SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: Teachers Of Los Angeles, Introducing Education4Excellence's Princess Sydney Morris

SOUTH BRONX SCHOOL: Teachers Of Los Angeles, Introducing Education4Excellence's Princess Sydney Morris:

Teachers Of Los Angeles, Introducing Education4Excellence's Princess Sydney Morris

by noreply@blogger.com (Bronx Teacher)

Hello teachers and educators of Los Angeles. This pastSaturday, December 3, Little Evan Stone, co-founder and co-chief executive officer was profiled in these pages. Tonight in the promise to share all we know here at SBSB about Educators4Excellence with our Los Angeles brethren we would like to introduce the Left Coast to the other brain behind E4E, the other co-founder, the other co- chief executive officer, Princess Sydney Morris. Of course any teacher can go to the E4E bio of Princess Sydneyand read her bio, but we here at SBSB believe that one should at the very least not embellish their accomplishments and stay away from cliches.

The first embellishment of Sydney's bio lies in the first ten

Leonie Haimson on CNN’s American Morning on class size « Parents Across America

Leonie Haimson on CNN’s American Morning on class size « Parents Across America:

Leonie Haimson on CNN’s American Morning on class size

by leoniehaimson

Carol Costello interviewing Leonie Haimson on CNN’s American Morning. Here’s an accompanying article from the CNN blog. Despite the claims made in this piece about Forest Hill HS, only 38% of their graduates are college ready, according to DOE, meaning they will probably need remediation. I’m sure that even this relatively successful school could do [...]

School Tech Connect: Those Terrible Teachers

School Tech Connect: Those Terrible Teachers:

Those Terrible Teachers

by noreply@blogger.com (Tim)

I can't add anything to Sharon's lovely, sad piece about the AUSL infomercial on the 29th at Morton. I occasionally read commentary from so-called reformers to the effect that nobody is attacking teachers, so stop saying that reformers are attacking teachers. Well, the mayor of Chicago is attacking teachers. It's his M.O.

These parents who were rounded up to slam the teachers from the pre-AUSL Morton, let me just say this about them. I've worked at private schools with $20k tuition, I've worked in two of the "best" districts on the North Shore, and I've worked at struggling public schools in poverty-impacted Mesa, Arizona. At any of these places,

CA Dem chair John Burton (bleeping) kills on The Daily Show (VIDEO) | Politics Blog | an SFGate.com blog

CA Dem chair John Burton (bleeping) kills on The Daily Show (VIDEO) | Politics Blog | an SFGate.com blog:

CA Dem chair John Burton (bleeping) kills on The Daily Show (VIDEO)

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On the day after Gov. Brown proposed a tax-raising ballotmeasure, “The Daily Show” did a hilarious — but ultimately, for those of us who live here, sad – take Monday on California’s messed up initiative process. The star of the bit was California Democratic Party chair John Burton.

It was even better than when Burton told Shaky Hand Productions that someone could take “a dump in my salad for $78,000.”

The Chairman was in better-than-prime form, dropping f-bombs with such abandon that correspondent John Oliver said, “You curse more than a West Coast rapper.”

“A whaaaa?” Burton replied. We haven’t seen that look on The Chairman’s face since his fabled joint appearance with former CA GOP chair Ron Nehring on Shaky Hand Productions.

The story revolved around the state’s brawl over the “Amazon tax.” Burton said that his daughter gave him a Kindle for his birthday but he’s so mad at “those goddam people at Amazon” that he refuses to use it. So he goes to his local bookstore and buys a book instead.

“I can read it taking a crap as opposed to looking at a Kindle or a computer taking a crap,” Burton said.

Oliver is genius in this bit, as well. He drills conservative Assemblyman Tim Donnelly who says the initiative process is all about “freedom.” Also he attempts to gather signatures for a ballot measure to prevent people from gathering signatures. Now there’s an idea…

Key moment for Burton aficionados: When he even dusts off the used-only-by-him phrase: “What the s—.”

Enjoy:

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

And for old times sake, here’s Burton’s “dump-in-my-salad” masterpiece:

Nancy Pelosi provides Newt Gingrich ethics report | Politics Blog | an SFGate.com blog

Nancy Pelosi provides Newt Gingrich ethics report | Politics Blog | an SFGate.com blog:

Nancy Pelosi provides Newt Gingrich ethics report

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In case you haven’t been watching cable TV, two former House Speakers named Nancy Pelosi and Newt Gingrich are having a bit of a fracas related to all that Gingrich baggage about which GOP primary voters in Iowa appear to be blissfully ignorant.

Pelosi, the San Francisco Democrat and now House minority leader, promised to release records that are public but haven’t seen much sunshine lately about the congressional ethics investigation of Gingrich back in the day.

Gingrich said that would be foul play and promised to retaliate, claiming Pelosi was threatening to disclose non-public information. But Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said Pelosi was “clearly referring to the extensive amount of information that is in the public record, including the comprehensive committee report with which the public may not be fully aware.”

