Wednesday, November 3, 2010

D.C. Schools Insider - Interim chancellor Henderson steps up

Interim chancellor Henderson steps up

Interim D.C. Schools Chancellor Kaya Henderson officially planted her interim flag Wednesday morning in a brief message to DCPS parents, pledging a seamless transition from the Michelle Rhee era.

"Many of you know me well," the former Rhee deputy said. "A 13-year resident of the District, I've worked side-by-side with Michelle Rhee for nearly four years to shape the turnaround of our public schools."

Here's the full statement:

This week, I begin serving as your new Interim Chancellor of D,C, Public Schools. Although my title may be different, my steadfast dedication to reforming education in the district remains unchanged.

Many of you know me well. A 13-year resident of the District, I've worked side-by-side with Michelle Rhee for nearly four years to shape the turnaround of our public schools. With your unwavering support, we've

Arne Duncan: Education can be bipartisan - Kendra Marr - POLITICO.com

Arne Duncan: Education can be bipartisan

'Am I optimistic? Yes. Do I think it’s the right thing to do for children, for the country? Absolutely,' Duncan said. | AP PhotoClose

By KENDRA MARR | 11/3/10 4:42 PM EDT Updated: 11/3/10 5:00 PM EDT

Education Secretary Arne Duncan is upbeat

Despite waking up to a political landscape now dominated by Republicans, Duncan – one of a handful of Obama administration cabinet members who actively campaigned for several Democrats – believes that education reform can be the great bipartisan issue, uniting the two feuding parties.

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“Am I hopeful? Absolutely,” he told POLITICO. “Am I optimistic? Yes. Do I think it’s the right thing to do for children, for the country? Absolutely.”

Overhauling the nation’s public education system, including adjusting the law known as No Child Left Behind, is a “golden opportunity” to improve the quality of life for everyday Americans, he said.

Schools CEO Huberman to resign Nov. 29 :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Education

Schools CEO Huberman to resign Nov. 29

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November 3, 2010

BY FRAN SPIELMAN AND ROSALIND ROSSI Staff Reporters

Chicago Public Schools CEO Ron Huberman will resign his $230,000-a-year-job effective Nov. 29 in a departure hastened by Mayor Daley, City Hall sources said Wednesday.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported last month that Huberman told Daley he has no intention of serving another mayor and intends to leave his job long before the mayor leaves office in mid-May.

Huberman’s departure comes amid a void in the No. 2 position in the system. The post of Chief Education Officer has been vacant since Barbara Eason-Watkins left June 30.

“He’s sitting at the helm of the most important agency in the city and he’s stated he’s not gonna be there at a time when there’s no chief education officer,’’ said a Daley confidante, who asked to remain anonymous. “The mayor has to get moving on putting a solid plan in place. Otherwise, you lose momentum. On his own, Ron has stated he’s not staying. You have a chief education officer’s job that’s empty and a CEO who said he’s looking elsewhere. You cannot have that be the case in an institution that’s responsible for 450,000 kids.’’

Last month, Daley responded to the news that Huberman planned to leave the post by saying he’s not

Joel Shatzky: Educating for Democracy: If Doctors Were Treated Like Teachers

Joel Shatzky

English Professor

Posted: November 2, 2010 01:10 PM

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Educating for Democracy: If Doctors Were Treated Like Teachers

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I originally posted a similar column in The Examiner almost a year ago (12/09/2009). I'm afraid, if anything, the situation has become even more dire for the teaching profession in the past year. Mayor Bloomberg's plan to publish the "ratings" of teachers in the press -- on the basis of test scores -- is one more example of the public humiliation many of the best New York City teachers have to endure in the interest of "educational reform. " Perhaps the following article can put this absurd situation into perspective.

If doctors were treated like teachers:

1. "Charter hospitals" could certify "smart people" as qualified to begin practicing medicine without any prior experience in the field if they had had "some business background."
2. Since a "doctor" can "doctor" anything, a cardiologist would be on staff at a hospital in place of a urologist when there was a shortage of urologists. The cardiologist could "learn on the job." Of

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