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Tuesday, November 9, 2010

The Less Experience, The Better — The Jose Vilson

The Less Experience, The Better — The Jose Vilson

The Less Experience, The Better

by JOSE on NOVEMBER 9, 2010 · 0 COMMENTS

in LIFE

Iget it. The less experience and qualifications you have as an educational policy leader, the better. If you can play good defense and set nice picks, you’re qualified for the US Secretary of Education. If you’re part anti-Microsoft lawyer and part CEO of a random arm of a

“Superstar manager” Black arrives with short education resume | GothamSchools

“Superstar manager” Black arrives with short education resume | GothamSchools

“Superstar manager” Black arrives with short education resume

Cathie Black published an advice book for women in business in 2007.

Cathie Black published an advice book for women in business in 2007.

The next New York City Schools Chancellor surpasses Joel Klein in at least one regard: the amount of mystery surrounding her views on education.

While Klein had graduated from the city school system and taught math to sixth-graders before being appointed chancellor, Cathleen Black’s experience appears to be limited to a less than year-long stint on a charter school advisory board.

But in appointing Black, Mayor Michael Bloomberg may have been looking for someone who will steer a calm and steady course forward, rather than someone to bring bold new ideas for education reform.

When he announced Black’s appointment this afternoon, Bloomberg trumpeted her track record of “building on successes and leading teams to even greater achievements.” And Black vowed this afternoon to build on the work that Klein has rolled out over the past eight years.

Black, 66, is a formidable figure in the publishing industry. Before

The Answer Sheet - Bloomberg errs again with NYC public schools

The Answer Sheet - Bloomberg errs again with NYC public schools
There is unfortunate symmetry to today’s news that Joel Klein had resigned as New York City Schools Chancellor today to join Rupert Murdoch’s outfit, and that he was being succeeded by Cathie Black, chair of Hearst Magazines. Klein, who is becoming an executive vice president for News Corp., had taken the job as chancellor without any experience in education. Now, Black, a former USA Today publisher who has been serving as chairwoman of Hearst Magazines, is becoming chancellor with no educational experience. The woman responsible for publications including Esquire; Good Housekeeping; O, the Oprah magazine ;and Popular Mechanics will run New York City’s public schools. That’s twice that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has deluded himself into thinking that success in business management is easily transferable to success in the public education system.

EDUCATION AND EXCHANGE excerpts Indonesia: Follow-Up To The President’s Cairo Speech | The White House

Indonesia: Follow-Up To The President’s Cairo Speech | The White House


Close cooperation in education is a fundamental element of our Comprehensive Partnership with Indonesia.

• In June 2010, President Obama announced a commitment to invest $165 million in higher education collaboration over five years. A key element of the strategic approach will be joint efforts to facilitate self-sustaining partnerships among U.S. and Indonesian institutions, foundations, corporations, universities, and individuals.

• To help jointly achieve the shared goals in higher education, the first 10 students and scholars are studying in each other’s countries this fall under the new Fulbright Indonesia Research, Science and Technology (FIRST) Program, a $15 million commitment over five years to support academic exchange in critical fields that address common challenges, including climate change, food security and public health. The program will expand the Fulbright program in Indonesia, making it one of the largest Fulbright programs in the world.

• In addition, USAID will launch an $88 million, five-year higher education initiative to improve the quality of higher education in Indonesia.

• Over 100 Indonesian high school students began their studies in America this fall through the Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program.

• The first expanded cohort of 50 young Indonesians are beginning their studies this fall at U.S. community colleges under the new $12.5 million five-year Community College Initiative in fields important to national development such as agriculture, business, engineering, information technology, and health.

• The U.S. is doubling the number of English Access Microscholarships that will be awarded this year for after-school English classes for disadvantaged 14-18 year-olds. Meanwhile, the first cohort of 17 Americans studied Indonesian in intensive summer institutes in Malang this summer, strengthening their language skills while deepening their understanding and respect for Indonesian society and culture.

• The number of American English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) in Indonesia doubled over the last year. Some of these ETAs will be placed at Islamic boarding schools.


• In early 2011 the U.S. Department of Commerce will bring the largest-ever U.S. government-led delegation of U.S. universities to Indonesia in April 2011. The visit will allow Indonesian students to hear from 60 universities about why they should consider study in the United States and promote greater collaboration between these U.S. universities and Indonesian institutions in scientific research, faculty and student exchanges, and other mutually beneficial projects.

• The U.S. Secretary of Education has invited his Indonesian counterpart to travel to the United States in 2011 for a U.S.-Indonesia Higher Education Summit to advance our cooperation in education.