Hammill helpfully provided public links and we provide them here.

Here’s the 1280 pages of the Ethics Committee report.

In a thumbnail, Congress accepted the committee report, which found that Gingrich used tax exempt contributions for political purposes and then attempted to mislead the Ethics Committ

Robert Reich (The Most Important Economic Speech of His Presidency)

Robert Reich (The Most Important Economic Speech of His Presidency):

The Most Important Economic Speech of His Presidency

The President’s speech today in Osawatomie, Kansas — where Teddy Roosevelt gave his “New Nationalism” speech in 1910 — is the most important economic speech of his presidency in terms of connecting the dots, laying out the reasons behind our economic and political crises, and asserting a willingness to take on the powerful and the privileged that have gamed the system to their advantage.

Here are the highlights (and, if you’ll pardon me, my annotations):

For most Americans, the basic bargain that made this country great has eroded. Long before the recession hit, hard work stopped paying off for too many people. Fewer and fewer of the folks who contributed to the success of our economy actually benefitted from that success. Those at the

Loss of Memory and Reform-driven Policymakers | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice

Loss of Memory and Reform-driven Policymakers | Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice:

Loss of Memory and Reform-driven Policymakers

by larrycuban

In 1975, Neurologist Oliver Sacks saw a hospitalized patient by the name of Jimmy R. (see “Lost Mariner” inwife-hat-2)

“Jimmie was a fine-looking man, with a curly bush of grey hair, a healthy and handsome forty-nine year-old. He was cheerful, friendly, and warm.

‘Hiya, Doc!’ he said. ‘Nice morning! Do I take this chair here?’ He was a genial soul, very ready to talk and to answer any questions I asked him. He told me his name and birth date, and the name of the little town in Connecticut where he was born…. He spoke of the houses where his family had lived—he remembered their phone numbers still. He spoke of school and school days, the friends he’d had, and his special fondness for

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: SAN DIEGO SCHOOL EMPLOYEES WARNED OF CUTS, LAYOFFS: Superintendent sends letter to 14,000 outlining financial problems

4LAKids - some of the news that doesn't fit: SAN DIEGO SCHOOL EMPLOYEES WARNED OF CUTS, LAYOFFS: Superintendent sends letter to 14,000 outlining financial problems:

SAN DIEGO SCHOOL EMPLOYEES WARNED OF CUTS, LAYOFFS: Superintendent sends letter to 14,000 outlining financial problems

WRITTEN BY MAUREEN MAGEE |SIGNON DAN DIEGO.COM/SAN DIEGO UNION TRIBUNE| HTTP://BIT.LY/TD9EQ9

7:40 p.m., Dec. 2, 2011 :: San Diego city schools chief Bill Kowba issued a sobering letter to some 14,000 employees Friday, warning about grim finances and layoff notices set to land in mailboxes before the holidays under the threat of midyear cuts.

Documents »

From: Smolens, Michael Sent: Friday, December 02, 2011 5:01 PM To: Smolens, Michael Subject: FW: First Interim Report and Mid-Year Budget Cuts Attachments: image001.jpg; image002.jpg Dear District Employee: The purpose of this email is to provide you with a “heads up” about a public discussion that will take place over the next few weeks about the district’s first interim financial report and mid-year cuts. At the Board meeting on Dec. 6, 2011, I will present budget reduction recommendations to accommodate an estimated mid-year cut of approximately $26-30 million. At the same time, there will be an initial reading of draft first interim report budget solutions to balance a $91-97 million budget shortfall in 2012/13. On Dec. 13, 2011, there will be a second reading of the first interim report budget solutions. First Interim Financial Report As background, every year the district is required to submit a first interim financial report to the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) by Dec. 15. This report highlights information on our financial condition for the first four months of the current fiscal year and a projection of our financial position for the next two years. With the submission of the report, the Board certifies the district’s ability to meet all financial commitments. Per SDCOE guidance, in this year’s first interim, we are required to assume that the State will impose a mid-year cut to K-12 funding and that we will not receive a Cost of Living Funding Adjustment (COLA) in 2012/13. As a result of these two assumptions and other fiscal planning factors, we have calculated a budget shortfall in 2012/13 of $91-97 million. To address the mid-year cut and next year’s shortfall, the first interim report will require the submission of a preliminary list of budget reductions for both scenarios. At this point, the list of reductions cannot include any assumption of negotiated budget savings from collective bargaining that may or may not materialize in the coming months. Mid-year Cut Reductions and Timing Issues The State budget approved in June included a legal provision that automatically imposes funding cuts on K-12 education should state revenues fall below targeted projections by more than $2 billion. Under this provision, the Governor must consider the more positive of two revenue assessments, one from the Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) and the other from the Department of Finance, in making a trigger decision. The LAO projection, released before Thanksgiving, estimated a state revenue shortfall of $3.7 billion, which, if confirmed by the Finance Department projections, would result in a mid-year General Fund reduction for San Diego Unified of approximately $26-30 million. The projection from the Finance Department will not be released until Dec. 15, after the district’s deadline to submit the first interim report to the County. Simply stated, we must act on a mid-year budget cut strategy before the Governor has the required financial reports that will determine if the mid-year cut trigger must be implemented. At the Dec. 6 Board meeting, I will present recommendations to the Board to mitigate the mid-year cut by obtaining monies in the following areas: * $22M – Projected year-end fund balances, * $4.5M – Real estate sale proceeds, * $1.7M – Mid-year classified staffing reduction savings, and * $1.5M – Hiring freeze savings. I will be initiating a strategic hiring freeze on all non-essential positions for the remainder of this fiscal year to help replenish our year-end balance and mitigate the scope of the 2012/13 deficit. In order to achieve the needed budget reductions in this fiscal year, the classified staffing reduction must be initiated this month to provide impacted employees with the required 45-day notice. Unfortunately, the timing of the mid-year cuts requires that the Human Resources Department begin the notice preparation process before the winter break. 2012/13 Budget Development Like the mid-year cut scenario, the 2012/13 $91-97 million reduction situation must be addressed before the Governor has acted. In this case, the Governor will not release his draft 2012/13 budget until early January 2012. The first interim report must also include a list of solutions to address the projected deficit without negotiated employee concessions. After five years of significant budget reductions totaling more than $450 million, it is extremely difficult to achieve budget adjustments of this magnitude without drastic staffing reductions. Consequently, this list of budget solutions will include recommendations for significant layoffs touching all stakeholder groups, programs, and organizations in the district. As the new year opens, we will be increasing our advocacy efforts in Sacramento and consulting with our employee groups about concessions that can mitigate the drastic staffing reductions that must be included in the first interim report submission to the County Office. I believe that we can weather this storm if we continue to work together collaboratively and creatively on a range of solutions. Advocacy with our elected representatives must be ongoing to urge them to find revenue solutions for the California budget crisis that can stave the tide of devastation hitting public education in California. Thank you for your continued dedication and commitment to our students as we continue to face this unprecedented economic crisis. [Kowba Signature] Bill Kowba Superintendent

