Two Wonderful stories of parent organizing including Bonnie and Kalmiris of Central Park East 1 fame to remove an abusive and incompetent principal -- who by the way is still working in District 4 and is rumored to be resurfacing in another school. I never get tired of hearing, their story especially since some of us in MORE were so deeply embedded in it. But what do you have to do to rid ourselves of evil vampire principals -- put a stake in their hearts?
JEREMIAH KITTREDGE FIRED — POLITICO's Eliza Shapiro : Jeremiah Kittredge, the CEO of the pro-charter school group Families for Excellent Schools, has been fired following an "independent investigation" into "inappropriate behavior toward a non-employee," according to a statement from FES board chair Bryan Lawrence on Wednesday afternoon. A spokesman for the group declined to comment further. The group is one of the best-funded charter advocacy organizations in the country. It received more than $13 million from the Walton Family Foundation between 2014 and 2016 alone. It has become omnipresent in New York over the last several years, and has served as an unofficial lobbying arm for Success Academy, one of the nation's highest-performing and most influential charter school networks.More links:
"The report also found that gifted and talented public schools have similar results to Success's integrated schools, considering all students must test into those programs."... PoliticoIn other words, only Gifted and Talented and Success kids have the same narrowing of the achievement gap between races, seen nowhere else in the city, including other charter schools.
Lack of professionalism and common courtesy on part of the DOE.Going to a PEP where parents, teachers, students and community people show up to talk about being ignored, being ignored by yet another arrogant Farina superintendent, being lied to repeatedly and being used as a prop to give the impression the DOE admin is concerned about them is like watching a horror show in an endless loop.
Everything was done to minimize community input and family engagement.
DOE hasn't earned our trust.
You reap what you sow and [pointing at Estrella] you are going to reap what you sow ---- Global Tech teacherHere 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.
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
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
Since Estrella forced out the Principal and Assistant Principal of GTP, and then terrorized the teachers by denying them all tenure despite excellent performance records and recommendations from school leadership that they be given tenure, the school has fallen into disarray. This can all be traced to Estrella’s leadership moves. ..... Chrystine RussellHere is a fun 6 minutes. Dr. Russell is abroad and sent in a statement (see below for the text) that trashes Estrella's leadership and ties in Farina too. She apparently has the right to have her statement read at the hearing by the presiding officer -- meaning Supt Estrella. How much fun to have Estrella reading her own trashing. Well--- I'll let you see how it turns out.
Dr. Chrystina Russell comments to be read at hearing by Superintendent Estrella (as specific as an option by Michael Castelblanco from Accessibility on 1/18/2018 via email)
With the likely support of former NYC Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina and other senior leaders, the superintendent of East Harlem’s District 4, Alex Estrella has moved forward with the merger of two public schools, Global Tech Prep (M406) and PS/MS007.
Superintendent Estrella, with the support of the DOE, has violated the procedural rights of the East Harlem community, effectively merging the schools together in the 2017 portion of the 2017-18 school year. Her proposal, which was not scheduled for a hearing until January 18, 2018 and for voting on the 24th of this month, has already been enacted without consulting the community. This shows a deep disrespect from Estrella and anyone who supports her at the DOE on the procedural rights of the community, as well as a willingness to take advantage of a low-income community of color that may have limited time and means to organize, let alone access to the truth that a merger up for consideration has already occurred.
Global Tech Prep, which at one point reached the 98th percentile citywide for achievement while serving nearly 40% special education students has been dismantled by the superintendent, who started on her merger plan at the end of the 2016-2017 school year. The school is the district’s only technology-based middle school (skills sorely needed in today’s modern world, especially with a documented digital divide between the profile of students served in East Harlem versus those in wealthier districts). The rights of the community to have a quality special education option, as well as a technologically based school have been yanked by the superintendent’s actions. This has occurred with zero community consultation. It also lead to multiple violations of the rights of some of our city's most vulnerable students--those with special education needs. There are countless IEPs not adhered to now that the merger has occurred and both schools are in disarray.
Since Estrella forced out the Principal and Assistant Principal of GTP, and then terrorized the teachers by denying them all tenure despite excellent performance records and recommendations from school leadership that they be given tenure, the school has fallen into disarray. This can all be traced to Estrella’s leadership moves. Her leadership has also caused significant disruption in the PS 7 community. Currently, the teachers at PS 7 are trying to rally against Estrella by not approving her selected principal by voting “no” in the C30 process, even though this makes them fearful for their jobs given her track record of removing anyone who doesn’t agree with her tactics.
A merger may not necessarily be wrong (although in the eyes of many it is a travesty). However, a merger occurring in the 2017-18 school year with no community consultation (and a proposal being presented to the community for the 2018-2019 school year AFTER the merger has already happened) is a gross insult to the intelligence and rights of the community to be consulted before schools in their district.
Superintendent Estrella, can you please give us an answer for the multiple parents who have contacted us about their child's IEP not being met since you illegally merged the schools without following procedural rights? Additionally, why choose to so blatantly deny the rights of a community that needs you most to be heard? Why must you abuse your power by not only terrorizing teachers and staff but also disenfranchising those that need a good education most--students of color with disabilities? Superintendent Estrella, if you can't follow the simple rules of how to sell your house without a founded conflict of interest, how can you be trusted to make a decision on which of our schools to keep opened or closed? As a public school educator for over 10 years with a doctorate of urban education policy, I can confidently say your leadership is one of the grossest violations of professional conduct I've ever witnessed. Our students, families, and communities deserve better.
"Your are monsters" - Students to DOE officialsOK. 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.
Chalkbeat “Roundtable” discussion on Eliz. Green controversial piece in which she called Success charters a model educational system. See what I just tweeted about it below.The incredible bias of this piece in responding to critiques that the original piece was too biased makes me think that Chalkbeat editors must be trapped in a bubble w/o any awareness of how isolated they are.
leonie haimson (@leoniehaimson)
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 staffShades 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.
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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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 6pmPS 20, The Anna Silver School (166 Essex St.)
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, 4/23/17Estrella 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.
Far from being “defenders of the status quo,” as DeVos calls people who don’t agree with her school choice vision, Meier and Gasoi write about what real reform would and should look like and how the current system could be transformed into one that serves all children. They argue all public schools should have the kind of authority charter schools — which are publicly funded but privately operated — have in many states today.... Valerie StraussDeb Meier one of my heroes since I first heard of her in the 70s. WAPO ed columnist Valerie Strauss has been on the side of real reform for a long time.
