Thursday, July 22, 2010

President Obama Announces Wynn Gottlieb More Key Administration Posts, 7/22/10 | The White House

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 7/22/10 | The White House

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts, 7/22/10

WASHINGTON – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key administration posts:
• Howard L. Gottlieb, Member, President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
• Elaine Wynn, Member, Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
President Obama said, “Both Howard and Elaine will bring sound judgment and tremendous dedication to these important roles, and I am grateful they have agreed to lend their talents to this administration. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”
President Obama announced his intent to appoint the following individuals to key administration posts:
Howard L. Gottlieb, Appointee for Member, President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities
Howard Gottlieb is the General Partner of Glen Eagle Partners, Ltd., a family private investment firm. He was a founding partner of Glenwood Partners and Chairman of Glenwood Financial Group. Mr. Gottlieb is an accomplished violinist. He has played in the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and performed widely with orchestras and chamber music groups in the United States and Europe. He is a Life Trustee of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Merit School of Music, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Ravinia Festival and the American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. He is a former trustee of the Aspen Music Festival and School. Mr. Gottlieb is a graduate of the University of Chicago and serves on the University’s Visiting Committee.
Elaine Wynn, Appointee for Member, Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Elaine Wynn has served as Director of Wynn Resorts since 2000. Ms. Wynn is a past member of the Executive Board of the Consortium for Policy Research in Education and has served since 1997 on the State of Nevada Council to Establish Academic Standards. Most recently, Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons appointed Wynn co-chair of the Blue Ribbon Education Reform Task Force, created to ensure a successful state application for the federal Race to the Top competition. In addition, she was appointed in February 2010 to the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board by Senator Harry Reid. She is the Founding Chairperson of Communities in Schools of Nevada and was appointed as Chairman of the National Board of Communities in Schools. Ms. Wynn was named the Nevada Governor’s Philanthropist of the Year in 2005, and in 2007, America’s Promise Alliance awarded her one of seven National Promise of America Founders Awards for her dedication to education and improving the lives of children. Ms. Wynn received an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in 1986.

Court Dismisses Teacher's Case Against Student Doodles - District 299: Chicago Public Schools Blog

Court Dismisses Teacher's Case Against Student Doodles - District 299: Chicago Public Schools Blog

Court Dismisses Teacher's Case Against Student Doodles

And now for something completely ridiculous (right)?

Teacher Marion V. at an earlier court proceeding in May. Photo: DPA

"A German court on Tuesday threw out the case of a schoolteacher against a pupil who allegedly tormented her by scrawling pictures of rabbits on the blackboard to aggravate her rabbit phobia."

Portland schools announce where staffing cuts will be made | OregonLive.com

Portland schools announce where staffing cuts will be made | OregonLive.com

Learning is intense, fast and fun in Portland's amped-up summer school

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By Betsy Hammond, The Oregonian

July 15, 2010, 7:36PM
Officials hope to see a big payoff -- better grades, stronger reading skills and higher test scores -- among students from high-poverty schools taking part in a large, intensive summer learning program for students in the early grades, on the cusp of middle school or headed into freshman year Full story »

Oregon Crusaders Drum and Bugle Corps performs in Tigard

By Special to The Oregonian

July 22, 2010, 1:26PM
The corps will perform "Dance of the Flames." Oh, and there's dessert, too. Full story »

Portland schools announce where staffing cuts will be made

By Molly Hottle, The Oregonian

July 22, 2010, 11:28AM
Principals have until July 27 to determine where to cut, and layoff notices will most likely be given in mid-August. Full story »

Aloha High 1970-71 Reunion: Share your stories on My Aloha

By Kjerstin Gabrielson, The Oregonian

July 22, 2010, 9:53AM
The founding classes of the 40-year-old high school take a walk down memory lane as they gather for their reunion this weekend. So, 1970-71 grads, what's your story? Full story »

Beta Beta rummage sale supports scholarships for teachers and good deeds within the community

By Special to The Oregonian

July 22, 2010, 6:00AM
The organization for women teachers is Tigard, Tualatin and Sherwood's chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. Full story »

The diversification of Texas' suburban schools | THE EDUCATION FRONT Blog | dallasnews.com

The diversification of Texas' suburban schools | THE EDUCATION FRONT Blog | dallasnews.com

The diversification of Texas' suburban schools

I want to call to your attention Katherine Leal Unmuth's' article in Sunday's Morning News about Irving facing the same kind of school challenges that Dallas and other urban districts encounter. This is the type of trend story that's worth reading because the diversification of Texas' suburbs is getting ready to be one of the state's major new realities.
If it hasn't already become one. Author Joel Kotkin, whose book "The Next Hundred Million: America 2050" is the focus of the DMN's Summer Book Club, reports how in once whitebread places like Fort Bend County you find mosques and ethnic restaurants. His contention is that suburbs will become increasingly diverse as America becomes more diverse.
That's the conclusion of a recent Brookings Institution look at Dallas-Fort Worth. According to Unmuth, Brookings "found that in 2008 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, about 47 percent of the population living below the

Today's Big Education Ape Posts on Parents 4 democratic Schools #education #news

Parents 4 democratic Schools

Today's Big Education Ape Posts on Parents 4 democratic Schools

NEA Signs On to Fiscal-Equity Bill - Teacher Beat - Education Week

NEA Signs On to Fiscal-Equity Bill - Teacher Beat - Education Week

NEA Signs On to Fiscal-Equity Bill

My apologies for the long absence from blogging. I took a few days off after the conventions and then had to turn my attention to a few stories on the common-standards adoptions. Now back to your regularly scheduled programming.
According to this document on the National Education Association's website, the union now supports the ESEA Fiscal Fairness Act, a bill sponsored by Rep. Chaka Fattah, a Democrat from Pennsylvania.
The bill would essentially require districts to certify that more- and less-affluent schools receive comparable state and local funding—including dollars spent on teacher salaries—before they get their share of federal Title I dollars

Eduwonk � Blog Archive � Gym Rats?