Chancellor Klein’s exit: the best kept secret in the DOE | GothamSchools

Chancellor Klein’s exit: the best kept secret in the DOE | GothamSchools

Chancellor Klein’s exit: the best kept secret in the DOE

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Chancellor Joel Klein leaves the podium after discussing his plans to resign and join the News Corporation.

News that Chancellor Joel Klein will step down has caught his staff — even his most senior advisors — by surprise and sparked debate over whether he was pushed to resign.

Department of Education employees, some of them eight-year veterans with strong personal ties to the chancellor, learned of Klein’s resignation at a press conference this afternoon. And they didn’t meet his replacement, Hearst Magazines chairwoman Cathleen Black, until after the mayor and chancellor addressed reporters.

“I was literally scheduled for a 4 o’clock meeting, walked in, and watched a bunch of people going ‘Oh my God,’” said a DOE official.

Said another: “It’s the best kept secret in the history of the DOE.”

Even Black’s meeting with teachers union president Michael Mulgrew, which

School Tech Connect: The Two Americas, Continued

School Tech Connect: The Two Americas, Continued

The Two Americas, Continued

I have been wrong before, and I might be wrong now, but I believe this is the academic calendar at the school where Cathie Black's children went to school. It's curious how there's not a date for the CAPT, nor is there a page for the value-added data that this school compiles. You know, the data that tells how effective its teachers are based on predictions made by people who look at test scores.

Oh, wait. Almost forgot. Wealthy people can opt out of testing. In fact, they can opt in to entire schools that opt

Seattle Public Schools community blog: This is What I Think (No, Believe)

Seattle Public Schools community blog: This is What I Think (No, Believe)

This is What I Think (No, Believe)

Charlie has emboldened me to put forth what I think is really happening with TFA.

So here's the situation: we are an urban district but not a truly "urban" district like D.C., Detroit or LA. We have problems (stagnation being probably the greatest one and the inability/lack of interest in replicating successful programs being the second greatest one). There's a piecemeal feeling to what gets done in this district.

Our country, our state, our county and our city are all facing down a continuing bad economy. However, unlike other parts of the country, our city is faring better than many. But we do have many unemployed people and that includes teachers. As well, there are at least 4 colleges of education in our state.

The Superintendent has admitted that there is no shortage of teachers in Seattle. So between the existing pool including a number of teachers (some of whom may have been laid off through no fault except being first hires) and new teachers coming into the pool by virtue of graduating from a teaching college, it would seem there is a

NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein Mixed Feelings

NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein
Mixed Feelings

Afternoon Update Education Week: From the Wires

Education Week: From the Wires

Outgoing Chancellor of New York City Public Schools Joel Klein, left, speaks while the new Chancellor Cathie Black looks on during a news conference at City Hall in New York on Nov. 9. Mayor Michael Bloomberg named Black, a top publishing executive, to head the nation's largest school system on Tuesday after announcing that New York City's long-term chancellor was stepping down.
—Seth Wenig/AP

NYC Schools Chief Resigns, Leaving Lasting Legacy

Joel Klein, who ran the nation's largest school system for eight years, will be replaced by publishing executive Cathie Black. (November 9, 2010)


FROM THE WIRES

November 9, 2010
November 9, 2010
November 9, 2010
Joel Klein, who ran the nation's largest school system for eight years, will be replaced by publishing executive Cathie Black.
November 9, 2010 | Updated: November 9, 2010
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A couple whose son has Asperger's syndrome asked their school board Monday night to change its decision to disobey a new state law requiring private school scholarships for special education students.
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Teachers union says secret deals erode schools - Spokesman.com - Nov. 9, 2010

Teachers union says secret deals erode schools - Spokesman.com - Nov. 9, 2010

Teachers union says secret deals erode schools

Groups seek to join tax lawsuit
Betsy Z. Russell The Spokesman-Review

On the Web: Read previous coverage at spokesman.com/tags/ secret-tax-deals, where you can also download new filings in the case.

BOISE – Three education groups are seeking to join Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, in her lawsuit over secret tax deals by the state Tax Commission, saying the alleged deals are causing education funding in the state to suffer.

“We take the allegations very seriously,” said John Rumel, general counsel for the Idaho Education Association, one of the three groups. “The representative’s allegations indicate that because of some sweetheart deals and corrupt practices, a substantial amount of funds that should be going into the coffers of the state are not getting there.”

In addition to the IEA, the Idaho Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers local from the University of Idaho all have filed motions to intervene in the case as plaintiffs. The UI