Arts Education in Seattle Schools, Part One
I recently had good conversations with both Carri Campbell, Visual&Performing Arts Program Manager for SPS, and Calandra Childers, Communication and Outreach Manager for the Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs about what is happening in arts education for Seattle Public Schools.
I want to thank them both for their time and efforts. Both conversations were enlightening and heartening. (After speaking with Ms. Campbell, I now live in the fear that, like many other really good people who join SPS, she'll leave. I hope not because she's a gem.)
Part One is about what has happened with the planning. Part Two will be about what is to come.
Background:
SPS has had a five-year partnership with the City of Seattle - called the Arts Education Partnership - to help build a system and share resources to put arts in all our schools with the understanding that arts are not just a
I want to thank them both for their time and efforts. Both conversations were enlightening and heartening. (After speaking with Ms. Campbell, I now live in the fear that, like many other really good people who join SPS, she'll leave. I hope not because she's a gem.)
Part One is about what has happened with the planning. Part Two will be about what is to come.
Background:
SPS has had a five-year partnership with the City of Seattle - called the Arts Education Partnership - to help build a system and share resources to put arts in all our schools with the understanding that arts are not just a
Corporate Ed Reform Money Can't Buy LA School Board Seats
As you may recall, there was a school board election in LA in April that had an odd feature - millions of dollars poured into it by corporate ed reformers from outside the state. Even in mega-large, uber-urban LA, there was surprise over why this was happening.
Out of three candidates, one ed reformer won, one moderate won (who had been targeted nonetheless by the ed reform crowd) and one seat went to a runoff.
Yesterday that runoff was held.
The ed reform candidate, Antonio Sanchez, had an interesting combo - labor unions and money from the political-action committee formed by outgoing LA mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa (which was more than $1M).
His opponent was Monica Ratliff, a career teacher. She went out and got newspaper endorsements and relied on small donors. She raised about $50k.
I don't see that the race has been called but Diane Ravitch is reporting that Ratliff has won, with 52% of the vote.
Out of three candidates, one ed reformer won, one moderate won (who had been targeted nonetheless by the ed reform crowd) and one seat went to a runoff.
Yesterday that runoff was held.
The ed reform candidate, Antonio Sanchez, had an interesting combo - labor unions and money from the political-action committee formed by outgoing LA mayor, Antonio Villaraigosa (which was more than $1M).
His opponent was Monica Ratliff, a career teacher. She went out and got newspaper endorsements and relied on small donors. She raised about $50k.
I don't see that the race has been called but Diane Ravitch is reporting that Ratliff has won, with 52% of the vote.