Marie Corfield: Asm. Ciattarelli to NJs 1%: Keep Calm and Count Your Money

Marie Corfield: Asm. Ciattarelli to NJs 1%: Keep Calm and Count Your Money:

Asm. Ciattarelli to NJs 1%: Keep Calm and Count Your Money

I'm sure the taxpayers of New Jersey's 16th legislative district will rest comfortably tonight knowing that their Assemblyman, Republican Jack Ciattarelli, is looking out for their financial well being. I ran against Ciattarelli in 2011 and 2013, so I was particularly interested in this piece he wrote for the Star Ledger today about that oft-touted Christie phrase, 'shared sacrifice'.

As a public school teacher, I'm well acquainted with Christie's version of that lofty and noble goal; I've done quite a bit of it in the past 5 years as my paycheck has gotten smaller and my workload and the number of jobs I hold have gotten larger. Although this is not WWII England and Christie is no Winston Churchill, Ciattarelli is doing his best British government impersonation as he allays the fears of the 1%: 

That's right, folks. In the run up to the June 30 budget deadline, Ciattarelli wants to publicly ease any fears his super wealthy constituents may have about anything that may harm a single blade of grass on their perfectly manicured and gated lawns. He wants to make sure that the "mega-rich" (a word he never wants us to utter lest it suggest "that Republicans are 'shielding a certain population'", and they would never, ever do that, now would they?) are not fettered and stressed as they count their money and compound their interest. But you and me? Pshaw! We better just hunker down in our bomb shelters 'cause that blitzkrieg on the middle class and the poor ain't lettin' up any time soon.

(Hey, sorry for that run-on sentence in that last paragraph, but that's what happens when I've been fed a steady diet of cow pie for 5 years.)

"Elected leaders should be prepared to ask all New Jerseyans to be part of some 'call to arms.'"

Yes!! Let me grab my sword and shield, utter some profound parting words, kiss my children goodbye, and head off to fight the good fight for... Who? You? Me? Not in Marie Corfield: Asm. Ciattarelli to NJs 1%: Keep Calm and Count Your Money:

solidaridad: Robert D. Skeels featured in the UCLA Daily Bruin 2014 Graduation Issue and Radio

solidaridad: Robert D. Skeels featured in the UCLA Daily Bruin 2014 Graduation Issue and Radio:

Robert D. Skeels featured in the UCLA Daily Bruin 2014 Graduation Issue and Radio

Stories of older students enrich UCLA’s Class of 2014

By Kathleen McGovern

Two of the oldest undergraduate students in UCLA’s Class of 2014 share their stories:

• Robert Skeels, 48, is one of the oldest returning undergraduate students to graduate this year. Despite the challenges of being a returning student, he chose to come back to UCLA and finish the degree in classical civilization that he began almost 20 years ago.

—
TRANSCRIPT:

SKEELS: I’m excited beyond words. I didn’t realize when I was 20-some-odd years old that I was lucky to get in here.

MCGOVERN: Robert Skeels transferred to UCLA in 1991. He is one of the oldest returning undergraduate students graduating this year.

SKEELS: You know, I felt kind of entitled at that age. Now at my age, I realize like just how fortunate I was to attend this university.

MCGOVERN: During his unfinished final year in 199[5], his job at the Glendale Chamber of Commerce changed its work policy. They told him he could no longer attend UCLA and keep his job. During his years away from school, he worked at an electronics firm and spent his free time serving his community by doing social justice activism. Last year, after running for a representative position on the board for L.A. Unified School District, his wife encouraged him to finish the three remaining classes he had been waiting on to get his degree.

SKEELS: She said, “If you lose, you have to go back and finish,” and I came back and I finished.

MCGOVERN: But starting school as a commuting student with a career and financial responsibilities wasn’t easy.

SKEELS: You have to be disciplined. It meant, you know, up till two, three in the morning and getting up «alarm» at six to study almost every day.

