Starting Over: A Post-Katrina Education
This opinion blog chronicled the highs and lows of starting over in the new educational landscape that has become New Orleans’ answer to the question, “How Hard Can It Be?” This blog is no longer being updated.
Education
Opinion
Stolen Property
The laptop computers we purchased for the teachers were scheduled for delivery today. They have a fellow teacher to thank for planting the idea with the Board. Like so many of our faculty members, she was teaching in another state last year. When she returned to the city, she shared her experiences and gave us some benchmarks from the school district that she left behind. One of her first questions was, “Are we going to get laptops?” I responded, “Of course,” although we had not budgeted for that specific item, just technology in general. Hopefully, we can get the Help Desk at the central office to set up their email accounts soon.
Education
Opinion
A Come to Jesus Meeting with Paul2
Our State Superintendent, Paul Pastorek (Paul #1), convened a meeting of charter school leaders today. Our topics included discussions around “bureaucratic creep,” a term for increasing supervision and interference by the local education agencies in the autonomy provided to charter schools. Mr. Pastorek listened attentively to each person explain his or her most pressing issues during the hour he was present. He did very little talking.
Education
Opinion
Are We Having Fun Yet?
During my 32-year career as an educator, I was approached on several occasions by people who wanted to know if I had considered applying for the Superintendency in the New Orleans Public Schools. This was more prevalent after I received my Ph.D. in 1998. From my perspective, there were several reasons why I would never be a superintendent. None of them had anything to do with the requisite skills needed to do the job well. It was always my feeling that the most important thing a superintendent had to do was to build a strong leadership team of moral, transformational people who had a real focus on academic achievement and were committed to actions that were in the district’s best interest. I could do that.
Education
Opinion
All I Want for Christmas
In 1984, I was still a probationary principal at Charles E. Gayarre Elementary School. Although the name of the school was changed to Oretha Castle Haley in 1995, it was in the same Bywater neighborhood in New Orleans’s eighth ward where it had stood since 1896 when it first opened. I was the first African American principal of that school and I wanted to do something to create a legacy.
Education
Opinion
Something Special
A newspaper reporter called me yesterday to ask if I wanted to make a comment on a story she was writing about Special Education and the charter schools. I’m not sure what her angle was but she mentioned having talked to the parent of one of our school’s students. The parent complained that her daughter was not getting the services she needed from the school. I did not call the reporter back. Simply put, I’m tired of talking to reporters about what our school does not have. I could not think of any way that my conversation with the writer could help the students at McDonogh 42 Elementary Charter School, the parents of the students, the teachers at the school or the academic program. It could help the newspaper company sell a few more papers, if the story were sensational and negative enough to attract the attention of the anti-charter folks. I’m not in the mood to help sell newspapers today.
Education
Opinion
Christmas Vacation – Bah! Humbug!
I was really looking forward to a break for the next two weeks while school was closed for the winter holiday. But, there’s so much that needs to be completed, we really can’t afford to stop. It’s more like catch up time than vacation time.
Education
Opinion
Party Over Here
After a very rough week that started out with a media frenzy around our teacher sick out, we are getting dressed for the first faculty Holiday Party. It’s being held at a lovely reception hall not too far from the school. It’s a catered affair in a beautifully decorated place. In New Orleans, everything revolves around food and music. We’ll have both. The only drawback may be the cash bar.
Education
Opinion
Charter School Board President: Lesson 101
I’m not sure where to start with this story of turmoil, hurt feelings and differing views. I apologize if I am incoherent, but it is 5:00 in the morning and I can’t sleep. The story in the morning paper reports that some of the teachers and the former principal of our charter school felt that I was micromanaging the school. From my perspective, I was not as much trying to carry the ball as I was trying to pick up the fumble. Is it possible that I was creating interference instead of helping the team? Obviously, some people think so.
Education
Opinion
Making it through the night
“You can't get to no better days unless you make it through the night.”
Education
Opinion
Blogging Blues
I love to tell short stories and share interesting vignettes several times each week through this blog. How hard can it be? I didn’t get to write anything at all from Monday to Friday, although it was on my mind every day. I actually miss writing more when there’s no time to think much less write. Normally, I don’t blog on the weekend, but I feel guilty thinking about those of you who correspond with me and offer positive feedback to the obstacles of starting over.
Education
Opinion
R. J. Smith a. k. a "Still Working"
I can’t leave home today because our construction crew is installing doors in every room on the first floor of my house. When the levees broke following Hurricane Katrina, my house was flooded and stewed by 4 ½ feet of muddy, salt water for two weeks. All of the doors were off the hinges or warped and bloated when we were finally allowed to return, a month after the storm’s passing. It’s costing us $6,000 to replace them—with an upgrade. I included some fancy etched glass doors for my new home office and the front foyer. I’m determined to work from home more in 2008 and the setting will be ideal once everything is finished.
Education
Opinion
No New Schools Next Year
The headline in today’s Times-Picayune newspaper reads “Eight new charters endorsed for N.O.” None of those schools will be operated by the Treme Charter School Association. Our applications to operate two more schools for 2008 - 2009 were denied. I can’t tell you the reasons because that information will be released by special request after the formal vote of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on Thursday. Our applications were not among the eight recommended for approval by State Superintendent Paul Pastorek.
Education
Opinion
Eating an Elephant
Wednesday, I woke up at about 7:30 a.m. and went straight to the computer. I had questions in my head that I needed to get on paper (or on the computer) before I forgot them. The questions were part of a Middle School Student Academic Survey for the 7th and 8th grade students at our school. I’ve been concerned about some to the behaviors that I heard about from the teachers. The purpose of the survey was to give us a better profile of our children and the baggage they may be carrying that keeps them from being successful in school. I emailed the survey to the Special Education Coordinator and asked her to let the children complete it during their language arts period, if possible. She had all of the completed forms for me Thursday.
Education
Opinion
The Gift That Keeps On Giving
Winter Wonderland is taking on a new shape. Way back in 2002, pre-Katrina, I was principal of Oretha Castle Haley Elementary School. It’s approximately two miles from McDonogh 42 Elementary Charter School. But the two schools are worlds apart. At Haley, part of our Christmas tradition was to have a huge—I mean huge—winter scene with a giant decorated tree, animated figurines, and gifts. As the transplanted teachers sadly remind me, we aren’t at Haley any more. I was a fanatic about the holidays; the principal of our charter school is not a Grinch, just more reserved.