Fri
May 18 2012
01:09 pm
Williamson County Schools restricts student teachers...
By: Tamara Shepherd

...for fear they might negatively affect the regular classroom teachers' student test scores/teacher evaluations.

With teacher tenure and job retention riding on a top score, Williamson County is banning student teachers from working in high school subjects where there are statewide end-of-course exams. The district is also suggesting individual principals not allow them in grades 3-8, or, if they do, not turn over the classroom until after standardized tests.

Now, that's sad.

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Tamara Shepherd's picture

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Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Fri, 2012/05/18 - 1:49pm.

Yesterday:

Between 130 and 150 Memphis City Schools teachers are being recommended for termination for poor performance -- three times the number who lost their jobs for any reason last year.

By contract, MCS must notify the teachers by June 15. Many began getting the word early this week.

"Remember, this is the work we have been working on since we started working with the Gates foundation," said Supt. Kriner Cash.

Meanwhile...

Min's picture

I've also heard...

Submitted by Min on Fri, 2012/05/18 - 4:54pm.

...that Memphis is looking at over 1500 evaluation grievances, all of which have to be filed within 15 days of the summative meeting.

Tamara Shepherd's picture

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Submitted by Tamara Shepherd on Fri, 2012/05/18 - 8:42pm.

The Hyde Foundation vultures circling Memphis City Schools posted this WaPo story at their site, which quotes Superintendent Kriner Cash here:

Of particular concern, he said, are about 800 mostly veteran teachers who have scored poorly on evaluations and may not be reachable by coaching or professional development.

Ironically, Cash appears to agree with the local education association, here:

“What they are going to do is run some good veteran teachers into retirement,” said Stephanie Fitzgerald, a longtime science teacher and former president of the Memphis Education Association.

I notice the reporter seems unaware that the new model requires every teacher to be evaluated four times annually (and newbies six times annually).

The whole story isn't getting out in any publication...

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