This week NPR featured a three part series that takes a look at Philadelphia public schools—one of the nation’s largest and most troubled districts. The third part of the series focuses on Simon Gratz High School, a school currently undergoing the turnaround process. Gratz was once one of the city’s most violent and underperforming high… Continue reading Charter Schools in Philadelphia: Educating Without a Blueprint
It’s official! The board has until October 30th to make a decision on Tisdale Principal Carmen Perez-Dickson. The closing of evidentiary portion of the hearing was agreed upon and confirmed at Tuesday’s special board meeting—but not before an angry spat between board members Thomas Mulligan and Bobby Simmons over exhibit 16. The document in question… Continue reading Board Members Argue Over “Integrity of the Panel”
During Friday’s termination hearing, Tisdale Principal Carmen Perez-Dickson claimed she thought the tapes were “doctored.” The three now infamous tapes allegedly show the Tisdale Principal “manhandling” two kindergarten students under her care. In order to protect the student’s identities, none of the tapes were released to the public. During Perez-Dickson’s retelling of the February 19th… Continue reading Carmen Perez-Dickson Termination Hearing: Were the Tapes Doctored?
After months of hearings, Jettie S. Tisdale Principal Carmen Perez-Dickson was finally given a chance to tell her side of the story during Friday’s four-hour special board meeting. Perez-Dickson was put on administrative leave back in 2012 after three tapes surfaced which allegedly show her “manhandling” two kindergarten students at Tisdale. During Friday’s hearing, Perez-Dickson… Continue reading Carmen Perez-Dickson Takes the Stand
The Board of Education met with City Council’s Budget Appropriations Committee Monday to discuss teacher and administrator contract negotiations. The meeting lasted only ten minutes and very little discussion took place. State statute requires the Board of Education to meet and “confer” with city fiscal authorities prior to the start of collective bargaining negotiations.… Continue reading Board Meeting on Teacher Contracts Ends Early
Tuesday, Superintendent Paul Vallas announced Bridgeport Public Schools will receive an $11.1 million federal grant over the next three years. The grant was awarded through the U.S. Department of Education’s Magnet Schools Assistance Program. The district will receive $3.2 million in the first year, and then $3.9 million in the second and third years. This… Continue reading Bridgeport Schools to Receive $11 million in Federal Grants
The challenger slate, Howard Gardner, Dave Hennessey and Andre Baker, won Tuesday’s Democratic primary in a landslide. Many, including the Connecticut Post, are calling this victory proof of a growing anti-Vallas, anti-Finch consensus. I’m not certain we can assume that much, considering turnout was an anemic 11-12%. Most likely, Tuesday was the result of a… Continue reading If Elected, Would Garner, Hennessey and Baker Oust Vallas Before Year’s End?
Teach for America has been hot-button issue in Bridgeport as of late. The district’s move to slightly increase the number of Teach for America (TFA) teachers employed became controversial at last month’s Board of Education meeting. A lot of the fear stems from the perception that TFA teachers are less effective in the classroom because… Continue reading Recent Study Concludes TFA Teachers Have Positive Impact on Student Achievement
Unofficial results show the challenger slate winning Tuesday’s Board of Education Democratic primary by a 1,000 vote margin. The challenger slate beat out the endorsed slate almost 2-to-1 despite the endorsed slate’s initial 841 absentee ballot lead. Turnout was very low; roughly only 10-12% of Bridgeport Democrats voted in Tuesday’s primary. The challengers, Andre Baker,… Continue reading Challenger Slate Leads BOE Race in Unofficial Results
Friday, the Stamford Advocate published the second part to Wendy Lecker’s commentary on education entitled, ‘Our Orwellian Education Policy.’ Lecker’s latest attack piece targets the Common Core State Standards. In the article, she argues, “Our state and national leaders have brought double think to our schools, claiming that “Standardization breeds creativity” and “Compliance breeds’ independent… Continue reading 2+2 Still Doesn’t Equal 5—Commentary On Wendy Lecker’s Latest Article
