God bless Janann...soon it will be our turn! I have often wondered if anyone would come to my funeral... We will all miss Janaan. She touched many lives both in and out of the district.
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Stand Rounds has lasted a long time at each district he was at. Just watch him. Apparently he tried to sell property that was not his to sell in Alamogordo -extra land by the football stadium.There was a pretty big hoopla about it. No one is perfect. They just need to be monitored and not given an absolute reign with a throne and a crown while we go on sleeping. We must stay "proactive" as a district.
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I have been an LCPS employee for almost six years... Averaging one Superintendent/Interim Superintendent/Administrator In Charge (whatever title you want to give the person in the hot seat) per year (Virginia Foltz, Louis Martinez, Joann Patton, Sonia Diaz, Liz Marrufo, and now Stan Rounds). It is pretty discouraging to see such rapid turnover in such an important position that is key to the education of the youth.
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Only three more days and the Liz-ard is not in control of everything anymore. Mr. Rounds is bound to see her for what she is in no time. If not him, the permanent superintendent will in no time. Everyone knows when a new superintendent comes in, the biggest heads roll first.
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Here's a thought for you. Have you ever wondered why New Mexico is at the bottom of the educational food chain? We don't have huge cities, like Los Angeles or Detroit. We are not a tiny little village, either. However, there are constantly special news programs (20/20, 60 Minutes, etc.) that show how schools all around the country are able to pull themselves up and become 'flagship' schools. What makes them so special? Why are there some schools that have never had problems like the ones we face daily? Some might say it is money-true, good funding does help. Others might say we need to have more training or implement more programs in order to help our students achieve more. That, too, may help. However, I believe the first thing we need to do is be positive. We need to go to work every day knowing that we CAN make a difference. The students need to know that they CAN learn. We all need to work together, parents included, to bring back the pride in our schools that used to be here. We need to hold each other accountable for our actions, or lack thereof. We need to instill self discipline and self respect in ALL our students and staff. We need parents who are not afraid to say no to their children. We need teachers who will not give in out of fear, whether that fear is from an angry parent or a gang member student. We need to treat ALL of our students and staff with the same respect we want from them. We need to value each and every individual involved in the schools. Tell a teacher thanks, say "Good job" to a hard working student, hold the door open for the custodian, treat the secretaries and food service workers to a soda, offer to cover duty for an EA, send a simple card to an overworked fellow employee. Just do something to make it better. Just like in the movie, if we pay it forward, we can turn it around.
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Regarding the dispute over new teachers. I am an administrator who hires new teachers for my school. Don't belittle the new teachers. I don't believe it is their fault. Our public schools are the ones that need radical overhaul. It is all about money, not what is best for students and teachers. As you can see by investigating the legislative reports, our legislature is not going to support the schools. They want a champagne education on a cheap beer budget. The courts do not support the schools either. They send the "3.0" right back to school and actually pay the juvenile detention center NOT to incarcerate. Let's not even talk about the crazy parents who have no skills in parenting.In my opinion, the teacher preparation programs are sadly lacking. They are way too heavy on theory and the latest politically correct fads. The so called "expert" professors have spent very little time in the trenches or have forgotten what it is like. You would not believe some of the drivel they are teaching these young, impressionable would be teachers.The teacher preparation programs need a huge overhaul that includes professional demeanor, professional dress, and much more hands on experience in the classroom. They need to be taught research based curriculums that are already proven in the educational system. We need to welcome and mentor these people who have chosen to work in an honorable profession instead of criticizing them. Welcome to education...
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So many folks at LCPS with the interim tag right now. What a wrecking ball the last two superintendents were (at no doubt, the board's direction, that is clear now). But, we are where we are. I'm hoping this thing will take on a new momentum and some peace and quiet will ensue. I'm optimistic. I know so many good people that work at LCPS and they've been so disheartened I'm hoping that they can all once again enjoy the pursuit of happiness in a new professional environment.
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Mr. Jeff Harris is it? I just want to say 'Thank you'! I've never gotten so much SPAM in my mailbox as I do now. I don't even receive all of these great offers through the post office! At least at the post office I can throw away all the junk mail and it will never come back. As many times as I have deleted these messages I get even more! Not to mention, these great offers get worse and worse!! Once again, 'Thank you' Mr. Harris for blocking all these great e-mails (note the sarcasm)!!
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I wish Del Hansen would stop writing to this blog. He's long-winded, boring and frankly, he's annoying! Del, stick with the Michael Swickard radio show --- that's the best place for your sour interpretations of what's going on in our classrooms.
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Only three more days and the Liz-ard is not in control of everything anymore. Mr. Rounds is bound to see her for what she is in no time. If not him, the permanent superintendent will in no time. Everyone knows when a new superintendent comes in, the biggest heads roll first.
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Since the Board has given Mr. Rounds the title of Interim Superintendent, hopefully they will hand over the reigns to make decisions as well. Unlike they did with Liz.
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Perfect attendance for CRT; breakfast for CRT; getting proper sleep for CRT; being prepared for CRT; bringing supplies for CRT; no interruptions for CRT; snacks for CRT; assemblies for CRT; trying your best for CRT; modified schedules for CRT; incentives for CRT; support staff for CRT; more meetings for CRT; revamped and mundane curriculum for CRT; standards and benchmarks for CRT; threats for CRT; increased stress levels for CRT; mandates for CRT; making AYP for CRT = fear of doom and failure from CRT!
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I How can we get parents into our middle schools on a regular basis? They could come for their child's academic support, or they could receive a "refresher course" in certain subject areas. How could we approach employers to allow comp time, or leave time, for parents to stay or become involved in their child's educational experiences at the middle school level?
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I have been a true crt bitch this week!
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From the bitter, older teacher who can't handle innovation. Let's see... how did I get into that kind of shape? Yes, many years of service in public education, and the perspectives gained from experience tell me that our present-day kids are not receiving adequate, or appropriate, learning in our local schools. Certainly, teachers are over-burdened with essential (and non-essential) responsibilities... but that can't be an excuse for the district's failure to address the needs of all children in our schools. My wife and I have a total of eighteen children and grand-children who have attended LCPS. Those who attended here before 1995 had much better academic preparation than those who have attended Las Cruces schools after that date. Four of the children are currently enrolled in LCPS. Can't handle innovation... I wonder what would be the state of education now, if not for the passage of PL 94-142?... or, for the instrument we now call the IEP? Would it help to admit that I served on the first committee that determined that we must write the language for what became PL 94-142... or that the project I directed built the foundation for Special Ed, and my individualized study plan became what is now called the IEP? After spending many years in regular education, I realized that we must find a way to mandate the inclusion of handicapped, and special needs, children in our public schools... and that we must also find ways to assure precisely-managed, appropriate, accountable educational experiences for ALL children in our schools. To my vociferous critic... please ask yourself some important questions: Do I REALLY KNOW the kids in my class? Are they placed according to their performance levels in the subject(s) that I teach? What measurable, clearly-stated objective(s) should each student be working on, at this minute, in my class? If some kids need remedial help, do I find ways to provide that help? Do I challenge the very gifted, capable students? Do I treat my students as individuals, using what I've learned about each of them... to motivate them, reinforce their positive efforts, and help each of them to become interested, eager learners? If you have positive answers to these questions... Good For You!... you're probably on the right track.
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