Eduwonk � Blog Archive � Gym Rats?

Gym Rats?

Even if you only follow the issue casually, you shouldn’t miss the Fordham Foundation analysis of state standards and common core standards. But, before

Education Research Report: The Harlem Children’s Zone, Promise Neighborhoods, and the Broader, Bolder Approach to Education

Education Research Report: The Harlem Children’s Zone, Promise Neighborhoods, and the Broader, Bolder Approach to Education

The Harlem Children’s Zone, Promise Neighborhoods, and the Broader, Bolder Approach to Education

The Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ) is a non-profit organization that funds and operates a neighborhood-based system of education and social services for the children of low-income families in a 100 block area in Harlem, New York.

The HCZ education components include early childhood programs with parenting classes; public charter schools; academic advisors and afterschool programs for students attending regular public schools; and a support system for former HCZ students who have enrolled in college. Health components include a fitness program; asthma management; and a nutrition program. Neighborhood services include organizing tenant associations, one-on-one counseling to families; foster care prevention programs; community centers; and an

As budget crisis crippled schools, $71 million stimulus sat unused | California Watch

As budget crisis crippled schools, $71 million stimulus sat unused | California Watch

As budget crisis crippled schools, $71 million stimulus sat unused

For nearly a year, California schools have missed out on the opportunity to spend tens of millions of dollars in federal stimulus dollars as lawmakers and state officials debate how to spend it.
The debate over education technology funds has kept the money in state bank accounts, unable to help thousands of K-to-12 schools it was intended for. California Watch learned of the delays yesterday through interviews and documents.
About half of the funds – $34 million – were set aside for 1,063 local education agencies. But that decision was announced on July 16, nearly a year after the money was delivered to the state. It is unclear when the remaining $37 million of the federal Enhancing Education Through Technology money (EETT for short) will be released.
While a debate about expenditures is nothing new, the stall over these stimulus funds is

State officials ask feds for leniency as standards are raised | GothamSchools

State officials ask feds for leniency as standards are raised | GothamSchools

State officials ask feds for leniency as standards are raised

As New York State grapples with improving its standardized tests, officials are asking the federal government for more time to make changes before schools are labeled as struggling.
In an interview on WNYC this morning, host Brian Lehrer asked State Education Commissioner David Steiner whether more difficult tests would mean more failing students and thus an increasing number of schools on the “In Need of Improvement” list. Schools land on the list if students’ test scores don’t increase by a certain amount for two years running. If the list grows, more schools could be closed or restructured.
Acknowledging that harder tests will be a new burden for schools, Steiner said the state was asking the federal

Readout of President Obama's Call with Shirley Sherrod | The White House

Readout of President Obama's Call with Shirley Sherrod | The White House

Readout of President Obama's Call with Shirley Sherrod

The President reached Ms. Sherrod by telephone at about 12:35. They spoke for seven minutes.

The President expressed to Ms. Sherrod his regret about the events of the last several days. He emphasized that Secretary Vilsack was sincere in his apology yesterday, and in his work to rid USDA of discrimination.

The President told Ms. Sherrod that this misfortune can present an opportunity for her to continue her hard work on behalf of those in need, and he hopes that she will do so.

Effectiveness council still getting organized | EdNewsColorado

Effectiveness council still getting organized | EdNewsColorado

Effectiveness council still getting organized

The State Council for Educator Effectiveness is considering ramping up its meeting schedule to handle the work assigned it by the state’s groundbreaking new educator evaluation law.
The council held its fifth meeting Wednesday, but the panel is still struggling with organizational issues.
Members did agree to an “initial draft” of a teacher effectiveness definition and began discussion of more-detailed quality standards for teachers.
And, education Commissioner Dwight Jones dropped by to give the group a brief pep talk.
“Thank you for doing this important work,” Jones said. “I sure plan to get more engaged … just to listen and offer any support where you think it might be helpful.” Jones noted that the council’s duties expanded when Senate Bill 10-191 was passed after the council was created. He encouraged members to challenge their “core beliefs”

Op-Ed Spotlight: The Conservative Case for National School Standards | The Atlantic Wire

Op-Ed Spotlight: The Conservative Case for National School Standards | The Atlantic Wire

Op-Ed Spotlight: The Conservative Case for National School Standards


By the latest tally, 28 states have adopted the proposed "Common Core" national education standards that have won praise from leading journalists, think-tanks, and pundits. Wednesday, as debate in Massachusetts over the move heated up, the Wire covered the pros and cons of moving to a national, rather than state-based, system.

One of the concerns, of course, is loss of state power to the unpopular feds. That makes it all the more interesting to find Chester E. Finn, Jr. and Michael J. Petrilli at the Thomas B. Fordham

School Tech Connect: Make A Call For Illinois Schools Today #education

School Tech Connect: Make A Call For Illinois Schools Today

Make A Call For Illinois Schools Today

Looks like Fred Klonsky riled up a real Limbaugh-esque expert-in-everything, which in itself is not surprising. What is surprising is how similar the Chicago Tribune's position on public education is to the position held by the most fringe, burn-down-the-schools extremists.

If you're an Illinois teacher, and you're subscribing to the Tribune, you're supporting an organization that is doing everything it can to undo public education. The Trib's political agenda -- lower taxes for the wealthy-- is in conflict with the idea of quality public schools for all Illinois kids, and they're on a rampage to shrink the system down to where it can be drowned in a bathtub.

They're particularly peeved that people get paid to teach and that they have a pension system and that teaching