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Assumptions : Blog Post Challenge for NY Educators

So many of the recent changes proposed for our schools relative to the APPR process don't make sense to me. I assume the plan is to send the message, loud and clear, to public schools that we don't trust you. The Governor and some politicians are certain that there are rows of bad teachers in our schools. They're basing that on the ratings teachers earned last year and statewide test scores. Those are the two data points that seem to be fueling the majority of the conclusions.

The newest add on that no one will explicitly explain yet is the addition of second evaluator. Without even being given a chance to defend our work, Albany has decided that principals are likely cheating on teacher evaluations and just giving away effective ratings. I can assure you that none of the teachers in my building feel that way. Don't believe me? I invite you to stop in and hear from them yourself. 

The idea that principals are not needed in their OWN buildings and can casually go from district to district, or building to building, completing an additional 30 observations is ridiculous and matches nothing we know to be true about educational leadership. But, "we" stopped caring about what was good for schools three years ago.

I had assumed, up until yesterday, that everyone in Albany (SED, legislators, etc.) all felt the same way about our schools, our teachers, and even principals. That assumption wasn't based on fact. It was based on feeling, rhetoric and fear. I keep up with information that comes out from a variety of groups and made my assumptions that all of Albany is bad. 

Shame on me.

When I made the assumption that Albany did not care about my school, I was using the same broad stroke that Governor Cuomo and some elected officials are using about our schools. That's not fair and we all know better.

Yesterday, I had the amazing opportunity to meet with Senator George Latimer as part of his legislative update. It gave me a renewed sense of hope and perception about Albany. I believe he believes in his schools and is seriously taking the time to understand what faces each of them. Each of them, as individual districts with different needs, barriers, and successes. I felt hopeful that SOMEONE in Albany actually believes that kids and teachers are so much more than test scores.  

During our talk yesterday, I realized (and even said) that I have been in education almost 25 years. Senator Latimer was the first person from Albany that has ever asked me for my opinion. Having a conversation with him will inform my practice moving forward and that is an incredible gift for me. It's also inspired me to start more conversations. We learn the most from listening to each other and not the negative noise that rages upon the issues. 

I'm challenging all of my NY educator friends to publish a post about the proposed APPR changes and let's get the (real) word out. We can't change assumptions by standing still and hoping for the best.

Comments

  1. Scott OsborneApril 30, 2015 at 6:49 AM

    Lisa: Great rally call, thanks for your courage and leadership!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownApril 30, 2015 at 7:21 AM

      Thank you for supporting. Can't wait to read your post!

      Delete
  2. UnknownApril 30, 2015 at 7:20 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

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