Teachers are safe from midyear job cuts under state law that

Obama Administration Officials to Honor Great Teaching at White House Event | U.S. Department of Education

Obama Administration Officials to Honor Great Teaching at White House Event | U.S. Department of Education:

Obama Administration Officials to Honor Great Teaching at White House Event

Roundtable Discussions at U.S Department of Education to Follow

Contact:

Sara Gast, (202) 401-1989, sara.gast@ed.gov

Event Date 1: December 07, 2011 09:30 am - 11:00 am
Event Date 2: December 07, 2011 02:30 pm - 03:00 pm

White House Domestic Policy Director Melody Barnes, U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Obama Administration officials will celebrate and honor the newest group of Nationally Board Certified teachers tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. at the White House. The event can be watched live online atwww.whitehouse.gov/live and will be archived on the site later.

During the event, officials will congratulate the teachers and engage in a discussion about transforming the teaching profession and how to best support teachers as leaders in the classroom. National Board Certification is the most advanced professional credential available to American teachers.

Following the morning event, the Nationally Board Certified teachers will come to the U.S. Department of Education to continue the conversation in roundtables facilitated by the Department's Teaching Ambassador Fellows. The roundtables will cover a range of topics including student learning, career growth, compensation and retirement, and student perspectives on quality teaching. The conversation at the Department will be open to press at 2:30 p.m.

Media who are interested in attending the event at the U.S. Department of Education are asked to RSVP to press@ed.gov by no later than noon on Wednesday.

Event 1

Who :	White House Domestic Policy Director Melody Barnes U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan Nationally Board Certified Teachers
What :	Event to celebrate great teaching and congratulate the newest group of Nationally Board Certified teachers
When :	9:30-11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 7
Where :	www.whitehouse.gov/live

Event 2

Who :	Department of Education senior officials Nationally Board Certified teachers Teacher Ambassador Fellows
What :	Roundtable discussions about transforming the teaching profession
When :	2:30-3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Dec. 7; RSVPs due by noon
Where :	U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Ave. S.W. Washington, D.C.

Merryl H. Tisch, Regents Chancellor, Minces Few Words on New York City Schools - NYTimes.com

Merryl H. Tisch, Regents Chancellor, Minces Few Words on New York City Schools - NYTimes.com:

Albany and City Hall Clash on Education

Librado Romero/The New York Times

Merryl H. Tisch, chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents.

By FERNANDA SANTOS

Published: December 6, 2011

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Schools Chancellor Dennis M. Walcott was preparing to meet with the chancellor of the State Board of Regents, Merryl H. Tisch, when a reporter called.

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Dr. Tisch had just told the Daily News editorial board that she was frustrated with how New York City had been using millions of dollars from the federal government to fix failing schools, which she said had become “warehouses” for struggling students. What, the reporter wanted to know, did Mr. Walcott think of her assessment?

He was stung. At the meeting, according to Dr. Tisch and the state education