MCGOVERN: Now that Skeels is graduating as part of the class of 2014 with a bachelor’s in classical civilization, he plans on continuing his studies at People’s College of Law. It’s a small, four-year law school in his neighborhood for social justice activists. He also dreams of going to grad school to get a master’s or Ph.D. in art history. His return to solidaridad: Robert D. Skeels featured in the UCLA Daily Bruin 2014 Graduation Issue and Radio:

How to Buy a Governor for Fun and Profit: first, control the public education systems – testing, teachers, charters and all | Reclaim Reform

How to Buy a Governor for Fun and Profit: first, control the public education systems – testing, teachers, charters and all | Reclaim Reform:

How to Buy a Governor for Fun and Profit: first, control the public education systems – testing, teachers, charters and all

Posted on June 9, 2014by Ken Previti

This legalized corruption-as-government is happening in state after state, but Illinois prefers the “in-your-face” version. It is coming to a state near you, unless it has already arrived. Buy, rent or lease the gubernatorial and mayoral candidates from both parties, unless you already control them.

Although billionaire Eli Broad is not an Illinois resident, he is throwing money at Gov. Pat Quinn for re-election. When Broad throws money at a problem, he is used to getting a good return on his investment.

“Billionaire Eli Broad, already a political backer of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, donated $15,000 to Gov. Pat Quinn in March, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

The Los Angeles philanthropist “supports Gov. Quinn because Illinois, and specifically Chicago, needs pension reform and education reform,” a Broad spokeswoman said.

Broad, whose foundation promotes charter schools among other ideas for upending public education, also gave $10,000 to state Rep. Christian Mitchell (D-Chicago) ahead of his March primary. Mitchell narrowly won over teacher union-backed challenger Jay Travis.”Broadhas donated other money through other venues. Read the full Sun Times articleHow to Buy a Governor for Fun and Profit: first, control the public education systems – testing, teachers, charters and all | Reclaim Reform:

7 Reasons Why Documentation Is Still A Good Leadership Tool | Connected Principals

7 Reasons Why Documentation Is Still A Good Leadership Tool | Connected Principals:

7 Reasons Why Documentation Is Still A Good Leadership Tool

by William Parker • June 9, 2014 • 0 Comments

This week I have spent a lot of time with to-do lists as well as pulling together with my team members to coordinate important end-of-school-year activities.

If you are leading a school, organization, or a team, you know the challenges of staying on track with the your seemingly endless list of to-do’s. You also know the importance of everyone being on the same page in reaching goals.

Whether it is end-of-the year procedures or mapping out enrollment, documentation is a simple tool that plays a strategic role in reaching goals.

Like the homing pigeon, it may sometimes seem an outdated tool, but here are 7 reminders of why documentation is still important for school leaders:

1. Maintaining a Clear Train-of-Thought
Because your decisions often involve a myriad of moving parts, note-taking helps you check your train of thought.

For instance, in a conversation on how to organize schedule pick-ups, I will purposely keep dates written in front of me or jot down the names of those who will be responsible for communicating with others.

The same works when I am questioning students in conflict.

As the number of moving pieces increases, creating visual cues for yourself through notes will help you stay focused on the most important points.

2. Summarizing Conclusions
If you are meeting with a team where delegation is an important follow-up, then writing those ideas down can keep a meeting on task and provide a way for everyone to know what policy or procedure changes may result from the conversation.

When I recently met with our secretaries, counselors, and assistant principals to discuss our last ten contract days before they break for the summer, we listed over 20 immediate to-do’s.

Each of us left with an understanding of the big picture, and I followed up afterwards with a email reminder noting which person who would manage each task.

3. Visualizing Main Points, Pros, Cons, and Action Plans
As a decision-maker, it helps to “see” the ideas you are discussing. Whether that is in the form of a list, or simply forcing yourself to put7 Reasons Why Documentation Is Still A Good Leadership Tool | Connected Principals:

Maria Shriver | Powered by Inspiration – For Architects of Change

Maria Shriver | Powered by Inspiration – For Architects of Change:

MAKERS: Maria Shriver – Raising Modern Daughters and Sons [Video]

Maria discusses how she taught her children to embrace all aspects of their strength and sensitivity.    …

by msAdmin / 0min 

MAKERS: Maria Shriver – Smart Family Issues [Video]

Maria discusses the myth of “having it all” when most of America’s women are just getting by.…

by msAdmin / 0min 

MAKERS: Maria Shriver – What is the Link? [Video]

Maria on the Shriver Report, looking at the status of women and the issues that affect them most strongly like Alzheimer’s and poverty.…

by msAdmin / 0min 

MAKERS: Maria Shriver – Let’s Talk About Reality [Video]

Maria discusses the myth of “having it all” when most of America’s women are just getting by.…

by msAdmin / 0min 

MAKERS: Maria Shriver – Lead in a Different Way [Video]

