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07 September 2010

Progress Report [More:] As usual, Mrs. Doohickie is in the middle of turmoil as the school year begins. Nearly three weeks into the year and schedules are just now settling down. The new scheduling software the school district commissioned (instead of buying an off-the-shelf product) is very buggy, not even worthy of being called a beta version but they are required to use it.

It's a pivotal year for the school. If it doesn't get "off the list", they will be shut down, reconstituted, taken over by the state, or some other dire consequence. So naturally, the principal that brought them to the brink of acceptability last year was replaced by the district with a new principal (the fourth in the last five years at the school) who has never administered at the high school level. She brings a bevy of fresh ideas; unfortunately the school doesn't that kind of time. They need to bring up their test scores now.

A bright spot is that she is teaching Advanced Placement World History (as usual), plus a section of Language Center World History (i.e., students in the U.S. for less than two years). She is very excited about this opportunity, both for the challenge of it and for the opportunity to teach students from the Ukraine, Somalia, Tanzania, Burma, Viet Nam and other countries.

So far the school year has been a train wreck, but hopefully things will get better. Soon.
It's a pivotal year for the school. If it doesn't get "off the list", they will be shut down, reconstituted, taken over by the state, or some other dire consequence.

Terrible. My high school is being taken over by the state this year, and it's just so sad.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 07 September | 19:35
Is this Massamachusetts? Another set of victims of the MCAS?
posted by plinth 07 September | 20:10
Oh dear :-/
posted by sperose 07 September | 20:29
Texas, plinth.

If they would just leave the school alone for a few years they would heal themselves. But when they constantly change the management, it's tough. The district had other schools that got off the list. The one common thread of those other schools? They kept the principal in place through the process.

She loves the students and is loyal to them; hates the situation. My prediction is that they will squeak off the bad list this year, but if I tell Mrs. Dooh that she will discount me, saying we have to plan for the worst.
posted by Doohickie 07 September | 21:45
This is one of the most common problems in education reform - the powers that be want things to improve, but they churn through new ideas and people too quickly to give them a real chance to be successful.

Good luck to your wife. I have been in dysfunctional schools, it is really draining when there are no supports around the teacher.

It is too soon to worry. I hope she is able to focus on what she can control - her time with the kids - and just do her best.
posted by mai 07 September | 22:07
She is settling in, mai. Truth be told, when the annual principal change happens, she is worried about being ratted out as the "teacher's pet" of the outgoing principal, thinking that this will be held against her, but in a short time it becomes apparent that previous principals liked her because she's good at what she does.

She got her degree in 2005, came to this school in 2006, was named Lead Teacher for history and social studies in 2007, was teacher of that school the year before last (and nominated again the following year). She doesn't get these things because she someone's pet, she gets them because she's a good teacher and deserves them.

Still, every time there's turmoil she worries about her job and whether another school would hire her (which is silly because she really is that good of a teacher).
posted by Doohickie 07 September | 22:45
Brainpool - We Aim to Please || Happy birthday, YouCanCallMeAl!

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