situation yesterday:
Global Tech Supporters Resist Consolidation Efforts of District 4 (East Harlem) Supt Estrella and Farina; Links of Estrella to UFT District Rep. 

I'm pushing our Ex Bd reps to challenge the union on Estrella at the Ex Bd meeting next Monday.

Below are excerpts from email exchanges from former staff that expose the political manipulation and personal vendettas of District 4 (East Harlem) Supt Alexandra Estrella as she puts another notch in her belt of destruction. That she is an agent of Farina, there is no question. We talked about her relationship with UFT officials in yesterday's post.

Global Tech Supporters Resist Consolidation Efforts of District 4 (East Harlem) Supt Estrella and Farina; Links of Estrella to UFT District Rep

Our original April 23, 2017 report is here: CPE1 and Global Tech - East Harlem Dist. 4 Supt Alexandra Estrella: Evil Death Star School Destroyer).

Here is some more background info from email exchanges.

One point not addressed so far is the state of both schools since the " mock merger."

The level of chaos and confusion that exists in the building is unacceptable.  Teachers are on the verge of break downs and several have quit, others are planning their exit strategy for 2018.  The new principals are both unable to control the rapidly increasing fights and classroom disruptions in the 6th grade.  Special education students are placed in classes with no special education teachers.  Students with 12:1 designation are in general education classes 70% of the day with one teacher.  

The claim that GTP students will benefit from a partnership with Hunter College is dishonest and shameful.  Hunter College was not aware of the "mock merger" and were caught off-guard by the  devastatingly negative impact on discipline and achievement.   Hunter placed a consultant in the school to try to bring order to the chaos with little positive effect. Members of the superintendent staff have been actively involved in running the school and have acted as substitute teachers on occasion in an effort to stabilize lapses in leadership that could de-rail the partnership. 

IA Principal Graeber went from disparaging the collaborative efforts of the staff in 2016-17 as he described it: "the teachers have been running the school for too long" to desperately begging teachers to help to control classroom, lunch room and recess. This level of disrespect for collaborative leadership goes counter to 7 years of dedicated work at GTP with Russell and Baiz plus 2 years at PS 7 under GTP trained Dr. Harvey. 

The flaunted restorative practice and designated classroom space is so dysfunctional that teachers are volunteering to man more structured detentions and suspensions during their lunch periods, as a last-ditch effort to save the school year.

This "mock merger" has to be brought back to the discussion and negotiating table with ALL STAKEHOLDERS represented.

We should accept nothing less.

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Here is the email that began the thread delineating the reasons for why the merger is a bad move:

I am writing this email with deep concern about the merger of Global Tech Prep into PS 7, effectively closing Global Tech Prep in East Harlem's District 4. I do not support this merger/closure of Global Tech (MS 406) for the following reasons:

There is no other technology-based school in the district, which serves a population of high-needs students. With the skills needed to be successful in today’s technological world and an already burgeoning achievement gap between students with resources and those without, how can we close the one tech school in the district? 

What is the technology plan? Each student at Global Tech Prep has a laptop, but more importantly, the kind of education that teaches them to be digital citizens in today’s complex world. There is no mention of how the very needed skills involving technology will be addressed in the superintendent’s proposal.

Based on the need for a technology school alone, why isn’t a formation considered where PS 7 would focus on PreK-5 and Global Tech on 6-8 for the community? The community deserves to have this choice. 

This addresses the lowered enrollment, which is something happening across ALL public schools in the district (this is fueled by the exorbitant number of charter schools in the district). It seems there’s been no comparison of which of the two middle schools better serves the community, which should be a key part of the evaluation of closing an existing middle school. Where is this comparison—breaking out the 6-8 of PS 7 and comparing it to Global Tech (and looking both at and beyond test scores) to support this decision?

Special education students comprise 39% of the population at Global Tech Prep, and many parents choose the school because of how well the school educates students with special needs. Closing GTP means special education parents of East Harlem have few choices for schools that really understand and can serve special education students at the level GTP can. Furthermore, closing GTP (M406) is against the principles of the laws that govern special education—every child has the right to a free and appropriate education. The standards of “appropriate” special education at other schools in the district don’t come close to the kinds of outcomes and work Global Tech does with special needs students. 