Maria on the what women bring to the table in a leadership.…

by msAdmin / 0min 

MAKERS: Maria Shriver – Life Changes [Video]

Maria on the life changes that led to a different kind of journalist career than she had in mind, and “having it all” over the course of a life.…

by msAdmin / 0min 

MAKERS: Maria Shriver – An Amazing First Lady [Video]

Maria on her admiration for Hillary Clinton and why she’ll be studied for years to come by both men and women.…

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MAKERS: Maria Shriver – She Was Unique [Video]

Maria discusses her mother Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s work ethic and how it influenced her.…

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MAKERS: Maria Shriver – My Four Children [Video]

Maria on how her children will always be her greatest accomplishment.…

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MAKERS: Maria Shriver – Poems to Live By [Video]

Maria discusses the Mary Oliver poem that inspires her on a daily basis to live a certain kind of life.…

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A Great Divide: The Election Fight for California’s Schools | MyFDL

A Great Divide: The Election Fight for California’s Schools | MyFDL:

A Great Divide: The Election Fight for California’s Schools

By: Gary Cohn Thursday March 6, 2014 11:25 am An election campaign now being fought almost completely out of public view could radically alter the way California’s school children are taught. If Marshall Tuck unseats incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, the state’s public education system could become a laboratory for a movement that prizes privatization and places a high value on student test scores over traditional instruction. The contrasts between the two top contenders in the nonpartisan race could not be more dramatic – nor could the stakes for the country’s largest education system. The 40-year-old Tuck is a Harvard Business School graduate who has worked as an investment banker for Salomon Brothers and as an executive at Model N, a revenue-management software company. He is a former president of Green Dot Public Schools, a charter school operation in Los Angeles, and later served as the first head of the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools — former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s controversial education nonprofit that tried to improve 17 low-performing public schools, with mixed results.  Tuck’s candidacy is supported by the same mix of wealthy education privatizers, Silicon Valley and entertainment money, hedge fund and real estate interests that backed privatization candidates in the 2013 Los Angeles Unified School District school board election — when billionaire businessmen such as Eli Broad and Michael Bloomberg gave large campaign contributions to an unsuccessful effort to defeat board member Steve Zimmer. (The Broad Residency, an education management program operated by the Broad Foundation, lists Tuck as an alumnus.) Tuck is also supported by former Washington, D.C. schools chancellor Michelle Rhee, a polarizing figure who was once believed to be a potential contender for Torlakson’s job. Like Rhee, Tuck supports using student test scores as a way of evaluating individual teachers’ performances. Critics of this policy, which is favored by school privatizers, claim that it forces classroom instructors to “teach to the test” and scrap curriculum that is not seen as reaping high student test scores. “The contest between Mr. Tuck and Superintendent Torlakson couldn’t be starker in every way,” says Steve Zimmer. “Superintendent Torlakson is a lifetime public servant. He’s an educator, he’s a legislator and he’s kind of a [policy] wonk. In contrast, Mr. Tuck is a business man. I’m not sure there’s anybody more engaged at running schools like aA Great Divide: The Election Fight for California’s Schools | MyFDL:

6-9-14 The Whole Child Blog — Join the Summer Learning Movement! — Whole Child Education

Join the Summer Learning Movement! — Whole Child Education:

THE WHOLE CHILD BLOG

Join the Summer Learning Movement!

June 9, 2014 by Kristen Pekarek

The summer learning movement, as promoted by whole child partnerNational Summer Learning Association (NSLA), is part of a whole child education as it takes into account a child's education and overall well-being all year long, including the summer months.

According to the NSLA, each summer the well-being of millions of children is put into jeopardy. The research shows that students lose close two months of what they learn during the school year and many more do not have access to healthy food and wellness programs. View an achievement gap infographic (PDF) for additional data on the importance of summer learning.

On June 20 join students, parents, community members, and summer learning advocates for National Summer Learning Day. This is an annual grassroots movement to spread awareness about the issues of summer learning loss and children's inability to access healthy foods during the summer months. Hundreds of events will take place across the country to celebrate local programs and provide a platform for policy advocacy.

If you have a summer learning program in your community, help spread the word about Summer Learning Day! Below is a list of ideas to get you started.

• Whether you have a physical or online event, you can celebrate Summer Learning Day any time during the summer—not just on June 20! Download a list of event ideas (PDF).
• Put your event on the Summer Learning Day Map to connect your work with the national field of summer learning.
• Post pictures and video of your Summer Learning Day event on the National Summer Learning Join the Summer Learning Movement! — Whole Child Education:

6-7-14 THE WHOLE WEEK @ The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education

The Whole Child Blog — Whole Child Education:THE WHOLE WEEK @ The Whole Child Blog Free Webinar: Technology Integration to Meet the Needs of the Common CoreJoin ASCD Faculty member Andrew Miller for an exciting, free webinar to learn how to integrate technology in your classroom to support students' needs and the Common Core. Monday, June 9, 2014, 3:00 p.m. eastern time Register now! In this webin

by mike simpson / 8h

for the love of learning: I'm a teacher. I never saw this coming.

for the love of learning: I'm a teacher. I never saw this coming.:

I'm a teacher. I never saw this coming.

This was written by Jim Watson who is a teacher in British Columbia. Watson blogs here. This post was originally found here. 

by Jim Watson

Before I started teaching in my own classroom in the fall of 1987, I would sneak into the quiet, empty school daily, starting in early August just to get a feel for the place: to set up my bulletin boards and arrange desks; to familiarize myself with some of the resources and to develop unit plans and a year overview. Actually, the planning had begun in June, but by August, I was revising and fine tuning.

I was terrified. Making it work was going to be very difficult, as I had learned through many a late night during my practicum.

Ah yes, the practicum – the rite of initiation that made or broke you as a starting teacher. It was in the practicum that we learned the harsh reality that no matter how much work we did as a teachers, we could always do more – that no matter how long we worked, the work would never ever be finished.

Haunting every new teacher is an awareness that we can never achieve the ideal of teaching. We can never be on top of every child’s every individual learning need in every subject all the time. The world of the classroom teacher is not such a world. That world is reserved for the extremely wealthy: princes and the like, who have private tutors in each subject area. Education in the real world would never be ideal.

And as we got to know our students, we were haunted by other facts: that some of our students suffered abuse; that some suffered from mental illness or neglect; that some came to school simply unready to learn for myriad reasons, poverty being the one unifying factor for most cases.

So we learned to work as much as we could, keeping in mind that we had to stop, to eat and to sleep, and that once in a while our lovers or friends might want to have us around, or we’d have to attend a staff meeting. The teaching practicum was about imbalance. It for the love of learning: I'm a teacher. I never saw this coming.:

6-9-14 LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD

LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District):

Letter to Editor: Parent finds Zimmer comments ‘offensive’

Editor’s Note: This letter, by Michael Schlesinger, an LAUSD parent, is in response to an article published May 30, entitled, “Zimmer: LAUSD ‘culture war’ over co-locations on the west side.” I’ve never been accused of racism before, so I was surprised to read board member Steve Zimmer’s comments last week, pitting neighbors against each other in an alleged “culture war.”   I know I speak for tho

by Letter to the Edi... / 21min 

Decision in Vergara case is expected at 10 a.m. tomorrow

The California Supreme Court has informed lawyers in Vergara v. California that Judge Rolf Treu’s decision will be issued at 10 a.m. tomorrow. The case pits the state and its biggest teacher unions against nine students who have asked the judge to strike down five laws that govern teacher tenure, dismissal and seniority consideration for layoffs. The case was initially filed two years ago and what

5 47min 

LAUSD board inching closer to final 2014-15 spending plan

The pressure is on for LA Unified schools chief John Deasy and the board of education to work out the details of the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and the Local  Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), the most sweeping overhaul in how California schools are governed and funded in the last 40 years. The state deadline for both is July 1, which means much of tomorrow’s school board meeting will

2 by Vanessa Romo / 2min hide  //  save

Morning Read: State science teachers endure challenging prep

New science standards pose teacher preparation challenges The evolution of science instruction in California’s K-12 schools has resulted in perhaps the greatest array of specialty credentials in the nation. Teaching students here can consider 9 distinct credentials authorizing science instruction in K-12 schools along with the multiple subject authorization for elementary teachers. If such a polic

2 2min 

6-7-14 This Week in LA - School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD

LA School Report - What's Really Going on Inside LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District):Ca’s reduction of student suspensions leads most statesVia EdSource | By Susan Frey A report released this week by The Council of State Governments Justice Center calls on school districts across the nation to hold themselves accountable for a positive school climate as well as test scores. “Research and d

by mike simpson / 8h