To close Global Tech is to actively discriminate against children with special needs, their families, and their rights to choose. Additionally, the superintendent has shown no consideration of how the increased number of special education students at PS 7 will be addressed, demonstrating her lack of concern and foresight in closing GTP, a school serving a high number of special education students. A data analysis of the progress made by special education students in each school at the 6-8 level is essential in making an informed decision about what's best for children, especially those with special needs. Additionally, considering the impacts of each of children with IEPs not having access to a laptop for each class (which has been essential for their success) has also not been considered.  

The proposal mentions Hunter College as a benefit coming from PS 7. Has Hunter confirmed they won’t support both schools? For example, in the Case of Citizen Schools, the program began at Global Tech and supported both. Seems the superintendent has orchestrated Hunter's support to achieve her goal of consolidating the schools based on demands from central offices. 

This proposal is for 2018-2019. However, teachers and students at the schools report that all Global Technology signs have been taken down and that the classes between the schools are merged. Effectively, this means Alex Estrella has already merged the schools in practice before the community has made a decision and the appropriate procedural processes have been followed. This isn’t a proposal open for the East Harlem community’s comments, it seems. Through already combining the schools, the superintendent has shown she neither honors the process for a school closure/merger, nor does she respect the community’s rights to give input and be heard when it comes to the educational futures of their children. 

An update on Global Tech:

The merger of Global Tech Prep and PS 7 is now slated for a vote from the Panel of Educational Policy (PEP). This panel will vote on the merger at the following meeting: 

January 24, 2018 at 6pm

PS 20, The Anna Silver School (166 Essex St.)

Global Tech Supporters Resist Consolidation Efforts of District 4 (East Harlem) Supt Estrella and Farina; Links of Estrella to UFT District Rep

I was contacted by people connected to Global Tech based on this April 23, 2017 post: CPE1 and Global Tech - East Harlem Dist. 4 Supt Alexandra Estrella: Evil Death Star School Destroyer.

My report was based on reporting by Andrea Gabor, Requiem For A School That Works-
On January 24, the PEP will vote to consolidate two schools - Global Tech and PS 7. There is an ugly story behind this move. That District 4 Supt Alexandra Estrella continues her vendettas -- many claim she is in the running for worst Supt in the city -- and note below her very close relationship to UFT District Rep Servia Silva. Is the UFT behind protecting Estrella's back despite her viciousness? Google Estrella to see the number of scandals she has been involved in.

Estrella chopped a very popular teacher who was groomed to be the principal last spring. He is now at Harvard. Most of the teachers then left the school and are scattered around but many will be coming out tomorrow to the school to protest the consolidation and, in essence, the destruction of the mission of Global Tech.

There will be a hearing at the school this Thursday Jan. 18 - I and some other MOREs are going and I will be taping. We're betting the UFT will be mum on this move.

Here is some of the background based on Andrea Gabor's reports from April. I'll be back with more updates later.

Global Tech also traces its lineage to the era of collaboration and teacher-leaders that flourished in District 4 under Tony Alvarado and Debbie Meier, beginning in the 1970s, and was, to a limited degree, revived under Bloomberg. That legacy of grassroots leadership and collaboration, which was intended to foster creativity and innovation, is now widely seen as endangered—not just at Global Tech, but throughout the city.... Andrea Gabor, Gotham Gazette

Yes, can we say that DeB/Farina rule is as bad or worse than Bloomberg/Klein? Well, not to the UFT/Unity leadership which has its seat at the table that BloomKlein denied it, but certainly not using it to defend teachers and schools.... ed notes, 4/23/17

Estrella who tried and is still trying to destroy CPE1 may be the worst Supt in the city. But just as bad is the connection between Estrella to the UFT District Rep Servia Silva, whom many teachers in the district accuse of being Estrella's cover. I just heard from someone in the district that Estella and Silva have vacationed together.

I have been in phone contact with some of the people actively organizing resistance. I will publish more info as this week goes on.

One of the ugliest are the stories of a very buddy buddy relationship between District 4 Supt. Alexandra Estrella and UFT District Rep Servia Silva. One report claimed that Estella and Silva have vacationed together. Talk to people at CPE1 and they will tell you how they suffered abuse from principal Monika Garg while Silva poo poohed it. I called Silva out when I last spoke at the UFT Ex Bd pointing out that CPE1 teachers came to MORE for help due to UFT lack of response.